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MEMORIALS OF THE SEA. My Father:
MEMORIALS OF THE SEA. My Father:
BEING RECORDS OF THE ADVENTUROUS LIFE OF THE LATE WILLIAM SCORESBY, ESQ. OF WHITBY. BY HIS SON THE REV. WILLIAM SCORESBY, D.D. FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETIES OF LONDON AND EDINBURGH; MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE; OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, PHILADELPHIA, ETC. ETC. LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS. 1851. LONDON: PRINTED BY M. MASON, IVY LANE, PATERNOSTER ROW. TO THE LADY MATILDA MAXWELL, WHOSE DISCERNMENT OF AN UNUSUAL AND SUPERIOR CHARACTER IN A MERCHANT SEAMAN, WHEN KNOWN ONLY BY
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Section I.—My Father’s early Life.
Section I.—My Father’s early Life.
The name of Scoresby , it is believed, is entirely unknown, in this country, except in the case of the family, and one or two relations, of the subject of the present records. My Father’s “more immediate ancestors,” as a short biographical account of him by a friend, states, [A] “occupied respectable stations in the middle walks of life, supporting, in each case, unblemished character, and possessing, at times, considerable property;” and, in periods rather remote, holding conspicuous stations.
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Section II.—His first year’s Apprenticeship.
Section II.—His first year’s Apprenticeship.
In the quiet of a country home, my Father now resumed those studies which bore more immediately upon the profession he had chosen, and perseveringly continued them till the time appointed, the middle of March, for his joining his ship. His preparations towards the supplying of his maritime costume and equipment being already made, he repaired to Whitby, and was duly set to work, with others of the destined crew, to rig and fit out the ship. Towards the end of the month the arrangements were so f
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Section III.—His Progress as a Seaman, with Incidents of Sea-Life.
Section III.—His Progress as a Seaman, with Incidents of Sea-Life.
Entering the sea-service as a profession or business, as an unaided adventurer, my Father felt, and ever acted on the feeling, that, under the blessing of Providence, to which he distinctly looked, he must be the fabricator of his own fortune. To learn his profession, from the very elements of a seaman’s duty to its most manly and skilful perfection; to acquire a knowledge of navigation, of which he had anticipated but little, and to extend that knowledge to the highest style of seamanship,—cons
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Section IV.—Capture by the Enemy, and Escape from a Spanish Prison.
Section IV.—Capture by the Enemy, and Escape from a Spanish Prison.
The Speedwell was soon equipped, and, the service being urgent,—the relief of the garrison at Gibraltar,—with all haste got to sea. But admirably as this fast-sailing cutter was adapted for a service requiring all possible despatch, the weather proved very unfavourable for making a satisfactory, much less a rapid, progress. The delay was additionally trying to those on board the cutter, from the deprivations in which the unexpected length of the voyage, by reason of calms and adverse winds, invo
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Section V.—Rewards of Masterly Seamanship.
Section V.—Rewards of Masterly Seamanship.
We are here brought to the describing of an incident particularly characteristic of my Father’s talent as an accomplished practical seaman. After the vessel was fairly at sea, and, furthered by a favourable wind, in encouraging progress on her way to England, my Father and his gallant associate ventured to appear upon deck. The natural surprise of the Captain, on finding two intruding auxiliaries amongst his people, assumed no very friendly character, even when the daring and almost romantic und
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Section VI.—Entrance on, and Progress in training in, the Greenland Whale-Fishery.
Section VI.—Entrance on, and Progress in training in, the Greenland Whale-Fishery.
After his exciting adventure in escaping from imprisonment in an enemy’s country, my father retired, for a season, from his seafaring pursuits. He returned to the homestead of his fathers, where, assisting in the management of the farm, he remained about two or three years. During this interval he married; the object of his choice being Lady Mary, (viz. Mary, with the prefix of Lady, taken, not ostentatiously, but in rural simplicity, from the characteristic designation of the day of her birth,
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Section I.—Disappointment in his first Command.
Section I.—Disappointment in his first Command.
In the history of men who, relatively to their prospects by birth, have attained to distinction in life, there will generally be found some special incident, sometimes apparently trifling in itself, or some particular circumstance, or chain of circumstances, in their professional career, on which, under Providence, their fortune manifestly turned. Both the incident and the circumstance referred to were clearly and strikingly marked in my Father’s history. The incident appears in what occasioned
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Section II.—His Second Adventure, and commencing Prosperity.
Section II.—His Second Adventure, and commencing Prosperity.
Under the fitting authority yielded to my Father, in respect to the absolute selection and engagement of his officers and crew, he acted with equal wisdom and decision. His first act was to discharge the whole of his old and self-assumed accomplished or experienced officers, and to replace them with younger and more tractable men; some of those who had served with him in his first command, whose characters he had appreciated, being advanced from inferior stations to places of responsibility. The
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Section III.—Further Successes, with their comparative Relations, in the Ship Henrietta.
Section III.—Further Successes, with their comparative Relations, in the Ship Henrietta.
Future results clearly indicated the source, under a favouring Providence, of my Father’s prosperity. These first fruits of adventure were justified by the subsequent harvest, as the legitimate proceeds of superior management. Merely accidental circumstances may yield, for an occasion or two, or for several occasions, felicitous results; but where adventures involving mind and talent for their conduct, prove, through a long series of repetitions, under all the diversities of times and seasons, u
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Section IV.—Episodical Incident—the Rescue of endangered Pleasurers.
Section IV.—Episodical Incident—the Rescue of endangered Pleasurers.
Before carrying forward the records of my Father’s new adventures in a more promising field for his personal prosperity, I shall introduce an incident of a very peculiar and interesting description, belonging to the period, though not to the business of the fishery, whilst he still held his command of the “good ship” Henrietta. It occurred whilst the ship lay at anchor, incidentally, in the river Tees, on one of her most successful voyages, homeward bound, when I was myself on board. Though I wa
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Section V.—The Greenland Doctor.
Section V.—The Greenland Doctor.
Some circumstances of a more playful nature belonging to the period embraced by the present chapter may here be introduced, with a view to vary and perhaps enliven these parental records. The subject I select belongs to the history of a kind of steward-surgeon ,—the humble class of medical practitioners usually employed at the period of my Father’s early career, being designed, on the one part, to fulfil the technical requirements of the law, that a whale-ship claiming the advantage of the Gover
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Section VI.—Taming of a Bear—Interesting Recognition.
Section VI.—Taming of a Bear—Interesting Recognition.
The Polar Bear is popularly known as one of the strongest and most ferocious of that class of animals which shrinks not from voluntary conflict with man. The species is often met with, sometimes in considerable numbers, upon the shores of the Arctic lands, and within the region of the ices of the Greenland sea. It not unfrequently occurs of the length of seven or eight feet, and four or five feet high, weighing as much as a small ox. Specimens whose skin measured twelve to thirteen feet in lengt
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Section I.—Entrance on, and General Results of, this New Command.
Section I.—Entrance on, and General Results of, this New Command.
The aversion of his wife to a change in the port of sailing, though it might retard, did not prevent my Father’s ultimately making that change. He had been applied to by letter, and with reiterated urgency, and offers of additional advantages, by a mercantile firm in London (Messrs. Edward Gale and Sons) to take charge of a ship of theirs, which they were anxious to employ in the northern whale-fishery. But, finding that the applications by letter failed, or at least led to no satisfactory resul
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Section II.—Dangerous Accident—Admirable Tact.
Section II.—Dangerous Accident—Admirable Tact.
Whilst pursuing for a long series of years, so adventurous a profession as that of the whale-fishery, accidents of a peculiar nature were not unfrequently occurring. On such occasions, my Father’s promptness and judiciousness of action were as admirable as they were characteristic. But leaving such incidents, as far as may be, to their place, chronologically, in our present Memorials, we adduce here a single example, which may serve at once to illustrate and to justify this observation. The case
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Section III.—The Dandy Sailor; or, “Fine Tommy.”
Section III.—The Dandy Sailor; or, “Fine Tommy.”
In this connection, whilst now story-telling, we may perhaps, as fittingly as elsewhere, introduce a little record, very often told by my Father, for enforcing a moral lesson in respect of a species of folly which we often witness, and from which some of my young readers, peradventure, may not find themselves entirely devoid. If the sacrifice of personal comfort to the tyranny of fashion appeared to my Father a great absurdity; much more did the risking of health for the indulgence of personal c
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Section IV.—Unfortunate Voyage, and Adventure in the Greenland Ices.
Section IV.—Unfortunate Voyage, and Adventure in the Greenland Ices.
One of my Father’s voyages in the Dundee, and but one in the various ships he commanded for a period of upwards of a quarter of a century, commencing with the year 1792, proved a failure. The failure, however, arose from one of those incidental circumstances of climate, on the one part, and neglect of a principal officer, on the other part, which no human foresight could have anticipated, or human skill or diligence have remedied, after the perilous character of the ice-entanglement became clear
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Section V.—Successful Stratagem in War.
Section V.—Successful Stratagem in War.
An incident of a very stirring and exciting nature occurred in the very outset of the unfortunate voyage just referred to, which I here take occasion of introducing, as very characteristic of my Father’s tact and cool self-possession. A day or two after leaving the coast of Yorkshire, from whence I had myself embarked,—the weather being fine with a brisk and favourable wind, and the ship going steadily and swiftly under her ample and well-trimmed sails,—all hands were set to work, my Father supe
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Section VI.—Extraordinary Exploit in “cutting-in” single-handed, a moderately-grown Young Whale.
Section VI.—Extraordinary Exploit in “cutting-in” single-handed, a moderately-grown Young Whale.
The tardy formality with which the “flensing” of the whale was accomplished, irrespective of the particular magnitude of the animal to be despoiled of its blubber and whalebone, was frequently a source of great annoyance to my Father. The number of cuts, with the placing of straps, and attachment of tackles, had become—like the skeleton forms issued by public offices—an established system; and, cumbrous as it was, with respect to fish of smaller growth, it was made generally applicable to all. T
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Section I.—Continued Prosperity:—the Results, comparatively and generally, of this fresh Enterprise.
Section I.—Continued Prosperity:—the Results, comparatively and generally, of this fresh Enterprise.
The change of command which, in the progress of our Memorials, comes now under consideration, was brought about by two circumstances;—the great inconvenience of a family residence at Whitby, whilst my Father was sailing from, and returning to, London; and the incidental formation of a co-partnery at Whitby, which my Father was invited to join, for the building and equipment of a new Greenland ship from that port. The advantages, in point of comfort and convenience alone, were such as to render t
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Section II.—Treatment and Recovery of a half-frozen Seaman.
Section II.—Treatment and Recovery of a half-frozen Seaman.
The peculiarity of the conflicts, and the severity of the climate, encountered by the Arctic whale-fishers, yield a characteristic novelty both to the incidents and accidents of their adventure. So that, although the incidents of whaling enterprise may, for the most part, possess such general characteristics as to admit of some classification among themselves, they are at the same time novel, when considered in relation to the results of ordinary adventure; whilst, every now and then, an acciden
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Section III.—Judicious Treatment of Men having suffered from severe Exposure.
Section III.—Judicious Treatment of Men having suffered from severe Exposure.
The Resolution was moored to a flat sheet of ice, surrounded by streams and open drift ice, on the 30th of April, 1808. It blew fresh, and the weather was cold. In the evening a whale was harpooned, which ran out about the length of a mile and a half of line from the fast-boat. Other harpoons, and several lances, were then struck, and no doubt remained with the pursuers but that it would speedily become their prize. But this expectation signally failed. A tremendous and convulsive throe of the w
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Section IV.—The Crow’s Nest.
Section IV.—The Crow’s Nest.
The invention of the Crow’s Nest in the form now universally used by the British Arctic whalers, and adopted generally by our discovery ships, deserves, from its convenience, comfort, and importance, a special record. For the safe and effective navigation of the Arctic ices, as well as for a due watch being kept for the discovery of whales, an elevated position on the mast, as a station for the directing or “look-out” officer, is absolutely necessary. In seas covered over with numerous masses of
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Section V.—Extraordinary Celerity in preparing an empty Boat for active Service in the Fishery.
Section V.—Extraordinary Celerity in preparing an empty Boat for active Service in the Fishery.
In the celerity with which he accomplished complex or tedious operations pertaining to seamanship or the whale-fishery, my Father stood quite unrivalled. We have elucidated this characteristic in a former section, in respect to the flensing of a young whale with extraordinary rapidity, and we now adduce another example of a more incidental nature. During the outward passage towards the fishing-stations, the boats, designed for the fishery, are carried out in an entirely dismantled state,—some be
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Section VI.—Tact and Bravery in attacking and killing a dangerously-resisting Whale.
Section VI.—Tact and Bravery in attacking and killing a dangerously-resisting Whale.
It was no uncommon event for my Father, in case of any difficult or dangerous enterprise in the fishery, to take part himself in the adventure. The special case now referred to will illustrate at once his practice and talent. On the 29th of May, 1807, a whale was harpooned by one of our officers. It descended to some considerable depth, but speedily returned. On its reappearance, it evinced an uncommon degree of irritation. Its motions, whilst making but little progress a-head, were vehement and
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Section VII.—Remarkable Enterprise.—The nearest Approach to the North Pole.
Section VII.—Remarkable Enterprise.—The nearest Approach to the North Pole.
The adventurous attempt to reach the North Pole , like that of the “North-west Passage,” may be considered as an enterprise peculiarly British. Of six voyages expressly undertaken for this object, up to the time, and inclusive of, Captain Buchan’s, in 1818, there was no advance beyond the 81st parallel. The highest latitude reached was by Captain Phipps, in 1773, who advanced to 80° 48′. Captain Buchan’s farthest was about 80° 34′. And up to the present day we have no account which can be fully
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Section VIII.—Devotional Habits, at Sea and on Shore.
Section VIII.—Devotional Habits, at Sea and on Shore.
At this period of my Father’s life, his religious views and habits had become matter of personal notice, and observation with myself,—so as, in certain respects, to enable me to speak of them from distinct recollections. He always spoke of religion with reverence, and manifested a particular regard for the institution of the Sabbath. He was strongly attached to the Church, and attended its public services with most reverential and undeviating regularity. In theological views, he inclined to thos
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Section I.—The Greenock Whale-fishing Company.
Section I.—The Greenock Whale-fishing Company.
In the summer of 1810, whilst I was on a recreative tour in Scotland, and visiting at the house of a merchant in Greenock, my adventures and experience in the northern whale-fishery became a frequent topic of conversation. This was the means of eliciting, in respect to several gentlemen with whom I had intercourse, a strong disposition to embark in this, to them, new department of commercial enterprise. My Father, at this very time, being on the point of retiring from the command of the Resoluti
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Section II.—“Cum au greim a gheibhthu.”
Section II.—“Cum au greim a gheibhthu.”
The capacity for receiving knowledge, and the capability of applying the knowledge possessed, are characteristics of very different qualities of mind. The latter of these qualities is, per se , incomparably the most important and valuable. For one man, with comparatively moderate attainments, but having a facility in applying the knowledge he has acquired, will be a far more useful member of society, and is capable of becoming a more distinguished character, than another of vastly superior acqui
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Section III.—Subsequent and concluding Enterprises.
Section III.—Subsequent and concluding Enterprises.
On the retirement of my Father from the Greenock Whale-fishing Company, the command of the John, with the advantages and perquisites enjoyed by her original commander, was transferred to his son-in-law, Captain Thomas Jackson. Having previously, during a period of three years, held a command in the transport service, besides having been associated with my Father in his voyages of 1813 and 1814, Mr. Jackson took up this somewhat novel service with that spirit, talent, and enterprise, which, in th
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Section IV.—General Results of his entire Whale-fishing Adventures.
Section IV.—General Results of his entire Whale-fishing Adventures.
In conclusion of these records of my Father’s Arctic enterprises, commercially, there remain yet to be given the general comparisons and results, in which we shall again find them to be great and pre-eminent. The materials for these comparisons, on my Father’s part, are compendiously exhibited in the following summary of his various voyages:— TABULAR VIEW OF THE SUCCESSES OF THE LATE W. SCORESBY, ESQ., IN HIS ADVENTURES IN THE GREENLAND WHALE-FISHERY. The total number of voyages in which he held
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Section V.—Unusual Capture of Walruses.
Section V.—Unusual Capture of Walruses.
This incident, which belongs to the period of the Fame’s voyages, is here introduced, in conclusion of the general series of my Father’s Northern adventures, as presenting something of novelty in the modern whale-fishery. The walrus or sea-horse , as the whalers designate it, is one of those extraordinary animals so prevalent in the Arctic regions, in which, like the whale, are comprised the mixed characteristics of the inhabitants of sea and land. The body, generally, from its extensive conform
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Section I.—Superiority as an Arctic Navigator.
Section I.—Superiority as an Arctic Navigator.
My Father’s superiority as a fisherman, as exhibited in the foregoing pages, had an essential relation to his talents as a seaman and a navigator. The former, indeed, was in no inconsiderable degree a fruit of the latter; for it was his superiority as a navigator of ice-encumbered seas particularly, which, for a considerable series of years, enabled him generally to obtain a position in advance of his competitors, and thus yielded to him the best opportunities, whilst the ground was undisturbed,
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Section II.—Natural Science.
Section II.—Natural Science.
To my Father’s natural science , or original, almost intuitive, perception and application of scientific principles, I have already made repeated allusion. But this characteristic of originality, as well as superiority of mind, deserves, I think, more special consideration. Having to deal with circumstances perpetually varying, and frequently presenting features entirely new, the profession to which he had devoted himself afforded almost the best possible opportunities for the development and ap
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Section III.—Improvements and Inventions.
Section III.—Improvements and Inventions.
We have had occasion, in the course of our memorial records, to describe several important inventions or improvements of my Father’s in connection with his professional occupations. There remain yet to be mentioned a variety of other contributions, of a like order, to Greenland apparatus or operations pertaining to the fishery, and also to objects of public consideration generally. As to whale-fishing apparatus and operations, his contributions in the form of new contrivances and improvements we
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Section IV.—Miscellaneous and concluding Notices.
Section IV.—Miscellaneous and concluding Notices.
The originality of mind, superiority of intelligence and peculiar abilities of the subject of these records, were characteristics yielding much variety of illustration in the foregoing pages. His peculiar abilities as a whale-fisher, as may have been already inferred, were conspicuous in every department, and in every practical operation connected with the adventurous pursuit. If he could successfully attack, and safely subdue, a vicious and dangerous whale which was working destruction upon oth
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