lation of the merchant service,
with a view to control and limit the far too absolute power that is now
entrusted to the commanders of merchant-ships. It is a positive and
astounding fact, that many of these men believe they may treat with
absolute cruelty any of the poor people who are under their command,
without the slightest danger of being punished for it! Indeed, their
ill-usage is only limited, by the length of time their unfortunate
victim will stand it without making resistance. Among sailors, those
who are known to be of an independent spirit and bold daring, are
usually permitted to enjoy their rights and privileges; but the weak and
unresisting have to suffer, when serving under mates and captains of
this brutal kind, and it is to be regretted that there are too many such
in the merchant navy of England.

The amount of suffering endured under such tyranny is almost incredible.
Many a poor sailor of timid habits, and many a youthful sailor boy, are
forced to lead lives that are almost unendurable--drudged nearly to
death, flogged at will, and, in short, treated as the slaves of a cruel
master.

The punishment inflicted--if it can be called punishment where no crime
has been committed--is often so severe as to endanger life--nay, more,
life is not unfrequently taken; and far oftener are sown the seeds of
disease and consequent death, which in time produce their fatal fruit.

Of course every one admits that the commander of a ship at sea should
possess some extraordinary powers over his men, beyond those which are
allowed to the master of a factory or the surveyor of a public work. It
is argued that without such, he could not answer for the safety of his
vessel. There should be one head and that should be absolute. This
argument is in part true. Every sensible man will admit that some
extraordinary powers should be granted to the captain of a ship, but the
mistake has hitherto lain, not so much in his possessing this absolute
power, as in the want of an adequate punishment for him whenever he
abuses it.

Hitherto the punishment has usually either failed altogether, or has
been so disproportioned to the crime, as to be of no service for example
to others. On the contrary, it has only encouraged them in their
absolute ideas, by proving almost their complete irresponsibility. The
captain, with his mates at his back, his money, and the habitual dread
which many of his crew feel for him, can usually "ou