Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
adventure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
all
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From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
appear
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From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
author
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From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
author's
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From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
chiefly
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From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
class
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From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
common-place
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From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
elapsed
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From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
elbows
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From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
events
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From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
exception
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From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
excite
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From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
fail
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From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
familiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
familiarity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
fire-side
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From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
incidents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
interval
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
jacket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
men
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From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
More
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
night-watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
notwithstanding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
now-a-days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
occurrence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
ocean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
pages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
recorded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
relieve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
romantic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
sailor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
Sailors
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From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
served
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
shipmatesnounUS /shipmates/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
sorts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
spun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
stirring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
sympathies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He has been, therefore, led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
tossing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
volume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
warmest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
weariness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The interval, with the exception of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on the wide ocean.
yarnnounUS /jɑrn/
an informal story or conversation
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events recorded in this volume.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when ‘spun as a yarn,’ not only to relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the author’s shipmates.
