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sails； and； as if his power had been no less absolute over Aeolus
than it was over Neptune； he forced the wind to blow him on in
its own despite。
But as all men who have ever been at sea well know how weak such
attempts are； and want no authorities of Scripture to prove that
the most absolute power of a captain of a ship is very contemptible
in the wind's eye； so did it befall our noble commander； who；
having struggled with the wind three or four hours； was obliged
to give over； and lost in a few minutes all that he had been
so long a…gaining； in short； we returned to our former station；
and once more cast anchor in the neighborhood of Deal。
Here； though we lay near the shore； that we might promise
ourselves all the emolument which could be derived from it； we
found ourselves deceived； and that we might with as much
conveniency be out of the sight of land； for； except when the
captain launched forth his own boat； which he did always with
great reluctance； we were incapable of procuring anything from
Deal； but at a price too exorbitant； and beyond the reach even of
modern luxurythe fare of a boat from Deal； which lay at two
miles' distance； being at least three half…crowns； and； if we had
been in any distress for it； as many half…guineas； for these good
people consider the sea as a large common appendant to their
manor； in which when they find any of their fellow…creatures
impounded； they conclude that they have a full right of making
them pay at their own discretion for their deliverance： to say
the truth； whether it be that men who live on the sea…shore are
of an amphibious kind； and do not entirely partake of human
nature； or whatever else may be the reason； they are so far from
taking any share in the distresses of mankind； or of being moved
with any compassion for them； that they look upon them as
blessings showered down from above； and which the more they
improve to their own use； the greater is their gratitude and
piety。 Thus at Gravesend a sculler requires a shilling for going
less way than he would row in London for threepence； and at Deal
a boat often brings more profit in a day than it can produce in
London in a week； or perhaps in a month； in both places the owner
of the boat founds his demand on the necessity and distress of
one who stands more or less in absolute want of his assistance；
and with the urgency of these always rises in the exorbitancy of
his demand； without ever considering that； from these very
circumstances； the power or ease of gratifying such demand is in
like proportion lessened。 Now； as I am unwilling that some
conclusions； which may be； I am aware； too justly drawn from
these observations； should be imputed to human nature in general；
I have endeavored to account for them in a way more consistent
with the goodness and dignity of that nature。 However it be； it
seems a little to reflect on the governors of such monsters that
they do not take some means to restrain these impositions； and
prevent them from triumphing any longer in the miseries of those
who are； in many circumstances at least； their fellow…creatures；
and considering the distresses of a wretched seaman； from his
being wrecked to his being barely windbound； as a blessing sent
among them from above； and calling it by that blasphemous name。
Friday； July 5。This day I sent a servant on board a man…of…war
that was stationed here； with my compliments to the captain； to
represent to him the distress of the ladies； and to desire the
favor of his long…boat to conduct us to Dover； at about seven
miles' distance； and at the same time presumed to make use of a
great lady's name； the wife of the first lord commissioner of the
admiralty； who would； I told him； be pleased with any kindness
shown by him towards us in our miserable condition。 And this I
am convinced was true； from the humanity of the lady； though she
was entirely unknown to me。
The captain returned a verbal answer to a long letter acquainting
me that what I desired could not be complied with； it being a
favor not in his power to grant。 This might be； and I suppose
was； true； but it is as true that； if he was able to write； and
had pen； ink； and paper on board； he might have sent a written
answer； and that it was the part of a gentleman so to have done；
but this is a character seldom maintained on the watery element；
especially by those who exercise any power on it。 Every
commander of a vessel here seems to think himself entirely free
from all those rules of decency and civility which direct and
restrain the conduct of the members of a society on shore； and
each； claiming absolute dominion in his little wooden world；
rules by his own laws and his own discretion。 I do not； indeed；
know so pregnant an instance of the dangerous consequences of
absolute power； and its aptness to intoxicate the mind； as that
of those petty tyrants； who become such in a moment； from very
well…disposed and social members of that communion in which they
affect no superiority； but live in an orderly state of legal
subjection with their fellow…citizens。
Saturday； July 6。This morning our commander； declaring he was
sure the wind would change； took the advantage of an ebbing tide；
and weighed his anchor。 His assurance； however； had the same
completion； and his endeavors the same success； with his formal
trial； and he was soon obliged to return once more to his old
quarters。 Just before we let go our anchor； a small sloop；
rather than submit to yield us an inch of way； ran foul of our
ship； and carried off her bowsprit。 This obstinate frolic would
have cost those aboard the sloop very dear； if our steersman had
not been too generous to exert his superiority； the certain
consequence of which would have been the immediate sinking of the
other。 This contention of the inferior with a might capable of
crushing it in an instant may seem to argue no small share of
folly or madness； as well as of impudence； but I am convinced
there is very little danger in it： contempt is a port to which
the pride of man submits to fly with reluctance； but those who
are within it are always in a place of the most assured security；
for whosoever throws away his sword prefers； indeed； a less
honorable but much safer means of avoiding danger than he who
defends himself with it。 And here we shall offer another
distinction； of the truth of which much reading and experience
have well convinced us； that as in the most absolute governments
there is a regular progression of slavery downwards； from the top
to the bottom； the mischief of which is seldom felt with any
great force and bitterness but by the next immediate degree； so
in the most dissolute and anarchical states there is as regular
an ascent of what is called rank or condition； which is always
laying hold of the head of him who is advanced but one step
higher on the ladder； who might； if he did not too much despise
such efforts； kick his pursuer headlong to the bottom。 We will
conclude this digression with one general and short observation；
which will； perhaps； set the whole matter in a clearer light than
the longest and most labored harangue。 Whereas envy of all
things most exposes us to danger from others； so contempt of all
things best secures us from them。 And thus； while the dung…cart
and the sloop are always meditating mischief against the coach
and the ship； and throwing themselves designedly in their way；
the latter consider only their own security； and are not ashamed
to break the road and let the other pass by them。
Monday； July 8。Having passed our Sunday without anything
remarkable； unless the catching a great number of whitings in the
afternoon may be thought so； we now set sail on Monday at six
o'clock； with a little variation of wind； but this was so very
little； and the breeze itself so small； but the tide was our best
and indeed almost our only friend。 This conducted us along the
short remainder of the Kentish shore。 Here we passed that cliff
of Dover which makes so tremendous a figure in Shakespeare； and
which whoever reads without being giddy； must； according to Mr。
Addison's observation； have either a very good head or a very
bad； one； but which； whoever contracts any such ideas from the
sight of； must have at least a poetic if not a Shakesperian
genius。 In truth； mountains； rivers； heroes； and gods owe great
part of their existence to the poets； and Greece and Italy do so
plentifully abound in the former； because they furnish so
glorious a number of the latter； who； while they bestowed
immortality on every little hillock and blind stream； left the
noblest rivers and mountains in the world to share the same
obscurity with the eastern and western poets； in which they are
celebrated。 This evening we beat the sea of Sussex in sight of
Dungeness； with much more pleasure than progress； for the weather
was almost a perfect c