The autobiography and memorials of Captain Obadiah Congar : for fifty years mariner and shipmaster from the port of New York

Front matter

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TftE AUTOBIOGRAPHY

MEMORIALS OF

Preface

To the mass of general readers, and to earnest minds especially, writings in the shape of self-memorial and autobiography are always attractive. Whether they be purely religious, like the Confessions of Augustine, or the Grace Abounding of the Immortal Dreamer, or the Experiences of Madame Guyon and of Cowper ; or whether they be semi-religious, literary, and economical, like the Life of Franklin, by himself, the Confessions of Rousseau, the Autobiographies of Goethe and Leigh Hunt, or the Confidences of Lamartine, all men love to read them. Personal reminiscences, perhaps it may be added, even egotism, we are generally eager to peruse when written, although we detest and can not bear them when spoken.

It is because I have thought there is something here of universal interest — because I have seemed to see that, in the workings and strug-

IV PREFACE.

gles, the trials and triumphs of the sailor herein exhibited, there is matter for thought and instruction to the Man, certainly to the Christian every where — it is for this, among other reasons, that the Editor has undertaken the task (not an easy one) of correcting, reducing, fashioning, and putting them in order.

The labor expended in this process, if not always the same in kind, has been little less in amount than that of creating entire a similar book. But the work has been lightened by the hope that its result may now and then profitably occupy a captain's lonely hours at sea, or a sailor's dog-watch and Sunday, and that it may minister healthful stimulus and nutrition to a circle of minds on the shore also, earnestly longing after holiness.

In now giving this work to the world, the Editor remembers the charge of Carlyle: Cast forth thy act — thy word into the ever-living universe : it is a seed-grain that can not die ; unnoticed to-day, it may be found flourishing as a banyan grove after a thousand years. If this book shall enter as aliment or as vital electrici-

PREFACE.

ty into but one upright mind, so as to make it more resolved and holy, and its action more quick and powerful for good on other minds, a wave of benign influence will have been started by it, humble as it is, that shall roll through eternity.

In the hope that this volume may prove a useful gift to the Merchant Service and Marine of England and America, it is now dedicated to the Seamen's Friend Societies of the two great commercial nations, whose common boast it is

11 That Chatham's language is their mother tongue.''

Henry T. Cheever.

New York, January, 1851.

Chapter I. Introductory And General View Of Character

Birth, Parentage, and early Days — First Acquaintance with Life on the Water — Narrow Escape from Drowning — Consequences upon Character — Mastering the Theory of Navigation— Engages as a Coaster — Begins a Journal — Its Value estimated — Elements of Character — Its Worth as an Example— Testimonials of Friends — Points worthy of imitation — Noble Attitude in relation to the Sabbath at Sea — Honor to whom Honor is due — Origin and Order of the Book — Its Ends and Uses — Invocation and Aspirations in behalf of its Readers — The Mariner and Christ Page 13

Chapter II. Early Voyages, Sufferings, Adventures, Perils, And Es- Capes

The first Time off Soundings — Impressive Reminiscence of a Voyage to the Carolinas — Hardships and Inhumanities of a Cruise to St. Vincent's — Sickened of the Sea, and entering upon a Clerkship at New York — x\gain a melancholy Wanderer on the Main — Divers Voyages to the West Indies — Fever at Port au Prince — Religion in Embryo — A Mate at Twenty-one — In Perils frequent, in Deaths oft — Moral Effect thereof — A Prayer composed in Extremity — Feeling after God, if haply he might find Him — Wrecked on the Island of Barbuda — Strange Vicissitudes of Fortune — Waymarks in Religion — Doubling the Cape of Good Hope — Navigation in the Indian Seas — Arrival at Macao and Wampoa — The Celestial Empire — A Night and a Day in the Deep — Marvelous Rescue — Vows made in Pain — Life at Canton — We sail for New York — We Wood and Water in the Straits of Sunda — Traffic with the Natives — Touch at the Cape — Are overhauled by a Privateer — Put into Gaudaloupe — Arrival at New York Page 25

Vlll CONTENTS.

Chapter III. Religious Convictions, Providences, Trials, And Triumphs

The Seriousness of a rational Mind — Again upon the Deep — Captured by Privateers — Dangerous Illness — Its Part in the Discipline of his Soul — Various Adventures in the West Indies— Funeral Ceremonies of the Blacks described — In Command of a Ship for France — Married in his twenty-eighth Year — Hair-breadth Escapes — Reading Theology at Sea — The Steps traced by a Sailor's Mind in its Return to God — A Train of Disasters on Ship-board — Winter Rigors of the Coast — Trial of the Land — Recourse again to Sea — Perils in an armed Merchant Ship — Put in Command of the Penelope — Beginnings of the Life of God in the Soul of Man Page 56

Chapter IV. Religious Experience, Profession, Temptations, And Es- Cape

Opening of the Nineteenth Century — Personal Records and Discoveries — Vigilance in Self-examination — Entering upon the Christian Warfare — Dialogue between the Believer and his Soul — Trials of a Voyage with Emigrants — Passages to Madeira — Sea Life suspended — Shore Life tried — The Church entered — Covenant Vows assumed — Peculiar Religious Exercises — First the Blade, then the Ear, after that the full Corn in the Ear — Footsteps traced into the Kingdom of Heaven — Instructive Records — Hard Conflicts — Turning out by the tempting Stile of By-path Meadow — Caught in the Grounds of Giant Despair — Wanderings in Darkness — Temptations to curse God and die — Mental Anguish laid bare — A Fugitive from Home and Happiness- How at length restored — An instructive Process of Recovery— Hope for the Sorrowing — Joy for the Comfortless- God's Way and God's End — These are they that have come out of Tribulation 70

Chapter V

NAVIGATING FOR ETERNITY. LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

Life resumed upon the Mountain Wave — The Steps of a good Man ordered by the Lord — Successful Voyages to foreign Parts — Increasing Comfort in Religion — Divinity

CONTENTS. IX shaping his rough-hewn Ends — The Experience and Use of Trials — Want of Society at Sea — How supplied — Gales of the Spirit — Pillars of Gratitude — Memorials of Grace — Participation in a Revival at Newrark — Joy in the Lord — Fruits of the Spirit — Love for Souls — Clouds departing — Sun shining — Shadows fleeing away — Say not 'tis all a dreary Way Page 100

Chapter VI

LABORS WITH HIMSELF AND LABORS IN BEHALF OF THE SAB- BATH FOR SEAMEN.

The Morning cometh and also the Night — The checkered Experience of the Religious Life — Storm after Calm — Self-examination brings to his Bearings — A Parallel and Contrast instituted and traced — The Christian Mariner's Night Side — Hand of Providence — Invested with the Command of Ship Atlas— Voyage to Bristol — Religious Instruction of his Crew — Reflections concerning a Captain's Duty to his Men — Promise and Performance — Principle and Practice — Conscientiousness and Reward — A Struggle between Diffidence and Duty — A successful Experiment worth repeating— Perseveres in Well-doing — Confers with Ministers on the Hallowing of the Sabbath at Sea — Encouraging Fruits — Observed Effects of Worship at Sea — He encounters an awful Tempest — The Voice of Prayer in the Storm — A well-spent Sabbath at Sea — The Mistake corrected that Sailors can not be governed without rough Usage — Facts in Proof — Experiment tried of daily Evening Worship— The Habit continued in successive foreign Voyages — Passage to Lisbon — Divers Dangers passed — Views of the Heavenly Canaan 119

Chapter VII. Christian Life And Duties At Sea Continued

Example of an honorable and conscientious Captain — Controversy with his Employer respecting sailing from Port on the Lord's Day — Noble Resolution taken — Voyage to the Tagus — Sickness on the Return — Healthful Discipline — Spiritual Improvement thereof — Growth in Goodness — War with Great Britain forbids Commerce — Ashore eighteen Months — Undertakes School-teaching — Peace restored, and the Command of- the Niagara resumed — Voyage to New Orleans and Liverrjool— Social Religion at Sea

CONTENTS.

— Providential Deliverance from Shipwreck in Answer to Prayer — Takes in Charge the Ship Phocion — Another European Voyage — Spiritual Meditations at Sea — Views of Sin, and Holiness, and God — Anxieties for the Salvation of Others — Heavenward Aspirations Page 141

Chapter VIII

PECULIAR RELIGIOUS EXERCISES AND ORIGINAL CORRESPOND- ENCE WITH REV. THOMAS SCOTT.

The Year of the Great Revival — Movement of Mind on the Sea — Anxieties for Souls — Affecting Views of the Condition of a Sinner under Condemnation — Letters to his Wife penned at Sea — Arguments and Persuasives to Piety — Reasons for seeking in earnest an Interest in Christ — Affectionate Plea and Expostulation — Claims of Religion to instant Regard — Danger of Procrastination — Benevolent Care and Sympathy for his Passengers — The truly Religious Ship-master — Death at Sea — Voyage to and from Hull — Dissatisfaction of Passengers at not making Sail on the Lord's Day — Conduct and Reasonings of Captain Congar — Addresses a Letter to Dr. Scott — Cases of Conscience stated — Experience narrated — Opinion solicited — Reply of Thomas Scott — Grounds of Argument on the Subject — To be decided by Analogy — Israel not a sea-faring People — Proper Distinction between Works of Necessity and Works of Mercy — The Sabbath made for Man, not Man for the Sabbath — Should not be stiffly unaccommodating — A right Rule to give up our own Will to please Others for their Good — Never to give up the Lord's Will — The Divine endorsing the Captain 156

Chapter IX. Despondency Confessed, Corrected, And Cured

Penitential Acknowledgments of Sin, and Prayers for Pardon and Holiness — Fears of Apostasy — Workings of the Human Soul apprehended by the Powers of the World to come — Events and Exercises of a Voyage to Oporto — Prayer followed by Occasions of Thanksgiving — Indwelling Sin deplored — The Soul fasting and mourning — Light breaking — The sorrowing Soul comforted — Tokens of the Divine Favor renewed — The Course of Recovery traced — The Pilgrim's Progress to the Land of Peace — Affecting Memorials of the Wormwood and the G^all — Cheering

CONTENTS. XI

Views of the Promises — Repose found in Christ — The Blessedness of Union with the Divine Will — Consolation of Faith — Doubts followed by Assurance — Calm after Storm — Rest after Toil — Peace after War — Aspirations after Holiness— A Beulah for the Soul even here Page 182

Chapter X

ABANDONMENT OF THE SEA. TRAVELS AND EXPERIENCE IN THE SOUTHWEST.

The Steps of a good Man ordered by the Lord — Casting the Burden upon God — Singular Resolution — Following the Thread of Providence — Passage to New Orleans and Natchez— Propitious Providences — Manifestations of God's Favor — Business Arrangements and Success — Sorrows and Joys of Solitude — He quits Natchez — Returns to his Family — Raises a Pillar of Gratitude — Brought low by Sickness — A Summer at Newark — Seeks the South in the Fall — Business Adventures in 1823 — A delicate Subject discussed — Union of Believers with Unbelievers — Its disastrous Results stated and Dissuasives thereto enforced — Evidence of Growth in Grace — Considerations upon the State and Prospects of the Ungodly — Horror taking hold of him because of the Wicked that keep not God's Law — Reflections and Experience during a Voyage South in 1824 — Reasonings of a Man of the World — How confronted — The Longings of the panting Soul expressed 196

Chapter XI. Business, Benevolence, And Mental Exercises On Shore Continued

Travels to and fro in the South — Providential Deliverances — Benevolent Anxieties for a bosom Friend — -Close of the Ninth Septenniad of Life — Removal of Residence to Savannah— Temporary Relapse into Despondency — How restored— Refreshing Tokens of Divine Favor — Pan tings of the Soul after Holiness — Abode at St. Augustine in 1831 — Life and Labors there for seven Years — Removal to Jacksonville— Course of Business and Religion there — Reflections at Threescore and Ten — The Pilgrim in a Green Old Age — The World receding — Heaven dawning on the Soul — The Difference between the Worldling, the Misan thrope, and the rejoicing Christian — Mount Pisgah climbed — Eternal Glory flooding the Soul 216

Xll CONTENTS.

Chapter XII. Life, Labors, And Experience At Jacksonville

Sources of Information — Letters to Friends — Recapitulation of Mercies — Views of Life and the World — Looking behind the Cloud — Earth renounced — Heaven anticipated — Part in organizing a Church — Ordained an Elder — Notes of Experience in 1843 — Hopes and Desires of the gracious Soul — Forecasting the Future — Elected Mayor of Jacksonville— Thoughts on the Seventy-eighth Anniversary of his Birth — Experience of Youth and Age in Contrast — Energy in building a Session-house in 1846 — Solicitations of Aid in its Behalf — Characteristic Extracts from Letters asking Benevolence— Local Improvements in Morals and Religion — Generosity revealed — Becoming Gratitude expressed — The Agent and the Cause acknowledged and glorified — The Pilgrim looking back over Life — The Pilgrim waiting — The Pilgrim longing for his Rest Page 228

Chapter XIII. Closing Years, Death, And Retrospect Of Character

Instructive Birth-day Memorial — An old Man's Offering — The Log-book of Eighty Years' Navigation — A Tribute to the Pilot — The true Grounds of Happiness in old Age — The Secret learned of Holiness — The Soul losing its own Life and finding the Life of God — An affecting Reminiscence of Youth — The Otium cum Dignitate of the Christian Mariner — How to be Young when Old — The Patriarch's Views of passing Events — The Internal Life and the External — The Christian Solace — A New Year's Landingplace — The wise Review — The calm Outlook upon the Future — The cheerful Consecration — The last Birth-day — The last Entry — Valedictory to Earth — Salutatory to Eternity— Sickness and Death — Synopsis of Character — Virtues as a Man, a Merchant, a Captain, and a Christian — A Man's Way declarative of his End — The Author's Farewell Aspirations and Leave-taking 245

MEMOIRS

OF

CAPTAIN CONGAR.

Chapter I. INTRODUCTORY AND GENERAL VIEWS OF CHAR- ACTER

I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts ; But, as you know me all, a plain, blunt man. For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth, Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech, To stir men's blood ; I only speak right on ; I tell you that which you yourselves do know.

The subject of the following memoir was the fourth of seven children born to David and Mary Congar, and all reared to adult years. He was born near Newark, New Jersey, on the 27th of June, 1768. His death was in July, 1848, in the eighty-second year of his age. His parentage, though poor, was virtuous, industrious, temperate, pious, and long-lived; the father dying at the age of eighty-seven, the mother at seventy-nine.

He was sent to school, for one or two years, at the age of six, just before the commencement of the American Revolution ; at the breaking out of which, his father's family were removed up the North River, to the village of New Windsor, sixty miles from the city of New York, in the year 1776. Here Obadiah was taken on board a sloop by his father, who had abandoned the business of shoe-making in order to follow that of a coaster and trader on the Hudson. By this means the son early acquired a knowledge of nautical life, and contracted a fondness for the water.

About the year 1779, however, his father sold his river craft, and took up the business of ferry-keeping, using also his young sailor-son to go with him. This had nearly been a fatal business for them both ; for it happened, on a Sabbath day, that they had occasion to take on board a heavy-loaded wagon and five horses, and having gone about midchannel, that is, half a mile from the shore, the wind blowing fresh from the southwest and ebb tide, which caused considerable swell, the horses sallied to leeward, and the boat immediately filled and sunk, all except a little part of the bow, to wThich they all providentially clung, and remained until taken off. Happily for them, this disaster happened

EARLY PERIL AND RESCUE. 15

just as the church doors were opened for the people to come out, and, being in full view, assistance was soon rendered them.

This narrow escape from drowning, which was but one of many he met with in the course of life, wrought powerfully upon the mind of the boy-mariner. It led him, beyond what was natural to his years, to think of his liability to die, and of the necessity of being always ready. And it seems to have given birth to many good resolutions, and to have laid a strong arm of restraint upon youthful follies, making him serious-minded and afraid of sin, lest God should snatch him away in the commission of it.

When about fourteen years of age, his father wisely attempted to put him to a trade ; but, finding the lad not to take readily to any of the mechanic arts, he thought proper to send him to school for the purpose of learning navigation, in order that he might follow the sea for life. Soon after he had thus acquired the theory of navigation, which there is good evidence that he mastered well, the contest ended between the United States and Great Britain, and he entered a vessel as a common hand in the coasting business.

Through sundry imprudences and prodigality incident to his age, he found himself, on set-

]G CAPTAIN OBADIAH CONGAR.

tling with his first employers, and proceeding to the city of New York, in the winter of 1785, quite out of pocket. He notes this as a providential circumstance, because, probably, his poverty kept him out of harm's way during his stay in the city ; and, reflecting upon his previous sailor-like improvidence, he wisely resolved to husband his earnings better for the future, a resolution which, if carried out by young sailors generally as it was by him, would early lay the foundation of an independent competence.

It was at this period of his life, in the eighteenth year thereof, and with a serious though not yet a religious mind, that the personal narrative or journal was undertaken from which the materials of this book are derived. It was principally, he says, that he might retain or call to mind the most material incidents of his life, the perusal of which might be useful and entertaining, should he ever arrive at old age. It is written in a legible, fair hand, and with generally correct orthography ; and though by no means remarkable for the shrewdness and originality of its observations, or the depth of its reflections, or the animation and interest of its style, or the lively detail of stirring facts, incidents, and adventures, it is, on the whole,

GROUND-WORK OF CHARACTER. 17

highly creditable to the heart, if not to the intellect of the writer ; and it presents an example every way worthy of imitation by sea-faring men.

The character it gradually develops is the rare one of a humble, conscientious, active, and practical Christian mariner. Without being eminently great or transcendently good, it is such a character as, if every where reproduced and multiplied on ship and shore, would make society happy, and earth akin to heaven. It is a character the ground-work of which is altogether natural and common, being neither much above nor any below the ordinary level of human abilities, but so ribbed, braced, and undergirded by strong moral principle and the fear of God, that it was far more than ordinarily effective for good in its day and generation. Thence alone it is worthy of study and imitation by those- especially whose sphere of action and duty corresponds to that pursued by the practical Christian mariner herein exemplified. There are few that attain to the office of shipmaster, like Captain Congar, who might not become as respected, influential, and useful as he, provided only they had his religion, which was the rudder of his life.

One of his personal friends and acquaintan- B ees, a New York merchant, who first knew him as long ago as the year 1808, in Newark, thus testifies to Captain Congar's character, person, and worth : " I observed him always as a serious-minded man. When in port, he was sure to be seen regularly and punctually in his seat at church on the Sabbath, and also at social evening meetings ; and he always enjoyed the respect and confidence of the better class of society.

" He was a man of a middle size, rather spare or slender, neat and particular in his dress, and this he retained to the end of his days. He had a little hesitancy in his speech, and a nervous habit of shutting his eyes suddenly and often while speaking. Though inclined to be irritable in temper, he always maintained his Christian character, and was at peace with all men.

" Captain Congar was in the employ of some of our best and most respectable merchants, and had their full confidence ; and though their views of sending out ships from port on the Sabbath differed from the captain's, they seemed to yield to his sense of Christian duty. Captain Congar was an old-fashioned Christian, and of the Puritan stamp ; he could not bear deceit nor equivocation, was scrupulous as to his en* gagements, and opposed to being in debt,

TESTIMONY OF FRIENDS. 19

" My particular acquaintance with him was after his removal to Florida, to which place he removed on account of climate, and with reference to his health. He established himself at St. Augustine in mercantile business to rather a limited extent, had capital sufficient to pay for a stock of goods suited to the place, to own a house and lot, and was also cultivating a young orange grove, which bade fair to yield a considerable income, when the severe frost of (about) 1835 destroyed it, and it was not afterward replenished or improved.

" Captain Congar was too candid and honest, and too cautious to gain much by trade in those times of over-reaching and exaggeration. He was particular to purchase only good articles, and was undeviating in prices. The common people, the Monorcans, and the poor slaves, found the benefit of trading at his store ; and if he recommended his goods, they could believe him, and were sure not to be deceived.

"At St. Augustine Captain Congar was forward in efforts to erect a place of worship and support a church, and to promote good morals, always bore his part liberally in the support of the Gospel, was regular and systematic in his benevolence. He was in the habit of remitting his contributions to the seamen's cause, to the

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and other public charities, and he adorned his profession by a consistent life.

" Captain Congar became dissatisfied with St. Augustine, and at the advanced age of seventy commenced a new residence at Jacksonville, in Florida, in 1838. Here he opened a store, and for several years did a small amount of trade, but gradually withdrew from business pursuits. He was chosen Mayor of Jacksonville, and exerted a strong influence for the sacredness of the Sabbath, and in opposition to intemperance, profane swearing, gambling, and all public wickedness.

l "He began at once to propose plans for a Church organization and to procure a church edifice, and though he did not succeed in permanently establishing a Church and place of worship for his own denomination, he yielded his own preference, and cordially united in aid of an Evangelical Methodist Church, which continues to be respectably attended, and is regularly supplied with preaching. He also erected, with the aid of a few friends, a house for prayer, on the same lot in Jacksonville with his own dwelling, and kept up evening prayer meetings by his personal efforts for a considerable time.

A CHRISTIAN CAPTAIN^ SABBATH. 21

" While at Jacksonville in the winter of 1849, I learned much of Captain Congar's catholic spirit, and his efforts to keep a high standard of Christian example. He used to look after members who were delinquent at the evening prayer meetings, and his influence in every way was corrective and salutary."

Perhaps the noblest attitude in which the subject of these memoirs appears, is the firm and manly stand taken by him in respect to the observance of the Sabbath at sea. It is in this pre-eminently that his example is to be commended to all the craft. When there were none of his fellow-captains to keep him in countenance, he maintained rigidly, by practice and precept, the sanctity of the Lord's day, so that he would neither sail from port, nor have any other than the absolutely necessary working of the ship at sea.

This he conscientiously held to for the whole of his sea life, after embracing Christianity, when scarce another could be quoted in England or America who was with him ; and even grave divines, as will be seen, demurred at giving the counsel which he prescribed to himself, and for a length of years never deviated from. Out of forty-seven voyages performed by him in all, during the twenty-three that he was himself captain, he had the Sabbath carefully observed to the best of his ability by all on board. For this we honor him ; for this, if for nothing else, his life were worthy to be written ; for this, while the name of the wicked shall rot, his shall be had in everlasting remembrance. Forasmuch as he honored the Sabbath when by others it was dishonored, the great God of the Sabbath shall make him honorable in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord, agreeably to that word of his, Them that honor me I will honor, but they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

In the following chapters of this book we shall have Captain Congar speak as much as possible for himself, without, however, presenting his journal in due order or exactness, but omitting many things inconsequential and uninteresting, paraphrasing others, and so abridging both incidents and reflections, and condensing the whole, as to bring the volume within the compass we have prescribed for it.

Although a man noted for uncommon humility, self-distrust, and freedom from egotism, Captain Congar surmised and hoped, in his last days, that the perusal of his journal might be useful to others, and he therefore left it by will as a legacy to the Seamen's Friend Society,

A NEW REVOLVING LIGHT. 23

with instructions to have a book prepared out of it, and three thousand copies to be printed and circulated among seamen at his expense. The present volume is in fulfillment of that trust.

The aim of the editor has been so to project his own mind into the position and character of the subject of this memoir, as from that standpoint to trace a true map of his life and religious experience. May it prove a valuable addition to the Christian literature of the sea, and in due time find its way to forecastle and cabin, and be a monitor and example to officers and men, of modest worth and principle, and of the honor that accrues, even in this world, to real goodness and the fear of God. Should it ever, in a good degree, answer this end, or might it serve as a new revolving light to the mariner on the look-out for the Port of Peace, the labors of the editor will have been well bestowed. On its mission, then, he sends it forth, with an earnest prayer to God for every mariner that shall ever be allured to its perusal.

Dark is the watery way

Of life's tempestuous sea; And none, oh Christ, are safe, but they

Who put their trust in thee.

Loud is the stormy wind ;

The seamen are afraid ; But those shall strength and mercy find

Whose souls on Christ are stayed.

The winds they do not fear,

Nor dread the thunder's noise ; The Savior's cheering voice they hear,

And evermore rejoice.

It is our Savior's skill.

Our Savior's arm of might, Which guides the tossing ship at will,

And puts our fears to flight.

Praise to the Pilot's power, Praise to the Pilot's hand,

That, faithful most in danger's hour, Shall bring us safe to land.

EXPERIENCE OFF SOUNDINGS. 25

Chapter II. EARLY VOYAGES, SUFFERINGS, ADVENTURES, PER- ILS, AND ESCAPES

We have been But voyaging along the barren coasts, Like some poor, ever- roaming horde of pirates, Who, crowded in the rank and narrow ship. House on the wild sea with wild usages, Nor know aught of the main land, but the bays Where safeliest they may venture a thief's landing.

The Piccolomini.

The first cruise made by Captain Congar off soundings was from New York to North Carolina, in a sloop, in the year 1785. Though but a seven or eight days' sail, it was a trading voyage, and occupied six months. At first, in his extreme distress by sea-sickness, he made to himself the sailor's usual promise, that, could he once more get on land, salt water should never again wet his feet. But, returning with good success, and greeted joyfully by his friends, a few days on land sufficed him, and, refusing the owner's offer to take the sloop on shares and continue in the river business, he resolved to pursue his fortune on the sea.