Model of the “San Juan” whaler built in 1563, it hit the rocks and soon sank in 1565. Underwater archaeologists have found its remains in the Red Bay in Canada. Also a replica is present at the Albaola Maritime Museum, Pasaia San Pedro, Basque Coast, Spain.
A sailor’s heaven for those with 50 years of sea service - less for those stout of heart and loyal to shipmates- it was the final destination for old sailors who’d cut their painter and gone aloft for the last time. The Fiddler’s green is described by the Century Dictionary (1889) as “ […] a name given by sailors to their dancehouses and other places of frolic on shore; sailor’s paradise.”
At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true When here they’ve done their duty The bowl of grog shall still renew And pledge to love and beauty.
- The Dog Fiend; Or, Snarleyyow , by Captain Marryat 1856 (x)
It was said that upon death a sailor’s soul entered a gull, in which form he flew to the South Pole and entered Fiddler’s Green through an open hatch. There he settled in peace, where […] the drinks and smokes are logged but never paid, there are pubs on every corner and steaks and plum duff every day. “ There is a fiddle that never stops playing and dancers that never tire, here are all the good-looking women of the world to fill the pipes and glasses of the sailors and listen to their yarn and give them all their love.
This is the Vasa, the young lady who sank after only 1300 metres on the day of her maiden voyage in 1628. This shows her in 1961, when she was found and was brought to the surface.
The young, mostly children, who joined the Navy often had the problem of acquiring the necessary basics that were expected of them. Of course, the young gentlemen had gone to school before, but that was not enough to give them the necessary knowledge of mathematics, foreign languages, navigation, chemistry and politics. So in 1729, the Royal Navy introduced a Naval College to give the boys a basic education. However, not all boys attended this college (which only increased in the middle of the 19th century and later became compulsory) and many remained with the old system of being taught on board a ship, either by the captain, the lieutenants or a schoolmaster on board.
Midshipmen studying for their Lieutenant’s examination aboard HMS Pallas. Sketch by Lt. Gabriel Bray, 1774 (x)
Charles Hunter, 19 years old, a midshipman in the US Navy, described in his journal his somewhat unusual experience of such an improvised school aboard USS Potomac in 1831. He and his comrades had to share a room with the Commodore’s dairy goat and her goatlings. This shows how highly regarded this schooling was in the eyes of the Commodore and other Officers. But the schoolmaster himself was just as big a problem. Hunter describes him as “a dull religious book learning young man who does not care at all whether we learn anything” (x). They could read novels or write letters while at school, but they didn’t really learn anything, according to Hunter. Naval schoolmasters, whether Royal Navy or US Navy, were not assigned to every ship, and even when they were, they had a reputation for being ineffective. This was partly because of the lack of training of these schoolmasters, but also because midshipmen were treated as officers first and students second, so schoolmasters had to scrape together lessons with anyone who was not on duty and could be forced to attend.
Hunter therefore decided 1832 to teach himself, as he needed the knowledge for his lieutenant’s exam. However, his study times were often incompatible with his service and so he had to put them on the back burner. This problem of lack of or poor teaching led the US Navy to start thinking about a Naval College. Commodore Arthur Sinclair had already introduced it in 1819 while in command of the Norfolk Navy Yard on the frigate Guerriere. Up to 50 midshipmen were taught there. However, this nautical school was disbanded in 1828 when the Guerriere had to return to service. A proper Naval College was not built until 1845 in Annapolis and that one is still in use today.
As soon as we were put on board, the captain, officers, and passengers crowded round to inquire the news. Bramble, according to pilot custom, had brought off one or two late Plymouth papers (one of which, I recollect, gave the account of the cutting out of the Hermione by Captain Hamilton); but the people on board were eight months behind hand at least as regarded what had passed: they had not even heard of Sir Sidney Smith’s defence of Acre against Bonaparte, or any thing else which had subsequently occurred; so that as soon as Bramble had taken charge, and put the ship’s head the right course (for the wind was fair), there was no end to question and answer.
— Frederick Marryat, Poor Jack
Sir William Sidney Smith brandishing a scimitar at the Siege of Acre, by John Eckstein 1801-1802.
Again the topsails were hoisted and top-gallant sheets home. It was a strong breeze, although the water was smooth, and the Aurora dashed through at the rate of eight miles an hour, with her weather leeches lifting.
— Frederick Marryat, Mr. Midshipman Easy
“The quarter-master during ordinary watches conns the ship, and stands beside the wheel at the conn, unless close-hauled, when his station is at the weather side, where he can see the weather-leeches of the sails,” wrote Admiral William H. Smyth in his Sailor’s Word-Book.
Leeches are the borders or edges of sails, and those on the weather side are facing the wind (the opposite of lee).
The Blackwall Frigate ‘Yorkshire’, British School 19th century.
The sea broke over as we lay in the trough, deluging us with water from the forecastle, aft, to the binnacles; and very often, as the ship descended with a plunge, it was with such force that I really thought she would divide in half with the violence of the shock. Double breechings were rove on the guns, and they were further secured with tackles; and strong cleats nailed behind the trunnions; for we heeled over so much when we lurched, that the guns were wholly supported by the breechings and tackles, and had one of them broken loose, it must have burst right through the lee side of the ship, and she must have foundered.
— Frederick Marryat, Peter Simple
A frigate heeling in an offshore gale, Nicholas Pocock (1740-1821).
In the meantime, it was dark; the cutter flew along the coast; and the Needles’ lights were on the larboard bow. The conversation between Cecilia, Mrs. Lascelles, and her father, was long. When all had been detailed, and the conduct of Pickersgill duly represented, Lord B. acknowledged that, by attacking the smuggler, he had laid himself open to retaliation; that Pickersgill had shewn a great deal of forbearance in every instance; and, after all, had he not gone on board the yacht she might have been lost, with only three seamen on board. He was amused with the smuggling and the fright of his sister; still more, with the gentlemen being sent to Cherbourg; and much consoled that he was not the only one to be laughed at.
— Frederick Marryat, The Three Cutters
Cutter running through the Needles, drawing by Lt. Edward Bamfylde Eagles, circa 1840.
The French fleet used to come out and manoeuvre within range of their batteries; or, if they proceeded further from the shore, they took good care that they had a leading wind to return again into port. We had been in-shore about a week, every day running close in, and counting the French fleet in the harbour, to see that they were all safe, and reporting it to the admiral by signal, when one fine morning, the whole of the French vessels were perceived to hoist their topsails, and in less than an hour they were under weigh, and came out of the harbour.
— Frederick Marryat, Peter Simple
Three French Frigates & a Gun Vessel aided by a Battery on the Shore, close in with Belleisle April 9th 1799 (detail), 1801 print after Nicholas Pocock.
Well, then, you must mind that an old shipmate o’ mine, Ben Leader, had a wife named Poll, a pretty sort of craft in her way, neat in her rigging, swelling bows, taking sort of figure-head, and devilish well-rounded in the counter; altogether, she was a very fancy girl, and all the men were a'ter her.
— Frederick Marryat, Jacob Faithful
Sweet Poll of Plymouth, 1786 stipple engraving after Thomas Stothard.
As there was no time to lose, our hero very soon bade adieu to his paternal roof, as the phrase is, and found his way down to Portsmouth. As Jack had plenty of money, and was very much pleased at finding himself his own master, he was in no hurry to join his ship, and five or six companions not very creditable, whom either Jack had picked up, or had picked up Jack, and who lived upon him, strongly advised him to put it off until the very last moment.
A country dance was now called for, which was more acceptable to all parties, as none of Mr. Apollo Johnson’s pupils were very perfect in their cotillon, and none of the officers, except O'Brien, knew any thing about them. O'Brien’s superior education on this point, added to his lieutenant’s epaulet and handsome person, made him much courted; but he took up with Miss Eurydice after I had left her, and remained with her the whole evening; thereby exciting the jealousy of Mr. Apollo Johnson, who, it appears, was amorous in that direction.
— Frederick Marryat, Peter Simple. 1837 illustration of the Barbados Dignity Ball by Robert W. Buss.
But as the second evening closed in, the sky was loaded with heavy clouds — the scud flew wildly past them — the sea increased to mountains high — and the gale roared through the rigging of the schooner, which was now impelled before it under bare poles.
We were ordered to the dockyard to draw sea-stores. When we arrived there, I was quite astonished at the piles of timber, the ranges of storehouses, and the immense anchors which lay on the wharf. There was such a bustle, everybody appeared to be so busy, that I wanted to look every way at once.
— Frederick Marryat, Peter Simple
Wharf Shed of the Trafalgar Lock; view in a dockyard storehouse, filled with sailors and goods. Block cut wood engraving by Mason Jackson, 1847-1851.
