Part 1 (1/2)
Froston
Introduction
A book for boys by WHG Kingston needs no introduction Yet a few things in and the purpose of this story
When the _Boys' Own Paper_ was first started, Mr Kingston, who showed deep interest in the project, undertook to write a story of the sea, during the wars, under the title of ”Fro the ht offend peaceable folk, because it ston, although fahts, was a lover of peace, and he said that his story would not encourage the war spirit
Those who cared chiefly to read about battles es of ”British Naval History” He chose the period of the great war for his story, because it was a ti events and adventures The s to the early years of life, in which boys would feel lory” but ”duty” is the object set before the youthful reader
It was further objected that the title of the story set before boys an i, that ”every soldier carries in his knapsack ato the very highest rank in their ar to be an Admiral in the British Navy?
Let us see how history answers this question There was a great sea captain of other days, whose falorious reputations of later wars, Adreat Duke of Marlborough had begun his victorious career, Benbow had broken the power of France on the sea Rank and routine were powerful in those days, as now; but when a time of peril comes, the best man is wanted, and Benboas promoted out of turn, by royal command, to the rank of Vice-Admiral, and went after the fleet of Admiral Ducasse to the West Indies In the little church of Saint Andrew's, Kingston, Jamaica, his body lies, and the lish courage, who lost his life in defence of queen and country”
Like his illustrious French contein He entered the merchant service when a boy He was unknown till he had reached the age of thirty, when he had risen to the command of a allantly repulsed these Moorish pirates, and took his shi+p safe into Cadiz The heads of thirteen of the pirates he preserved, and delivered theistrates of the town, in presence of the custoe incident reached Madrid, and the King of Spain, Charles the Second, sent for the English captain, received hireat honour, and wrote a letter on his behalf to our King Jaave him a shi+p
This was his introduction to the British Navy, in which he served with distinction in the reigns of Williain is the point here under notice, and the following traditional anecdote is preserved in Shropshi+re:--When a boy he was left in charge of the house by hischerished, was irresistible He stole forth, locking the cottage door after hiarden Many years passed before he returned to the old place
Though now out of his reach, for the tree had grown faster than he, the key still hung on the hook He left it there; and there it remained when he came back as Rear-Admiral of the _White_ He then pointed it out to his friends, and told the story Once more his country required his services, but his fame and the echo of his victories alone caood town of Shrewsbury is proud to clai by the banks of the Severn, near Benbow House Whatever basis of truth the storytold and believed attests the fact of the huin of Admiral Benbow
Another sailor boy, Hopson, in the early part of last century, rose to be Admiral in the British Navy Born at Bonchurch in the Isle of Wight, of hue, he was left an orphan, and apprenticed by the parish to a tailor While sitting one day alone on the shop-board, he was struck by the sight of the squadron co his work, he ran to the shore, jumped into a boat, and rowed for the Admiral's shi+p Taken on board, he entered as a volunteer
Next lish fleet fell in with a French squadron, and a war Hopson obeyed every order with the ut he beca for The sailors explained to hio on, till the white rag at the ene this information, his resolution was formed, and he exclaimed, ”Oh, if that's all, I'll see what I can do”
The two shi+ps, with the flags of the coed at close quarters, yard-arm and yard-arm, and completely enveloped in smoke This proved favourable to the purpose of the brave youth, who ained the French AdallantIt was soon seen that the enemy's colours had disappeared, and the British sailors, thinking they had been hauled down, raised a shout of ”Victory, victory!” The French were thrown into confusion by this, and first slackened fire, and then ran frouns At this juncture the shi+p was boarded by the English and taken Hopson had by this ti wrapped round his arm, which he triumphantly displayed
The sailors received the prize with astonish told of the exploit, sent for Hopson and thus addressed him, ”My lad, I believe you to be a brave youth From this day I order you to walk the quarter-deck, and if your future conduct is equally e and protection”
Hopson ood opinion of his patron, and by his conduct and attention to duty gained the respect of the officers of the shi+p He afterwards went rapidly through the different ranks of the service, till at length he attained that of Adive not a few instances of more recent date, but the families and friends of those ”who have risen” do not always feel the sareat men themselves in the story of their life While it is true that no sailor boy may now hope to become ”Admiral of the Fleet,” yet there is room for advancement, in peace as in war, to what is better than mere rank or title or wealth,--a position of honour and usefulness Good character and good conduct, pluck and patience, steadiness and application, in their hether on sea or land, and in every calling
The inventions of e in all that pertains to life at sea The revolution is more apparent in war than in peace There is, and alill be, a large proportion of merchant shi+ps under sail, even in nations like our ohere steaeneral use In war, a wooden shi+p without steahting _Temeraire_, and the saucy _Arethusa_, and Nelson's _Victory_ itself, would be nothing but targets for deadly fire from active and irresistible foes The odds would be about the saainst modern fire-arms Steam alone had made a revolution in naval warfare; but e add to this the ar of vessels, and the terrible artillery of land” are only fit to be used as store-shi+ps or hospitals for a few years, and then sent to the shi+p-yards to be broken up for firewood But though ed, the , skill, and endurance are the same in shi+ps of oak or of iron:--
”Yes, the days of our wooden walls are ended, And the days of our iron ones begun; But who cares by what our land's defended, While the hearts that fought and fight are one?
'Twas not the oak that fought each battle, 'Twas not the wood that victory won; 'Twas the hands that made our broadsides rattle, 'Twas the hearts of oak that served each gun”
These are words fros for Sailors,” by WC Bennett, who has written better naval poems for popular use than any one since the days of Dibdin The sa ballad on old Admiral Benbow:--
”Well, our walls of oak have becoht; It seems a queer dreaht
But whether we float in shi+p or in boat, In iron or oak, we know For old England's right we've hearts that will fight, As of old did the brave Benbow”
But, after all, even in war, fighting is only a small part of the su floats over shi+ps on every sea, whether under sail or steam, in the peaceful pursuits of commerce The same qualities of heart and ston has described in his stirring story,--a story which will be read with profit by the young, and with pleasure by both young and old