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PREFACE.

Although it is now some years since I took my trick at the wheel, my spell in the chains, or lent a hand to reef or bunt a sail : although it is a long time since I heard the thunder of Britain roll over the seas, or saw the gallant ensign of England proudly floating over that of her enemy; I am not the less anxious for the welfare of those brave fellows, who, whenever they may be called again into action, are ready to make the sea-girt shores of our island ring with their achievements. I love the Navy, ay, and so ought every Englishman !-I love to think on the glorious deeds of her heroes!-Had it not been for the unwearied patience, the incessant toils, and the undaunted energies of her seamen, England must have tasted of the horrors of war at home. It was this arm of her power, which amid the wreck of nations, and the overthrow of mighty empires and states, brought into the ports of Great Britain the treasures of the whole world. It was the ROYAL NAVY of Great Britain that prepared the way for the glorious fields fought in the peninsula and the laurels that adorn the brows of the great Wellington. It was the Royal Navy of Great Britain that carried the terrors of her power to every shore; displayed the ensigns of her strength to cheer desponding nations; and, amidst preponderating gloom, shed a never-failing stream of hope.

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The courage of true British Tars

Gives their country a glorious name—

So sung Charles Dibdin, and so will be sung to the end of the chapter. But avast, I must close haul my wind, and not be veering thus. Well, as I was saying, being anxious for the welfare of my

Brother Tars, and, knowing the many leisure hours there are on ship-board, I resolved on fitting out this little bark for their amusement; it is not a first-rate, 'tis only a pleasure boat, but it is well found with every thing calculated to enliven the soul,-to excite energy-to lead the mind of young aspirants to an imitation of those Heroes who have appeared in the defence of their country; as well as to excite mirth, by a merry tale, or a laughter-stirring joke.

The "LOG BOOK" will also be found a most acceptable work to every landman who partakes of the glory acquired by his own countrymen on their own element, or experiences the security derived from their valor.

One turn more and I've done-To my numerous patrons, and to those friends who have assisted me with their contributions, I beg to return my thanks; and when I fit out another little trim bullt barkey, I hope they will not forget

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Ay, to be sure! notwithstanding all that has been either said or written, about the very high military attitude which we have assumed, and which can only be a consequence of the splendid achievements of our Navy, "Old England's Wooden Walls," have always been our toast, and always shall be!

Oh! preserve to us our "wooden "wooden walls," and procure for them the attachment of our "Jolly Tars," Thou

"Who seest with equal eye, as God of all, A hero perish, or a sparrow fall!"

We know that the existing uncertainty, as to whether we shall be permitted to remain at peace, has rendered the efficiency of our Navy a subject of vital importance, and consequently an object which engrosses the anxiety of every true Briton!

Hence have we been induced to [No. 1.

submit for the inspection, and we trust the satisfaction, of our readers, a brief statement of our naval resources as they stood at the close of the year 1826. From "The Navy List," published by authority and corrected to the 25th of December, 1826, it appears that we have one hundred ships of the line; one hundred and thirty frigates; one hundred and five sloops of war, besides an innumerable flotilla of small craft of every description.

It likewise appears that we have one hundred and ninety admirals ; eight hundred and six post captains; eight hundred and forty-four commanders: three thousand seven hundred lieutenants; five hundred and thirty-nine masters; eleven hundred and forty-three surgeons and surgeons' mates; seven hundred and seventy-two pursers; besides boatswains, gunners, carpenters, and

sail-makers, in galore! As to the marine corps, it is said to be the most efficient force, of that description, that is to be found in the whole world; But, inasmuch as there is no good without some alloy, it is to be feared, that for want of a retaining fee, or some such inducement, there is likely to be a lack of Jolly Tars, an evil that does not admit of an easy remedy. Nevertheless, there have been instances in which the amor patriæ has wrought so potently on heroic minds as to induce the commissioned officers of an army to volunteer their services as privates in the hour of emergency! And who can doubt that, if there should be a lack of Jolly Tars, and if the preservation of our national honour should demand such a sacrifice; who, we say, can doubt that our redundant admirals, captains, commanders, and lieutenants, (every one of whom must be a prime seaman by-the-bye) would cheerfully volunteer to perform. the duty of seamen, rather than see the sun of England's naval glory "shorn of its beams." We do not, of course, include in this expectation those gallant heroes who are incapacitated by age, mutilations, or sickness, who having "reaped a harvest" of glory for their country, have a right to expect that they will now be permitted to reap the harvest of national gratitude in a state of comfortable repose. May their comforts and the gratitude of their country, be equal to their deserts, say we; confident that every just and sensible Briton will cheerfully say"Amen."

But, although we have naval resources of which we have just reason to be proud, and upon which we may with confidence rely, do not let it be supposed that those resources are greater than they ought to be. Oh, no!

"For though we ought to pay our debt,
And lessen all our charges;
For God's sake! let no saving fit.
Abridge our bonnie Barges!"

We repeat that, although we have to all appearance, a navy that ought to be a match for all the world in arms, it will not be found more than sufficient for the protection of our extensive and distant colonies, and the multifarious commerce arising therefrom.

Our

Besides, get involved in a war whenever we may, our naval superiority will require much greater sacrifices to preserve it than any that have as yet been made. naval pretensions, that is to say, our interpretation of the maritime law of nations, which have more than once given rise to Northern confederacies, and North-American hostility, are as great an eye-sore to the maritime powers of Europe, and the United States of America, as the military dictation and pretensions of Napoleon were to England and the Continental powers of Europe. And although those pretensions, or rights as we more properly call them, are absolutely necessary to the preservation of that maritime superiority on which, and on which alone, our existence, as a great nation, entirely depends, we must be prepared to relinquish them, or to brave the world in their defence, go to war whenever we may. And it will be well for us if we do not, when it is too late, make the lamentable discovery, that our navigation laws were something more than " musty parchment." However, as this is a subject which requires a much longer yarn than our limits will allow us to spin, we must, for the present at least, knock off, give three cheers, seize the can, and toast the BRITISH NAVY!

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