"THE BOSUN'S CHRONICLE" --- emailed to Shipmates around the world --- VOL.4, ISSUE 1, January 2004 Avast there - and welcome aboard from the Bosun of the Thomas Kydd Shipmates' Network! 1) NEWS & VIEWS 2) ASK JULIAN 3) RECOMMENDED READING 4) SALTY SAYINGS 5) WHO'S WHO 6) FEATURE 7) CONTEST WINNERS 8) BOSUN'S CORNER ==================== 1) NEWS & VIEWS --- publishing happenings, shipmates ahoy! --- Julian has just signed contracts with BBC Audiobooks for unabridged audiobooks of ARTEMIS, SEAFLOWER and MUTINY. The reader will be Christian Rodska, a master of nautical fiction. We'll run a special feature on him in the July newsletter. + PUBLISHING CALENDAR 2004 April - US paperback edition SEAFLOWER, Scribner May - UK paperback version of MUTINY, Coronet June - US hardback of MUTINY, Scribner July - Unabridged audiobook of ARTEMIS, BBC Audiobooks November - UK hardback of QUARTERDECK, Hodder & Stoughton - UK edition of abridged audiobook of QUARTERDECK, Hodder & Stoughton - Canadian trade paperback edition of QUARTERDECK, Hodder & Stoughton December - Australian/New Zealand trade paperback edition of QUARTERDECk - Unabridged audiobook of SEAFLOWER, BBC Audiobooks Details of large print, Braille, book club editions and other translated editions will be announced as they come to hand. + WELL SPOTTED! One eagle-eyed reader wrote to Julian recently saying he had been watching a documentary on TV about a British expedition up the Amazon and he noticed that one of the crew sitting on the deck of their vessel was reading a book with Julian's name on the front. As he says, how many authors can claim their work is read in the upper reaches of the Amazon? + ROBERT SQUAREBRIGGS Shipmate Bob Squarebriggs features in the January issue of "Bowsprit", www.tallshipsbooks.com. Bob has used the ships in Julian's books as inspiration for his model - and has developed quite a reputation around the world! + SIGNED BOOKPLATES In response to the enthusiastic demand for signed bookplates, we've extended the offer while stocks last. If you'd like one (or more), just email the Bosun with your postal details. ===================== 2) ASK JULIAN --- a forum for Shipmates questions --- Andrew Murdoch of Ohio, USA, asks: "Why did carronades use slides and not carriages as did regular cannon?" Julian replies: "The Carronade (basically a very short barrelled cannon with very big cannon ball - up to 68 pounds, compared to the 32 pounds of Victory's largest long gun) was introduced in 1779. They were produced at the innovative Carron Ironworks in Scotland, which was functioning right up to 1985. Although inaccurate at long range, the carronade was spectacularly successful as a weapon, and could be served by a gun crew very quickly. A small version of the carronade was often mounted in a boat's bows for cutting out expeditions. Carronades could also be loaded with canister, causing devastation when close up to the enemy. HMS Glatton was experimentally fitted with all-carronade armament and, under the command of Captain Bligh, once beat off six frigates. The reason carronades used slides rather than carriages (wheels), as did cannon, is that the carronade had a brutish recoil. In fact the carronade had to have the barrel projecting outboard because the flame on discharge sometimes set light to rigging. ==================== 3) RECOMMENDED READING --- books, magazines and journals about the sea --- "The Ship of the Line" by Brian Lavery Recently re-released, this two-volume study is regarded as the definitive work in the area. It outlines the history and technical development of the battle fleet from 1650 to 1850. Conway Maritime Press Vol. 1 ISBN 0851772528 Vol. 2 ISBN 0851772870 ==================== 4) SALTY SAYINGS --- what today's English owes to Jack Tar --- By popular demand, two this month. + To turn a blind eye To turn a blind eye to something means to know what is happening, but to ignore it. The origins of this phrase are definitely salty, and most people correctly associate it with Lord Nelson. At the Battle of Copenhagen, Admiral Sir Hyde Parker hoisted a signal to Nelson to discontinue the action. Nelson said to his flag captain, "You know, Foley, I have only one eye. I have a right to be blind sometimes." He then put the glass to his blind eye and said, "I really do not see the signal. Keep mine for closer battle flying." Some two hours later the battle was over, with the bulk of the Danish fleet destroyed. === + By and large Today, by and large has come to mean "in general", "for the most part". The origins of this phrase are definitely salty and are to do with descriptions of a ship's sailing abilities. A ship that sails well by and large sails smartly into or "by" the wind, and performs creditably with a following wind, or "going large", - i.e. she is a good sailer under most conditions of wind. ==================== 5) WHO'S WHO --- bio details of the characters in the series --- Here's the last last question in our bio quiz: He made good use of "conweniences" - who is he? In case you missed them, here are the first two questions again: + He has "been aboard since the last age". Faded tattoos cover his body, and he has a mild, seamed face. + He is the acerbic one of the two scientists who come aboard in ARTEMIS. Send the answers to all 3 questions to the Bosun by the end of January for entry into a draw for a special prize of a signed uncorrected bound proof. They're fast becoming collectors' items! ==================== 6) FEATURE PETS AT SEA Shipmates will remember the poignant scene with a ship's cat during Tom Kydd's first night aboard "Duke William". From early times, cats were thought to bring sailors good luck, a belief that crossed cultures. Japanese sailors carried tortoiseshell cats aboard to protect them from ghosts and give warning of storms. Many sailing ships of the British Navy carried a variety of pet animals to sea, and both officers and crew found a respite from the hard life in the companionship and affection of these animals. All manner of creatures found their way aboard - birds, dogs, cats, guinea pigs - even tame monkeys. Some captains, including Nelson, would not tolerate pets in their ships, believing they fouled the deck and were bad for discipline. Animals for food were often kept on board, especially on long voyages and sometimes seamen made a special pet of one of the barnyard animals. In the brig "Onyx" in the late 1820s the crew grew attached to a young pig that had travelled with them from Portsmouth to the West Indies. When they learned it was to be butchered a group of seamen took the brave step of sending a deputation to the captain begging for its life. "You see, sir," they pleaded, "he is just like one of us; he knows us all and takes his grog daily like any Christian." Their captain relented. A parrot aboard the "Hind" in 1793 had learned to imitate the calls of the boatswain's whistle. Sometimes the bird would pipe an order so correctly as to throw the ship into momentary confusion. One day when a party of ladies was being hoisted on deck the parrot piped: "Let go" - with disastrous results. Dogs were popular pets. There were an amazing number of dog-fanciers in "Salisbury", flagship of Vice Admiral John Campbell on the Newfoundland station in 1783-1785. When Salisbury received orders to return to England the admiral gave permission for any person that pleased to take home a dog, seventy five were embarked! Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, one of the great heroes of the age, was respected for his seamanship and courage, but was a somewhat cool and aloof leader. His warmth and humour were reserved for his family at home in England, and for Bounce, his canine companion at sea. Collingwood was deeply saddened when he died. On March 28 1996, Rear Admiral David Campbell, A.M., R.A.N., unveiled a bronze statue to Captain Matthew Flinder's cat Trim. It stands on the windowsill of the Mitchell Library on Macquarie Street, Sydney. Flinders called Trim "the best and most illustrious of his race". For four years Trim was an affectionate and intelligent companion to his master. Sadly, Trim was killed at the Isle of France in 1804. On his way back to England Flinders was detained by the French for seven years. It was during this period that Flinders wrote a biographical tribute to Trim - the brave seafaring cat who circumnavigated the globe with him. Do you have any tales of animals at sea? Email the Bosun. "Trim" by Matthew Flinders is published by Angus & Robertson. It is a delightful tale. ISBN 0 207 19614 1 ==================== 7) CONTEST ANSWERS We occasionally like to throw in some challenging questions in the contests. How many did you get right? * Unabridged ARTEMIS audiobook contest - in SEAFLOWER Kydd spent Christmas at sea in the Caribbean, under Captain Farrell. * Abridged MUTINY audiobook contest - Tippet was Coxall's inseparable companion. * Paperback SEAFLOWER competition - an evolution described in chapter two of KYDD was loosing topsails * Abridged audiobooks contest - Achilles anchored in Rosia Bay when she arrived in Gibraltar * Signed hardbacks comp. - an xebec was the vessel used in the escape from Venice. Since the inaugural newsletter in May 2001, we've given away over 50 great prizes - as they say, you've got to be in 'em to win 'em! This year we plan some very special giveaways! =================== 8) BOSUN'S CORNER Ahead of a review of the newsletter and the website next month, we'd love to hear any thoughts or suggestions you might have +Website * What do you especially like on the website? * Is there any department you would like expanded? * What else would be interesting/useful to you? +Newsletter * What sections do you most enjoy? * Are there other general areas you would like covered? * Are you happy with the size/frequency of the newsletter? Please email the Bosun. There's a special mystery prize for every idea that is implemented, on either the newsletter or the website. +Reader Survey We're also planning another Reader Survey mid-year. Please email the Bosun if you'd like to register your interest now. (If you register now, you'll automatically receive the Survey questionnaire by email around June.) All respondents to the survey will go into the hat for a specially-mounted display length of eighteenth century ship's rope. +Spam filters Some Shipmates had difficulty receiving their "Bosun's Chronicle" last month. The solution is to adjust your settings or inform your ISP to allow mail from JulianStockwin@JulianStockwin.com and Bosun@JulianStockwin.com Happy New Year! Yours aye, THE BOSUN ++ Back issues of the newsletter downloadable from the website ++