wood had reached their highest limit of development upon the ocean; when captains with speaking trumpets commanded their ships from the quarterdeck. In those days ships carried single topsails with four reef-bands, studding sails, ringtails, water-sails and sky-sails, when
"A yankee clipper and yankee crew,
A yankee mate and captain too"
were picturesque and even romantic objects of interest, which so many New England boys were unable to resist, and whose influence continued strong in after life; for the love of a ship and the sea once implanted is rarely, if ever, uprooted.
In what, then, does this pleasure of being on the ocean in a finely-equipped, well-manned and commanded sailing vessel really consist? One might answer: In what does the pleasure of anything really consist? Speaking broadly, and in a general way, it may be said that freedom from the countless vexations and worries of land is a negative pleasure; while in the comparatively small community of a ship, system, order, and the relative duties, rights and privileges of every person on board are defined, and the friction, the everlasting scramble, and the hurly-burly of land are unknown. Yet this life of social repose is enlivened by adventure; by the strong contrasts of work and rest, and by hardships even; which, ended, enhance the moment of happiness; while the ever changing conditions of the winds and waves are a constant interest. The nearness to the forces and glories of nature, the awful majesty of the hurricane is inspiring, as the
