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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Untitled Article
ibeticaF calculation . His"head how began to teem with projects more extensive ifuin he had hitherto conceived ; , but he found himself almost entirel y ignorant © f that science -which was indispen ^ ilxy K ^ cessaiy to their execution . In his coasting voyages- he experienced the hich
^ reat inconvenien ces w arose from his defect in nautical knowledge . He discovered that withoiyt ample information fix the science of navigation , he was , at times , even in the coasting trade , subj ect to defeats and hazards from which
ai- 'l his prudence and good sense could not prsrtect him . What then -would be his condition if his little barque were ex * posed on the wide and fathomless ocean , "without a single land-mark , "without a visible star to direct fiim in his course .
lie had formed plans for distant voyages , but he was sensible that if he attempted to traverse the great deep without adequate knowledge of the necessary Science , his little ark , his treasures , and tiuerr master , wotild probab-y perish -in tl * e pathless wilderness of billows . His nnmd did riot shrink from its tasks when
it perceived common difficulties in the uray of their completion . The man who "without education , from a humble fat * - frcer formed himself into a boat-buiider 3 and tracer on dangerous and , to him , un-Jbiown coasts , will not easily yield to disconragemerit . Paul had been ichool-« d amidst toils , dangers , and opposing cr reumstatxes , and his understanding
was prepared for new and more arduous , exercises . He resolved to acquire thp Bece sary science . An old friend , wlio was skilled in the needful theory of maftri statical learning , cheerfully aided Paul m his enquiry , and in the short space of trvvo weeks taught him the first principles of navigation . Paul's active mind was alive *©> every circumstance connected with Ibis new schemes , he therefore ea < rerlv
received the lessons of his instructor , and comprehended their tie igiw ? and irtilky . The ? door of luiov . Udge beingunlocked , and having b ^ en Led over tUe threshold , h * speedily entered its secret chamber- ; and made himsc : f ma ter of th ^ nece sa . iv treasures . He now arr tn r ed his affairs . ' or his new expedition .
" 1 he farun which he occupied was Joortuncte for convenience , from the sea-port . fl * fewre *! # i sia ^ i ilioujt , whicii Uad usu-
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ally been occtipied N a $ s shoe ^ tti ^ kef * ^ shop , on We ^ t-port river , and removed his family to it . A Iboat of eighteen tons was immediately procured , and he set on * to practise the theory of navigation which he ha 4 so lately acquired . He sailed to
the banks of Newfoundland in quest of codfish , his wishes were gratified arid he returned home with a valuable cargo . This important adventure w * as the foundation of an extensive and profitable fish ~ ing establishment from West-port rivers This establishment continued for si
considerable length of time , and was the source of an honest and comfortable living to many of the inhabitants of West * port . In the autumn and winter succeed * ing his first fishing voyage , Paul passed his time at home in the erection of & house for the accom © dationof his
growing family . After seeing them pleasantly settled he returned to his boat and made a second fishing voyage to New ** foundlaiid . On his return from this voyage he was presented with an © pportunity for making himself acquainted with nev ^ modes of trade . He was offered a sta ^
tioh as mate , on board a vessel between thirty and forty tons barthen , about to sail for a port in North Carolina , tic accepted the offer . His intelli gence and integrity in the performance of his duties , on his return to West-port . recoinmended him to the owners of the ves el " ,
and they committed her to his com maud , He was di ectcd to proceed to the Straits of Belle * isle on a whaling voyage . When Paul arrived on the fishing grcund , he found there , four regular traders completely equipped with proper boat ? and harpoons , &c . for catching whales . Pau 1 discovered that he had not made suitable
preparations for the business , he had onl y two boats , one good and well calculated far the dangerous toils , the other oi <] ^ leaky , and almost useless He had tea hands on hoard , all inexperienced in the nature of their voyage , and Paul himself was almost : f- < jually ignorant . For in
aitn < ni £ h he hid b ^ en engaged two whaling adventures , he wa ^ ¦ then very young , dnd though he had rowed a boat in puisuit of" the monster of the deep , he had never thrown a harpoon . When ihe regular tr . ick * r . learned their conrlit on thi * v withd-r-w f om the rv . sro : mary nractree oi :-udi voya ^ cji , and i v » rfu :. c < i t «
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2 S 6 Intelligence .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1807, page 286, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2380/page/62/
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