From Nautical Routine and Stowage, 1849
by John McLeod Murphy and W.N. Jeffers
These two "passed" midshipmen collaborated in 1849 on a large work titled Nautical Routine and Stowage with a Few Notes on Navigation. It was a large work in folio. Our reprint returns this portion on Spars and Rigging to the full folio size for better comprehension of the many plates and drawings.
From the Preface--In the writing of the article on SPARS AND RIGGING, particular pains have been taken to render it as thorough as possible; and to refer to every improvement in marine equipments. For this reason, the best and most experienced riggers have been consulted, that their views might be obtained upon every point. Under these circumstances, I feel no hesitation in speaking boldly in its favor—for though emanating thus under my signature, it nevertheless embodies the opinions of men of the highest professional standing: knowledge of this fact, however, might have been gleaned from the absence of the ipso dixit throughout ; for though presumptuous enough, as a Passed Midshipman, to write a book, I had neither the vanity nor the courage to associate the insignificant pronoun "I" with the detail of opinions and principles, of which many were in practical existence before "I" was born. As an ultimum vale, I find it necessary to refer to some few comments, which I have made as notes, or otherwise, upon the works of other writers—more, however, with the view to remove any wrong impressions than to apologize for what I have considered my duty. With those gentlemen, I have not the honor of a personal acquaintance; neither have I regarded them as obstacles in my narrow and limited path of ambition, for I have no expectations or ends to serve in book-making, or authorship. What I have written has been done, sans pour, in full view and cognizance of the "golden rule."
JOHN McLEOD MURPHY, U. S. N.
THIRD-STREET, NEW YORK, }
March, 1849.
THIRD-STREET, NEW YORK, }
March, 1849.
