Nat the Navigator. A Life of Nathaniel Bowditch. For Young Persons

by Henry I. Bowditch

EAST INDIA MARINE SOCIETY.

But I am anticipating my story. For two years after his arrival from his last voyage, Mr. Bowditch remained at home, and engaged as a merchant in commerce. We find him generally, in connection with his old friend Captain Prince, trying his fortunes by adventures of money sent to different parts of the world. In 1802 he owned one sixth of a small schooner and its cargo, valued at nine hundred and eleven dollars. During this long residence in town, his fame had increased. He had become known among his fellow-citizens as an “able mathematician.”[4] He was therefore appointed to offices of honor and trust. He was a member of the school committee of the town. This boy, who had been obliged to leave school at the age of ten years and three months, was now, at the age of twenty-five years, appointed to superintend the instruction of others. He was secretary of the East India Marine Society of Salem. This society had one of the most interesting collections of East Indian curiosities that can be found in America. It is now in the possession of the Essex Institute. The East India Marine Society was composed of the most influential men in Salem. No one could be enrolled among their number unless he had sailed, as captain or supercargo of a vessel, around either Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope. It was intended as a benevolent society, for the relief of the families of deceased members, and also for the promotion of the art of navigation. Mr. Bowditch was one of its most active members. In the early part of this century, the society was accustomed, on the days of its annual meeting, to have a public procession. A description of one of these processions may not be uninteresting to you. I quote the words of an eye-witness[5] of a celebration that occurred two years later than the period of which I am speaking; but the date is unimportant, as the ceremony was the same. “January 4, 1804. This day was the annual meeting of the East India Marine Society. As the clergy attend in turn, this occasion afforded me an opportunity to enjoy the day with them. After business, but before dinner, they moved in procession, but the ice limited the distance. Each of the brethren bore some Indian curiosity, and the palanquin was borne by negroes dressed nearly in the Indian manner. A person dressed in Chinese habits, and masked, passed in front. The crowd of spectators was great. Several gentlemen were invited to dine. Instrumental music was provided in the town, for the first time, and consisted of a bass drum, bassoon, clarinet, and flute (!), and was very acceptable. There was no singing.” ... “It is a most happy arrangement,” continues this writer, “to deliver all the papers of this company into the hands of Mr. Nathaniel Bowditch, lately returned from his voyage to India, that they may be prepared for public inspection.”

In July, 1802, Mr. Bowditch bought a part of a small vessel engaged in a sealing voyage; but he lost, by this adventure, half of his investment. In September of the same year, he, with three others, bought the new ship Putnam, built a short time previously, at Danvers. This purchase probably caused a change in his determination of never going to sea again.

SAILS HIS LAST VOYAGE.

ANECDOTE.

STUDIES MÉCANIQUE CÉLESTE.

On the 21st of November he sailed as master, and owner of one small part of the whole ship and cargo, valued at fifty-six thousand dollars. Though he went in the capacity of captain, he was determined to do nothing more than direct the course of the ship. He meant to leave to the officers under him all the labor usually expected of commanders. He made an agreement with two skilful persons to take upon themselves these duties. He did so in order that he might be able to pursue his studies more uninterruptedly than would have been possible, had he been obliged to watch every favorable breeze, or the first appearance of a gathering storm. But, as we shall see, whenever real danger called him to duty, he then stood firm, and gave his commands like one who was satisfied that the time had come for him to do so. A few days after leaving the port of Beverly, he was seen walking “fore and aft” the vessel, with rapid steps, and deeply absorbed, apparently, in the solution of a problem. The wind had been blowing freshly for some time; and, while he was meditating, and forgetful of everything else, the mate of the vessel had been hoping that he would see the severe squall which was threatening, and was, even then, skimming fiercely over the troubled water. He feared to suggest to Mr. Bowditch the importance of taking in sail, because the discipline on board ship prevents an inferior officer from interfering with the superior, when the latter is on deck. At length, aroused by the danger of the vessel, he ventured the remark, “Captain, would it not be better to take in the topgallant sails?” These words aroused Mr. Bowditch from his reverie, and he instantly ordered all hands to duty, and fortunately, by his activity and energy, was enabled to furl the extra sail before the gust struck the vessel. But this event taught Mr. Bowditch a lesson; and he gave strict orders to the two officers mentioned above to waive all ceremony with him, and to take the command of the ship whether he was on deck or not. This rule was afterwards always observed, except on difficult occasions; and then Mr. Bowditch assumed the authority of commanding officer. On these occasions, by his calmness and sagacity he gained the respect and confidence of those in employment under him. Before the termination of this voyage, we shall see a striking example of this. But now let us proceed on our expedition with him, and again cross the Atlantic, pass around the Cape of Good Hope to the islands of the Indian Ocean. But I should premise, that, as he had become more acquainted with mathematics and philosophy, he had imported from Europe most of the great works on these subjects; and he now was prepared to devote himself more closely than ever to the darling object of his life—the attainment of a knowledge of the truths of science. He was determined, on this voyage, to undertake the thorough study of one work on the heavens—a book which he had understood was above anything ever before written by man on that subject. Imagine, if you can, the zeal and delight with which he must have approached this book upon a subject that had interested him from earliest years. Doubtless he thought not, then, of the fame he was to gain from it. The name of it you will like to know. I shall speak of it again; but, meanwhile, I will merely mention that it was called “A Treatise on the Mechanism of the Heavens,”—Mécanique Céleste,—and was written, in French, by a mathematician named La Place, the greatest scientific man, after Newton, of modern times. But this was not the only work Mr. Bowditch took with him. He had many of the most important works which had been published on the same subject, they having been imported for him by a bookseller named Blunt, in payment of services rendered.

STUDIES AT SEA.

These various studies of course influenced his Journal. He was an observer of passing events; but he recorded less of them than on the preceding voyages.

By the first record, it appears that on “Sunday, November 21, 1802, at one o’clock P. M., sailed from Captain Hill’s wharf, in Beverly. At two, passed Baker’s Island lights, with fine and pleasant breeze.” This fair weather lasted but a few days, and by far the greater part of the voyage was uncomfortable, in consequence of the prevalence of rain and wind. On January 25, 1803, he saw the islands of Tristan d’Acunha, and, whilst coursing along under easy sail, took several observations of them, and made a chart of their various positions.