Chapter I: Preface

The most cruel and ignominious punishment man can inflict upon his fellow men, is still enforced in the English Naval Service; though many indignantly deny it, and stigmatize this story as "a libel on the British Navy." Unfortunately for "Blue Jackets" this is not so, and the novel is founded on facts, as I have been in the service, and, on many occasions, seen sailors subjected to most painful degradation at the caprice of those, who, because they were officers, seemed to forget that the men possessed feelings in common with them. As facts are the best proofs, I quote the "London Daily News," November 7, 1870, which records that on October 30, 1870, a scene, similar in barbarity to the one described in the fifth chapter, occurred in Plymouth Sound, England, on board the "Vanguard" (Captain E. H. G. Lambert), "within hearing of a large number of women and children, who were waiting permission to go on board the iron-clad."

It may interest readers to know, that the adventures of J. Thompson, A. B., among "The Heathen Chinee," are not entirely fictitious, the descriptions of the peculiar habits of "The Coming Man" being from personal observation during a lengthened sojourn in China.

EDWARD GREEY.

NEW YORK, _January 1, 1871_.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER. PAGE.
I. WOOLWICH DOCKYARD AT NOON.--A DESERTER FROM H. M. S.
STINGER 1

II. THE BOATSWAIN'S TEA-PARTY.--ENGAGEMENT OF J. THOMPSON,
ABLE SEAMAN, AND MISS MARY ANN ROSS 10

III. THE COURT-MARTIAL ON BOARD H. M. S. VICTORY 16

IV. THOMPSON GETS INTO A DIFFICULTY WITH THE REGULAR
ARMY.--AMATEUR THEATRICALS, AND A SURPRISED PARTY 23

V. THE MERCIFUL SENTENCE IS CARRIED OUT 32

VI. H. M. S. STINGER LEAVES FOR THE CAPE.--SOME OF THE
LETTERS WRITTEN UPON THAT IMPORTANT OCCASION 37

VII. IN SIMON'S BAY, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.--EXTRAORDINARY
DELUSION ON THE PART OF CAPTAIN PUFFEIGH WITH REGARD
TO A LOVELY GERMAN FRAULEIN 44

VIII. THE PERSECUTION OF CHARLES DUNSTABLE, ORDINARY SEAMAN 50

IX. AT SINGAPORE.--THOMPSON VISITS MR. OLDCRACKLE, AND IS
MOST HOSPITABLY ENTERTAINED.--THE EFFECT OF A LOVELY
PAIR OF BLACK EYES UPON A TOO SUSCEPTIBLE SAILOR 55

X. FATAL RESULT OF CRUSHE'S TYRANNY.--DEATH OF A GOOD
OFFICER, AND EXECUTION OF HIS ASSASSIN 64

XI. HONG-KONG.--THE STINGERS AMONG THE PIRATES.--LAST
MOMENTS OF OLD JEMMY 72

XII. THE STINGERS MARCH TO THE RESCUE OF A YOUNG LADY.--SMOKING
OUT A PIRATE'S NEST 81

XIII. PUFFEIGH FALLS IN WITH A YANKEE CAPTAIN, OF WHOM HE
BUYS SOME EXPERIENCE.--CLARE'S HALLUCINATION 89

XIV. CAPTURE OF THOMPSON BY "THE HEATHEN CHINEE."--CAPTAIN
PUFFEIGH AND LIEUTENANT CRUSHE ARE PROMOTED,
AND LEAVE THE SHIP 95

XV. THOMPSON ESCAPES FROM SSE-TSEIN, AND SHIPS ON BOARD A
CANAL BOAT.--CAPTAIN MO AND HIS WIFE JOW.--BIGAMY 107

XVI. AN ASSAULT AT ARMS, AND THE STORIES OF TWO INOFFENSIVE
SAILORS 117

XVII. A-TAE 126

XVIII. CAPTAIN WOODWARD AND YAOU-CHUNG.--HOW THE TAONTAI
"PLAYED IT" UPON HIS GUESTS 134

XIX. "O-MI-TU-FUH!"--A CHINESE GIRL'S LOVE AND DEVOTION.--THOMPSON'S
APPEARANCE AS A STAR COMEDIAN 143

XX. THE BATTLE OF CHOW-CHAN CREEK.--MARRIAGE OF MISS
MOORE 152

XXI. THE STINGER VISITS JAPAN.--MR. SHEVER'S LAST PIPE 161

XXII. UP THE RIVER.--CLARE GOES THROUGH FIRE AND WATER.--ON
TO CANTON 168

XXIII. THOMPSON TURNS BILL-STICKER.--THE NOTICE TO QUIT
SERVED ON GOVERNOR YEH.--POETRY 177

XXIV. WHAT THE STINGERS DID TOWARDS TAKING CANTON 187

XXV. FAREWELL TO "THE HEATHEN CHINEE."--HARD TIMES
AGAIN FOR THE STINGERS.--THOMPSON RE-VISITS HIS OLD
FLAME AT THE CAPE 194

XXVI. THOMPSON FALLS (PLATONICALLY) IN LOVE WITH A CHARMING
YOUNG LADY "WHO CALLS HERSELF COPS" WHILE HE
IS COURTED BY HER BONNE.--CEMENT FOR A BROKEN HEART 204

XXVII. THE WIDOW'S WOOING AND WHAT CAME OF IT.--THOMPSON
IS EXPOSED TO A RAKING FIRE, BUT COMES OFF WITH
FLYING COLOURS 214

XXVIII. HOME 224

BLUE JACKETS;

OR, THE ADVENTURES OF

J. THOMPSON, A. B., AMONG "THE HEATHEN CHINEE."