SAILORS WITHOUT GROG, AND SHIPS OF ENORMOUS STOWAGE.
" We understand that the house of Baring, Brothers, are fitting out a vessel for the China trade, and that it is to be manned by sailors who will consent to be'de= prived of all spirituous liquors during the voyage. They are to be plentifully supplied with coffee and other articles necessary to their comfort. The vessel itself is built on a new principle, the result of which will be to enable it to carry more tea than any other vessel of equal size in existence. It is to cost 20,0001." —Christian Advocate.
This union of reformation for the sailors with increased capa- city of freight in the vessel, reminds us of the advertisement of a pious draper for a warehouseman—" a person of approved piety,' with a broad thumb ;" the broad thumb being particularly conve- nient in measuring cloth, when an inch or two was to be cribbed out of a few yards. But what an innovation is here proposed. A sailor without grog ! The wooden walls of Old England are' in danger. Poot Jack ! thou wilt dwindle down to a sober, steady, rational crea- ture, with:reflection and forethought; given to save money, and doing duty without the stimulus of' flogging. What would Tom DIBDIN say, could helift his head out' of his grave and see the' change effected by the " March of Intellect?" A merchant-ship one vast temperance society ! And who knows how soon the con- tagion may spread to the Navy ? for since " liberal principles" are making their way into the administration, even the Lords of' the Admiralty may be infected. There is' no knowing where these innovations will end. It was thought a harmless thing when Jack allowed his pigtail to be cut off; but what if it should lead to his being cut off from pigtail? He will next eschew chewing. Will he get the "quo " for the quid Already the venerable custom of impressment, by which sailors were made out of landsmen at a moment's notice, and our brave tars were taught to, beat the enemy by,belabouring the land lub- 'hers, is impugned as unjust and impolitic; and the' wholesome practice of flogging is cried out against, by those who never ex- perienced the felicity of a round dozen. Has not England gained her naval celebrity under the joint influence of grog and the cat ? Have we not had to boast of a HOWE, a DUNCAN, a NELSON, and a CoLLINGWOOD,' under the good old system of impressment and ministerial patronage? And can British- tars exchange grog for cocoa, and salt junk for soup, with impunity? The only slops lack has been used to are his jacket and trousers; and those he has paid as dear for as if they had been made 'for him. At this rate, Jack will soon forget what he was in days of yore ; and the time may come when the beau ideal of the true British tar, wearing a pigtail and shoe-buckles, drinking grog and chewing tobacco, dancing a hornpipe and swearing slang oaths, will only be found upon the stage.
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