“It was a high counsel which I once heard given to a young person: ‘Always do what you are afraid to do.’”—Emerson.
FORTUNATUS WRIGHT
THE MOST HATED PRIVATEERSMAN OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA
(1715-1765)
“‘Be sure you’re right, then go ahead!’ was coined by Andrew Jackson,
Who was a fighter, tough as nails, and loved to lay the whacks on,
He followed out this sage advice, in spite of opposition,
While everybody winked and said,—‘A Fellow with a Mission!’
In other days, in other climes, there lived a seaman daring,
Who loved a fight, as well as he,—was just as good at swearing;
His name was Wright, and thus in spite of all his foemen said,
Old Fortune Wright, was surely right, whene’er he went ahead!”
—Chants of the Eastern Clipper Ships.—1846.
IN the year 1744 war was declared between England and France. French privateers harried the coast of her rival, caught her merchantmen whenever they ventured away from stout men-o’-warsmen, and chased them in the blue, shimmering waters of the Mediterranean. It seemed as if there were never gun-boats enough to protect the British shipping, and thus many of the English merchants grew choleric and angry.
Englishmen carried on quite a trade with Italy, Greece, and the countries of Asia Minor, and at Leghorn—upon the Italian coast—they had numerous trading shops and docks for their own vessels. They began to suffer, not only great annoyance, but also great loss, from the depredations of the French privateers which swarmed about the harbor mouth and scurried into every corner of the ragged coast-line. Their trade was hampered, their ships compelled to remain in port, or—if they ventured out—they were inevitably captured. The situation was unbearable.
“My! My!” said one of the red-faced merchants. “My! My! We must have a remedy for this. My! My! We must have our own privateers!”