After pondering on the matter during another sail, the following letter appeared in the ‘Times’:—
“The training ship ‘Chichester,’ lately moored at Greenhithe for the reception of homeless boys, has already produced some of the anticipated good results, and several young lads, rescued from a life of sorrow and want, have been sent out as trained sailor boys.
“But although these boys are approved by the ships’ captains, it is found that until the boys can be taught how to steer a vessel, as well as the other duties of a seaman, they cannot be well received by the rest of a ship’s crew.
“Steering is not to be learnt by book or precept only, or in a ship at moorings; and the suggestion is therefore made that a small vessel, say a cutter of 20 tons, should be attached to the ‘Chichester,’ as a ‘tender.’
“The boys could then be taught to handle the tiller by voyages to the Nore. They would also learn the use of buoys, beacons, and lights. They would have a powerful incentive to progress in their book-work, and the ‘tender’ would be most useful in carrying officers and boys and stores to and from London, and thus save considerable expense.
“This being a new proposal, it will be necessary to have additional contributions for the purchase of the tender, and as the funds which provided the ‘Chichester’ were received principally from the readers of ‘The Times,’ perhaps we may venture to hope for the same kind aid in launching the new suggestion. Contributions may be sent to the Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Williams, St. Giles’ Refuge, Great Queen Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
“J. M.
“Margate Roads.”
We expect much from Englishmen when an appeal is made to their generous hearts, but it was certainly beyond our hopes that in a few days afterwards the following letter could be published:—
“In reply to the appeal through your columns, for means to provide a tender for the ‘Chichester’ school ship, the Rev. C. Harrington, Rector of Bromsgrove, has presented to the institution the ‘Dolphin,’ a strong, well-built, sea-going yacht of 20 tons, with all her stores complete.
“The committee in accepting this gift, have abundant reason to thank the kind donor, and the friends of ‘Homeless Boys’ owe another debt of gratitude to ‘The Times.’
“J. M.
“Temple.”
By the desire of the ‘Chichester’ Committee I joined the ‘Dolphin’ at Sheerness, and with a regular salt captain, and a seaman from the Bendigo diggings, and a boy from the ‘Chichester,’ we weighed the cutter’s anchor to bring the prize to Greenhithe.
The pier-man smiled gladly on the gift yacht. The taut Guard-ship bristling with big guns seemed to look down kindly on the little vessel, and even the grim old hulks, otherwise sulky enough, appeared to wish her well as she loosed her white sails to a gentle breeze. Yes, and the sun smiled brightly, too, with a balmy day like summer again.
Barges flocked out, clustering on the water as in my former visits here, yet the ‘Dolphin’ mingled with them not as in a mere play, but with a benign and holy purpose in her gait, for it was the gracious breath of Christian benevolence that wafted the ‘Dolphin’ on. She was a present to the homeless boys, and so a gift that shall be one time repaid by the Friend of the friendless with measure “running over.”
Yantlet was passed and the Blythe and Jenkin, when sunset shrouded sleeping Father Thames. Then the ship-lights sparkled numerous on the stream, and red rays from the beacons glinted athwart our sail. Swift steamers whisked by in the dark. Tall, gaunt, sailing ships rustled their dusky canvas, and struggling little tug-boats rattled with instant paddle as they passed.
Clouds withdrew from above as we neared the ‘Chichester,’ and the full moon came out and looked upon the “gift for boys” with her long pendant streaming in the mild and onward breeze.