"Whales and Destiny," a Book Review

Whales and Destiny

THE ENGLISH publication "Mariner's Mirror" in a recent issue printed a favorable review of the volume Whales and Destiny, by Edouard A. Stackpole, Historian of the Nantucket Historical Association. The review reads as follows: A brilliant study of mercantile negotiations and maritime policies fought out in London, Boston, Paris and the Southern Hemisphere during and after the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. And also a heartening exposition of how, when the big fellows fell out, a tiny little island community counted its ha'pence and serenely went on turning them into pounds in spite of them all.

England by blockading the rebellious Americans found she had cut off most of her sperm oil supplies, London streets darkened and crime increased, and we had a Fuel

Crisis on our hands. Little Nantucket had the oil and saw itself being cut off from its customers. If that was what

Boston Tea Parties were all about, it just wasn't funny.

They pleaded for neutral status but the London importers countered by asking them to emigrate to London, ships and all, and promised them jobs. Meantime some of them had set up in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and hoped to dodge the blockade from that British Colony.

To make sure that more captains and crews came to

London the merchants there made sure the Dartmouth scheme failed. Meantime an offer of the port of Dunkirk had come from France. Doubtfully, the Nantucket Quakers turned up at Versailles to make terms "in our usual way, with our heads covered, which being explained, directed their apparent full approbation" (a delightful expression).

And so right opposite the mouth of the Thames from which other of their ships operated, the Nantucketers set up their European base. Dunkirk based whalers like

William Rotch, by trans-shipping to Dunkirk, oil from ships actually sailing out of Nantucket (to augment that brought in by their Dunkirk whalers) were able to supply not only France but, through the back door, the Netherlands, Germany, and anyone who had the cash. Meantime another scheme was launched by English developer Charles Greville, best known to some of us as

Emma Hamilton's best friend. He was opening up Milford Haven and worked hard to get the Nantucketers there. It is remarkable how, while nibbling at all these baits, those cold-eyed islanders stuck devotedly to their much loved home and, as the sky cleared, all drifted back. It is admirable how Mr. Stackpole never loses the

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thread in this puzzling maze of initiatives. We then move on towards the southern waters. This is no "thar she blows!" book, but here we do get away from the counting houses and down to the sea in whalers and and sport among the cetaceans. We also solve the eternal problem of the whaler. We get outward cargoes to Australia, convicts ("only 21 died this trip"). We watch the captains trying to talk Spanish as the whole of South America revolts. A notable book which while pursuing one line of trade broadens our whole picture of the period in which all the advantages and troubles of today began.

J. Le Pelle#

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Paintings by Sally Gardner

Among the paintings by Nantucket artists which hang in the Peter Foulger Museum are two by Sally Gardner. One depicts a baby girl in a pink dress and was once descriped as appearing to have the child "floating into position on a cloud," and the other

Sarah Macy By Sally Gardner of a young boy in long trousers, "with an over-sized head and a serious expression." Both paintings are of interest in that they show the work of a local artist who, although untrained, shows an inherent talent that was best expressed in two charming miniatures, also on display at the museum.