es, you are too scrupulous. I can hardly imagine that you have
turned to the sect of the Quakers, and think fighting is contrary to the
Scriptures."

"No, Sir, not so far as that. I consider war, as a profession, both
necessary and honourable, and a nation is bound to be prepared for any
foreign attack, and to act upon the defensive, or on the offensive, if
it is necessary. It is not that. I do not consider the soldier who
fights for his country is not doing his duty, nor the seamen who are
employed by the state are not equally justified in their profession.
What I refer to is privateering. That is, vessels fitted out for the
purpose of aggression by private merchants, and merely for the sake of
profit. They are not fitted out with any patriotic motives, but merely
for gain. They are speculations in which the lives of people on both
sides are sacrificed for the sake of lucre--and had you witnessed such
scenes of bloodshed and cruelty as I have, during my career, such
dreadful passions let loose, and defying all restraint, you would agree
with me that he who leads such miscreants to their quarry has much to
answer for. Were it possible to control the men on board of a privateer
as the men are controlled in the king's service it might be more
excusable; but manned, as privateers always will be, with the most
reckless characters, when once they are roused by opposition, stimulated
by the sight of plunder, or drunken with victory, no power on earth can
restrain their barbarity and vengeance, and a captain of a privateer who
attempted would, in most cases, if he stood between them and their will,
unless he were supported, fall a victim to his rashness. All this I
have seen; and all I now express I have long felt, even when younger and
more thoughtless. You know that I did give up privateering at one time,
because I was shocked at the excesses to which I was a party. Since
that I have accepted the command of a vessel, for the idea of being
captain was too flattering to my vanity to permit me to refuse; but
reflection has again decided me not to engage in it further. I hope
this communication will not displease you, Mr Trevannion. If I am
wrong in my opinion at all events I am sincere, for I am giving up my
only source of livelihood from a sense of duty."

"I know that you are sincere, Elrington," replied Mr Trevannion, "but
at the same time I think that you are much too strait-laced in your
opinions. When natio