The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 488, May 7, 1831Various
History
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 488, May 7, 1831
Various
Popular literature -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
To
JOHN LOCKE,
Born in this village.
This memorial is erected
by
Mrs. Montague,
and presented to
HANNAH MORE.
J. SILVESTER.
* * * * *
THE SELECTOR, AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS_.
* * * * *
A FUNERAL AT SEA.
We quote the following "last scene of poor Jack's eventful history" from
Capt. Basil Hall's _Fragments of Voyages and Travel_, a work, observes
the _Quarterly Review_, "sure sooner or later, to be in everybody's
hands."
"It need not be mentioned, that the surgeon is in constant attendance
upon the dying man, who has generally been removed from his hammock to a
cot, which is larger and more commodious, and is placed within a screen
on one side of the sick bay, as the hospital of the ship is called. It
is usual for the captain to pass through this place, and to speak to the
men every morning; and I imagine there is hardly a ship in the service
in which wine, fresh meat, and any other supplies recommended by the
surgeon, are not sent from the tables of the captain and officers to
such of the sick men as require a more generous diet than the ship's
stores provided. After the carver in the gun-room has helped his
messmates, he generally turns to the surgeon, and says, 'Doctor, what
shall I send to the sick?' But, even without this, the steward would
certainly be taken to task were he to omit inquiring, as a matter of
course, what was wanted in the sick bay. The restoration of the health
of the invalids by such supplies is perhaps not more important, however,
than the moral influence of the attention on the part of the officers.
I would strongly recommend every captain to be seen (no matter for how
short a time) by the bed-side of any of his crew whom the surgeon may
report as dying. Not occasionally, and in the flourishing style with
which we read of great generals visiting hospitals, but uniformly and in
the quiet sobriety of real kindness, as well as hearty consideration for
the feelings of a man falling at his post in the service of his country.
He who is killed in action has a brilliant Gazette to record his
exploits, and the whole country may be said to attend his death-bed. But
the merit is not less--or may even be much greater--of the soldier or
sailor who dies of a fever in a distant land--his story untold, and his
sufferings unseen. In warring against climates unsuited to his frame,
he may have encountered, in the public service, enemies often more
formidable than those who handle pike and gun. There should be nothing
left undone, therefore, at such a time, to show not only to the dying
man, but to his shipmates and his family at home, that his services are
appreciated. I remembered, on one occasion, hearing the captain of a
ship say to a poor fellow who was almost gone, that he was glad to see
him so cheerful at such a moment; and begged to know if he had anything
to say.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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