Моби Дик

The Advocate

           Andiftheideaofperilsomuchenhancesthepopularconceitofthesoldier’sprofession;letmeassureyethatmanyaveteranwhohasfreelymarcheduptoabattery,wouldquicklyrecoilattheapparitionofthespermwhale’svasttail,fanningintoeddiestheairoverhishead.ForwhatarethecomprehensibleterrorsofmancomparedwiththeinterlinkedterrorsandwondersofGod!

           But,thoughtheworldscoutsatuswhalehunters,yetdoesitunwittinglypayustheprofoundesthomage;yea,anall-aboundingadoration!foralmostallthetapers,lamps,andcandlesthatburnroundtheglobe,burn,asbeforesomanyshrines,toourglory!

           Butlookatthismatterinotherlights;weighitinallsortsofscales;seewhatwewhalemenare,andhavebeen.

           WhydidtheDutchinDeWitt’stimehaveadmiralsoftheirwhalingfleets?WhydidLouisXVIofFrance,athisownpersonalexpense,fitoutwhalingshipsfromDunkirk,andpolitelyinvitetothattownsomescoreortwooffamiliesfromourownislandofNantucket?WhydidBritainbetweentheyears1750and1788paytoherwhalemeninbountiesupwardsofL1,000,000?Andlastly,howcomesitthatwewhalemenofAmericanowoutnumberalltherestofthebandedwhalemenintheworld;sailanavyofupwardsofsevenhundredvessels;mannedbyeighteenthousandmen;yearlyconsuming4,000,000ofdollars;theshipsworth,atthetimeofsailing,$20,000,000!andeveryyearimportingintoourharborsawellreapedharvestof$7,000,000.Howcomesallthis,iftherebenotsomethingpuissantinwhaling?

           Butthisisnotthehalf;lookagain.

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