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"Ravender, you are well aware that the lawlessness of that coast and
country at present, is as special as the circumstances in which it
is placed. Crews of vessels outward-bound, desert as soon as they
make the land; crews of vessels homeward-bound, ship at enormous
wages, with the express intention of murdering the captain and
seizing the gold freight; no man can trust another, and the devil
seems let loose. Now," says he, "you know my opinion of you, and
you know I am only expressing it, and with no singularity, when I
tell you that you are almost the only man on whose integrity,
discretion, and energy--" &c., &c. For, I don't want to repeat what
he said, though I was and am sensible of it.
Notwithstanding my being, as I have mentioned, quite ready for a
voyage, still I had some doubts of this voyage. Of course I knew,
without being told, that there were peculiar difficulties and
dangers in it, a long way over and above those which attend all
voyages. It must not be supposed that I was afraid to face them;
but, in my opinion a man has no manly motive or sustainment in his
own breast for facing dangers, unless he has well considered what
they are, and is able quietly to say to himself, "None of these
perils can now take me by surprise; I shall know what to do for the
best in any of them; all the rest lies in the higher and greater
hands to which I humbly commit myself." On this principle I have so
attentively considered (regarding it as my duty) all the hazards I
have ever been able to think of, in the ordinary way of storm,
shipwreck, and fire at sea, that I hope I should be prepared to do,
in any of those cases, whatever could be done, to save the lives
intrusted to my charge.
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