Chapter I: Preface

This little work has been drawn up chiefly for the use of Young Persons; it is therefore hoped, that should it fall under the eye of older readers, the purpose for which it is written will be kept in mind.

On the other hand, should any young person meet with passages he does not perfectly understand, he is recommended not to puzzle over them, but rather to conclude that those parts of the book may be intended for people a little further advanced.

It does not seem a settled point, whether, in the estimation of Juvenile Readers, most interest attaches to a true story, or to one entirely fictitious; but it may be right to mention, that all the incidents here related are real.

The advice which the author has taken the liberty of offering to his Young Friends, as well as the speculations he has occasionally introduced, contain no opinions but such as he considers might have proved useful to himself, at some stage of his own professional life.

_Putney Heath,
28th March, 1831._

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

Page

EARLY PREDILECTIONS 1

FIRST GOING AFLOAT 33

SPECIMENS OF COCK-PIT DISCIPLINE 61

BERMUDA IN THE PEACE 100

MIDSHIPMEN’S PRANKS 137

DIVERSITIES IN DISCIPLINE 161

GEOLOGY—NAUTICAL SQUABBLES 179

MAST-HEADING A YOUNG GENTLEMAN 196

KEEPING WATCH 217

DANGERS OF A NOVA SCOTIA FOG 261

BLOCKADING A NEUTRAL PORT 283

THE SCHOOLMASTER AFLOAT 302

FRAGMENTS

OF

VOYAGES AND TRAVELS.