CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT
STAUNCH PRIVATEERSMAN OF NEW ENGLAND
(1751-1813)
“Talk about your clipper ships, chipper ships, ripper ships,
Talk about your barquentines, with all their spars so fancy,
I’ll just take a sloop-o’-war with Talbot, with Talbot,
An’ whip ’em all into ’er chip, an’ just to suit my fancy.
“So, heave away for Talbot, for Talbot, for Talbot,
So, heave away for Talbot, an’ let th’ Capting steer,
For, he’s the boy to smack them, to crack them, to whack them,
For he’s th’ boy to ship with, if you want to privateer.”
—Ballads of Rhode Island.—1782.
A TRADING vessel, laden with wheat, from Cardigan in Wales, was lying to in the English Channel. Nearby rolled a long-bodied American Privateer, while a boat neared the trader, in the stern of which sat a staunch, weather-beaten officer in a faded pea-jacket. It was the year 1813 and war was on between England and the United States.
When the blustering captain entered the cabin to survey his prize, he spied a small box with a hole in the top, on which was inscribed the words, “Missionary Box.” He drew back, astonished.
“Pray, my bold seaman,” said he, turning to the Welsh captain, “what is this?”
“Oh,” replied the honest, old sailor, heaving a sigh, “’tis all over now.”