lon. Brave fellow, powerful arm-why are Notes and Commentaries, on a Voyage to we compelled in these troublous times to kill or be killed. I shall ever regret my part in this day's doings."

And the chevalier with a grasp of the hand left his friend to make his preparations for departure.

On the next day he set out for Anjou and arrived safely. Strange to say the Cardinal never took any notice of the death of De Crillon; whether in truth the agency of the chevalier in the matter ever came to his ears or not, we cannot say. The chevalier lived a peaceful and quiet life thereafter, contented with his early experience of the world and that quiet, provincial life, we need not say was shared by the true heart which had so long been constant to him. Marie was happy in an affectionate and devoted husband.

beam, which is abaft the main mast, is about board. Ashing was affectionately proud of ten feet. Transverse water-tight partitions his family, and boasted a little that he had divide the hull into five separate compart-"two piece bull chilo, one piece cow chilo, ments, the floor of which is about two and and one piece wifo." Entire harmony prea half feet below the deck. The sternmost vailed in this floating family; all seemed to of these divisions accommodates the kitch- work cheerfully, the woman performing a en or culinary department which, when not full share of nautical labor, besides dischargin use, is covered by a flush hatch. A semi- ing her matronly duties. circular hood or deck covers the central This vessel and crew were chartered at compartment, which is the cabin; it is the the rate of thirty dollars a month, and a ralargest and is immediately abaft the main- tion daily for each adult; that is seven mast. Between the cabin and kitchen is a adults, with the, vessel served us for a dollar third compartment which Mrs. Ashing makes a day, or about fourteen cents each. answer all the purposes of chamber, dress- On crawling into the cabin we were de

ing room and nursery; and in it she passes all time not spent at the oar or in cooking, engaged in the various duties of her ship-hold, or, if you please, household. The two forward divisions of the vessel contain spare rope, tackle, &c. Cleanliness is every where remarkable.

lighted to find its floor covered with new matting. The carbines and powder flask were arranged on one side, and bamboo pillows and a painted lanthern furnished the other. A tiny bird-cage, about five inches square was suspended at one end; its occupant, a diminutive sparrow, was a general favoBetween the cabin trunk or hood, and the rite, and received full attention. Poor thing; it high taffrail, the bulwarks are made of bam- deserved sympathy, for it might have enjoyboos, which enclose a kind of quarter deck. ed almost as much freedom to fly had it The rig of the little vessel is according to never emerged from its shell. At the sternthe Chinese fashion. She has two masts most end of the cabin, a small door commuwith mat sails, which are kept expanded by nicated with a little temple or Joss-house, bamboo spriets, inserted horizontally into which, from its general arrangements, might each sail about two feet apart, and as there have been mistaken for a child's play-house is a sheet or bowline at the end of each or display of dolls and toys. spriet, the rigging appears to be complicated. The foremast stands well forward in the bows, and answers the purpose of bowsprit in vessels of American or European rig. A small American ensign is displayed from a staff set upon the stern, showing that, for the time, the craft sails under the protection of the United States.

Mat

About ten o'clock A. M. the flood tide met us, and the vessel was anchored. awnings were spread as a protection against the sun; and then the carbines were brought on deck and deliberately prepared for action. This military duty performed, the kitchen hatch was removed and revealed two earthen furnaces, surmounted by round shallow Besides Ashing, the crew consisted of five iron pans about two feet in diameter. Letmen, Mrs. Ashing and her three children, tuce, previously well washed was placed in the eldest being five years old, and the young- one and partly covered with water. A shalest eighteen months. When we pushed off low wooden tub was turned over it. Well from the ship it was nearly calm, and for washed rice was placed in the other with this reason the men put out their oars, and very little water. Over this was placed a Mrs. Ashing, with the infant strapped upon bamboo grating upon which were set plates her back, managed the steering oar and rud- of fish, cut in pieces an inch or two square, der. The children were active, running mingled with onions and shreds of lettuce. about in all parts of the vessel; but the pa- The whole was covered by an inverted tub, rents manifested no anxiety for their safety. and then the fires in the furnaces were made When the infant was permitted to run or to burn briskly by blowing through a bamboo crawl about the deck, a large piece of cork tube. At the expiration of twenty minutes was tied to its back, to serve as buoy or life- the tubs were removed, and brought to view preserver, in the event of tumbling over- a very savory preparation to appease the ap

tuce.

The rice

vessels of war, in the year 1842. On that occasion, however, the Chinese were panicstruck early in the day; their adıniral being killed in the fight, they deserted their batteries.

petites of the Chinese company. About half past two o'clock P. M. the was served in a basket of the capacity of a stillness on board was broken by preparation peck, and the boiled lettuce in bowls. The to move on our course. By three o'clock, fires were extinguished by holding the burn- the tide being strongly ebb, our wooden aning brands under water, and then the kitchen chor was lifted to the bows, and we began to hatch was replaced. The food was set on beat against a fresh breeze. the deck with a supply of bowls and chop- Towards the close of the day we passed sticks. The party gathered round in a cir- through a narrow part of the river called the cle, each one squatted on his heels, and de- Bogue, which is defended by no less than liberately began the seemingly grateful task eight forts. The Chinese once supposed of contributing something towards the pre- this pass to be impregnable, but the whole servation of the individual. The bowls were of their fine fortesses were taken from them filled with rice; some added a little of the in a single day by the English, in a dozen water in which the lettuce had been boiled by way of sauce, and all partook of the letThe fish was raised to the mouth by compressing it betwixt the ends of two chop sticks. The same implements, both held in one hand parallel to each other, very much We were not alone on these waters. An after our manner of holding a pen, were European ship, and hundreds of Chinese used to shovel rice into the wide open mouth craft were in sight, steering in various and from the bowl, the edge of which was press- opposite directions, to and from Canton. ed against the nether lip. The meal was About sunset our little temple of Joss was concluded by tea, which was taken without illuminated, and a plentiful repast of sugarmilk or sugar, and in very moderate quanti- cakes and fruit spread before his altar. The ties. All joined in washing and putting eldest son of Ashing, by direction of his away the dishes, and after this work was mother, lighted a bundle of brown paper at accomplished, the men took pipes or paper- the sacred lamp, and stood upon the taffrail wrapped cigars, one of the last being enjoy- holding it in his hand until the flaming offered by the boy, not more than five years old. ing was consumed. It is a cheap sacrifice; But it is to be borne in mind that Chinese nevertheless, it is a sacrifice and an act of tobacco possesses nicotin, the active princi- religious worship of deity. When the cereple of the weed, in very small proportion; a mony was ended, the work of the kitchen pound of Kentucky or Virginia tobacco leaves was begun. I was glad to partake of a bowl would probably yield as much of nicotin as of rice and some tea, with the rest, because a hundred pounds of the China grown plant, ants and cockroaches had invaded and spoiland then the bowl of a Chinese pipe has not ed the contents of my provision basket. At as much capacity as a lady's thimble. The half past nine o'clock P. M. we were met by pipes having been emptied, the men arrang- the tide, and again anchored. The night ed their bamboo pillows on deck in the shade, was sultry, in spite of a fresh breeze from stretched themselves at full length and went the southward. to sleep, while Mrs. Ashing screened off from Sunday, Oct. 1.-At three o'clock P. M., the rest of us, sat on the quarter deck sew-I was wakened by the bustle of getting up ing, with her children about her feet. She the anchor and making sail, and for an inwas not blessed with feet of aristocratic stant was startled by contention with people smallness, according to Chinese taste. The evidently not of our boat, because the idea boat was now in repose; silence reigned. of pirates flashed over me, but a moment's The day was hot, in spite of a very gentle thought satisfied me that other sounds than breeze. The scenery about us was pictu- of angry words would have announced hosresque. The land bordering upon the river tile intention. On emerging from my place is low and flat; but mountains of from one on the bare cabin mat, I found it was mereto three thousand fect or more in height form ly a noisy dispute with some fishermen about the back ground. the price of a fish. The wind had changed,

.

and though very light was fair. At seven were manned by volunteers from the Plyo'clock I was supplied with a good breakfast mouth, by order of Commander Godney, and of tea, rice and fried fish ; and at ten I land- sent to rescue the drowning, and succeeded ed at Macao, in the inner harbor, very much in saving some thirty persons, amongst whom fatgued by sleeping on boards, and by ex-were a woman and three children. Attenposure to the hot sun during the morning. tion was then directed to the wrecked vessels, and such aid as was required was freely given to them.

These notes are sufficient to indicate the nature of Chinese life in a "fast-boat."

The brig Arrow was stranded very near

During the three weeks spent at Macao on this occasion I enjoyed the generous hos- to the shore, and by six o'clock P. M., bepitality which is characteristic of its foreign 'tween three and four thousand Chinese had residents. Dinner and evening parties were assembled, it was presumed, for the purpose frequent. of plundering the vessel, which was known Beggars are very numerous in this town, to contain a cargo of opium, said to be worth and annoying often by their importunity $600,000. Had not the Plymouth been preOne day a crowd of them had gathered about sent and rendered assistance, all this propour door, and amused us by scrambling for erty would have been lost, and probably the "cash"-a small coin of which 1400 are officers and crew of the Arrow would have equal to a dollar-thrown amongst them been murdered. The cargo was transferred from the second story windows. The sport to the Plymouth, and the brig got afloat by to us was increased by the simple expedient the exertions of the officers and crew, under of heating these "cash" over the fire, and the general directions of Commander Godtossing them into the street, almost red hot. ney. When picked up, being too hot to hold they were instantly dropped, to be again seized by another of the scramblers, who also instantly relinquished the prize, to be grabbed by some other unsuspecting beggar, until, by passing through many hands in succession they became too cool to "burn in the pocket." Even those whose fingers were made to smart seemed to enjoy the sport; I am sure no one was seriously burned, and no one retired poorer than he came.

For these services, as is usual in such cases, salvage, that is, a portion of the property rescued, was claimed.

Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., the owners of the vessel and cargo saved, objected to the claim for salvage, that officers of the Navy of the United States cannot accept remuneration for assisting vessels in distress or derelict without infringing the rules of the naval service.

Such an objection implies that vessels in distress or derelict of whatever nation are entitled to the assistance of officers and privates of the Navy of the United States, under all circumstances, and not to render such assistance is to be negligent of their duty. There is no law which imposes upon those of the naval service an obligation, to save property exposed to loss by wreck, without such remuneration as is commonly paid to citizens under equal circumstances; but like other gallant men, they are ever ready to

About the middle of the month of August the U. S. ship Plymouth anchored in the road-stead at Cumsing-moon, to remain during the hurricane season. On the 31st it commenced to blow freshly from the northward and eastward, and by ten o'clock P. M. the wind had increased to a very heavy typhoon, and continued to blow with increasing violence until daylight of the 1st September. It was then discovered that of twelve European and American vessels in the roads four were dismasted, one had foundered at peril themselves to rescue the lives of those her anchors, and the English brig Arrow and of their fellow beings who may be exposed barque Emily had dragged on shore. Be- to danger from shipwreck, without hope of sides these, many Chinese vessels were lost, other reward than self-approbation. and numbers of persons were holding fast to fragments of wrecks tossed about on the

The right of officers and men of the Navy to claim salvage is based on the common law, and on the act, approved March 3rd, As soon as boats could be risked, they 1800, entitled "An act providing for salvage

sea.

in cases of recapture." This act provides ed to save merchant vessels from shipwreck ; that unarmed vessels or goods recaptured by or to supply spars and rigging and means of any of the public armed vessels of the Uni- repair when damaged in storms, free of cost. ted States shall pay, in lieu of salvage, one- Nor can it be shown that those of the naval eighth part of the value thereof, and armed service are bound to hazard life, or exert vessels recaptured are to pay one-fourth part their mental and physical energies to protect of the value thereof, &c.; and this act fur- owners of merchant-ships against pecuniary ther provides that moneys received for sal- losses occasioned by shipwreck. vage shall be divided among officers and men in the same proportion as prize money.

The rules observed by the navy of England on this point are applicable to the navy of the United States:

The fifth section of an act approved April 23, 1800, and entitled "An act for the bet- "But although by the law of England, ter government of the Navy of the United there is an obligation upon King's ships to States," provides that all vessels and goods assist the merchant vessels of this country, lawfully taken from an enemy shall be the still a King's ship may be entitled to an adproperty of the captors entirely or in part, equate reward for services performed by according to circumstances of the capture. her. The distribution of prize-money is provided for in the sixth section of the same act.

In the case of the Lustre, Finlay, value £1100, to the assistance of which, on the The statutes, therefore, provide specifical- application of her owners, his Majesty's ly that officers and privates of all grades in steamer Dee had been despatched by order the Navy of the United States shall receive, of the Admiral at Portsmouth, upon the exas a reward and stimulant to exertion, the press stipulation and condition that the ownentire value of all vessels of superior force ers and underwriters would be answerable they may recapture; and one-half the value for the stores expended or damaged—it was of those of inferior force. American ves- alleged that this stipulation barred the offisels saved or rescued from the possession of cers and men from all claim to salvage. Sir a hostile military force are regarded as re- John Nichol said, 'It is a mistake to suppose captures; and the captors are entitled, ac- that the public force of the country is to be cording to circumstances, to either one- employed gratuitously in the service of prifourth or at least one-eighth of their value. vate individuals, merely to save them from It is clear that specific rates of salvage expense. These government steam vessels are established by law, for rescuing proper- are kept for the public service, and the offi'ty from military jeopardy by military means. cers in command cannot employ them in the As there is no law which excludes officers service of individuals, and thus risk the puband men in the naval service from the rights lic property, without authority, or an indemand privileges enjoyed by their fellow-citi- nity for all expense and damage. Here there zens, it is equally clear that they are entitled was a stipulation given by the Admiral at to claim and receive salvage, in cases of res- Portsmouth upon allowing the Dee to be so cue from the perils of the sea, under the laws employed; but it has nothing to do with a reand usages which govern the award of sal- ward for personal service; it was never so vage to officers and men of private or un- intended, and cannot on principle be so armed ships of the United States.

maintained. There might in the service The navy is maintained for the protection have been a great exposure of life, and there of commerce, both in peace and in war; but was much of risk and labor. Why are offiit is not to be supposed for such reason, that cers and crews to hazard their lives or unthose employed in the navy are bound, at dergo labor to save the owners of merchant any hazard whatever, to assist merchant ves- ships from the expense of hiring private sels without remuneration, merely for the steamers or resorting to other means? I am purpose of saving expense to their owners. clearly of opinion that officers and men so It is clearly not among the obligations of the employed, and who perform essential sergovernment of the United States to furnish vice, are entitled to reward as much as in anchors, cables or whatever may be requir- the case of recapture. In that description

VOL. XIX-95