Dedicated ΤΟ HD8039 THE LADY, GRACIOUS AND KIND, WHO, SEEING A LABOURER WORKING IN THE RAIN, SENT HIM m ISBN 085937 1565 Our Seamen an appeal was first published in 1873 by Virtue and Co. This reprint of the original first edition Telephone: Havant 486262. Cover design by Sadler Graphics Printed by Coasbyprint Ltd, Claybank Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PREFACE. EVEI 'VERYBODY knows that there is a great loss of life on our coasts annually, and nearly everybody deplores it. I am sure that if the English public equally knew how much of this loss is preventible, and the means of preventing it, no long time would elapse before means would be taken to secure this end. It is with the view of giving this information, so as to enable each person who reads these pages to pronounce with decision upon this question, that this pamphlet is submitted to the public. I have kept steadily in mind the idea of writing to an individual, as otherwise I should not have had the courage to address the public in what (from its length alone) looks like a book. As to a portion of it, I (perhaps naturally) shrink a good deal from submitting it to the public. It seemed, however, in writing it, and still seems to me, to give weight to my testimony on behalf of the working men. I apologise to any of my friends who may feel annoyed, and who would doubtless have aided me had they known of the straits to which I was brought in the earlier part of my life in London; but I ask them to think what a grand and glorious thing it will be if, by any sacrifice, we can put a stop to the dreadful and the shameful waste of precious human life which is now going on. I thank all those gentlemen in the east, in the west, in the north, in the south, and in London, who have so greatly assisted me for some years in my inquiries, but they would not thank me if I thanked them by name. They are, however, one and all, longing to tell to a Royal Commission all they have told to me—and more; for then they would speak under the protection of the law, whereas now they have to depend upon my discretion. I intended to treat the subject at greater length, describing surveys for continuation, restoration, and some other matters, but, fearing to make my Appeal too long-when nobody would read it-I have curtailed it: as the Illustrations, however, were printed, I have had a few of the most beautiful stitched in at the end. |