Blue jackets, or, The adventures of J. Thompson, A.B. among "the heathen Chinee" : a nautical novel

Front matter

,472'

ASIA

CHARLES WILLIAM WASON COLLECTION

Preface

The most cruel and ignominiotis 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 ipi the service, and, on many occasions, seen sailors subjected to most painful degradation at the caprice of those, who, because they were oificers, seerned 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, onboard the "Vanguard" (Captain E. H. G. Lanabert), " within hearing of a large number of women and children, who were waiting perm.ission 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.

EDWAED GEEEY.

New Yoek, January 1, 1871.

Contents

CHAPTEE. ' PAGE.

I. "WOOL'WICH DOCKYAKD AT NoON. — A DESEBTEK FROM H. M. S.

Stinger 1