Authority and usages in the English,
Everything of importance that occurs, as the
descrying a sail, or land, or the like, must be instantly
reported to the master, who has such entire
control of the discipline of the ship that no subordinate
officer has authority to punish a seaman, or to
use any force, without the master's order, except in
cases of necessity not admitting delay. He has also
the complete direction of the internal arrangements
and economy of the vessel; and upon his character
and the course of conduct he pursues depend in a
great measure the character and success of the ship,
and the conduct of the other officers and men. He
has a power and an influence, both direct and indirect,
which may be the means of much good and
much evil. If he is profane, passionate, tyrannical,
indecent, and intemperate, more or less of the same
qualities will spread themselves or break out among
officers and men; which would have been checked if
the head of the ship had been a man of high personal
character. He may make his ship almost anything
he pleases, and may render the lives and duties of
his officers and men pleasant and profitable to them,
or may introduce disagreements, discontent, tyranny,
resistance; in fact he may make the situation of
every one on board as uncomfortable as can well be
imagined. Every master of a vessel who lays this
to heart, and considers the greatness of his responsibility,
may not only be a benefactor to all those
whom the course of many years' command will bring
under his authority, but may render a service to that
very important part of the community to which he
belongs, and do much to raise the character of the
merchant navy. We have had many instances in
