257 268 our allegiance is to Nature? No, to the
King. Though the ocean , which is
inviolate Nature primeval, tho' this
be the element where we move and
have our being as sailors, yet as the
King's officers lies our duty in a sphere
correspondingly natural? So little is
32 1 that true, that in receiving our commissions
we in the most important regards
ceased to be natural free-agents.
When war is declared are we the
commissioned fighters previously
consulted? We fight at command.
If our judgements approve the war,
that is but coincidence. So in other
particulars. So now. For suppose
257 268 our allegiance is to Nature? No, to the
King. Though the ocean , which is
inviolate Nature primeval, tho' this
be the element where we move and
have our being as sailors, yet as the
King's officers lies our duty in a sphere
correspondingly natural? So little is
32 1 that true, that in receiving our commissions
we in the most important regards
ceased to be natural free-agents.
When war is declared are we the
commissioned fighters previously
consulted? We fight at command.
If our judgements approve the war,
that is but coincidence. So in other
particulars. So now. For suppose

Transcribed by: John Bryant