{"id":"01KG8AMETE9E439DPCDMM092Z6","cid":"bafkreiemlzhhg4mh55nlmcxqy47wabidvotlhovny6snayts5nyzltjyye","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":13805,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:36.278Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 4","source_file":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","start_line":13743,"text":"not all the concessions of Earl Spencer, as First lord of the\r\nAdmiralty, nor the threats and entreaties of Lord Bridport, the Admiral\r\nof the Fleet—no, nor his gracious Majesty’s plenary pardon in\r\nprospective, could prevail upon the Spithead mutineers (when at last\r\nfairly lashed up to the mark) to succumb, until deserted by their own\r\nmess-mates, and a handful was left in the breach.\r\n\r\nTherefore, Mad Jack! you did right, and no one else could have\r\nacquitted himself better. By your crafty simplicity, good-natured\r\ndaring, and off-handed air (as if nothing was happening) you perhaps\r\nquelled a very serious affair in the bud, and prevented the disgrace to\r\nthe American Navy of a tragical mutiny, growing out of whiskers,\r\nsoap-suds, and razors. Think of it, if future historians should devote\r\na long chapter to the great _Rebellion of the Beards_ on board the\r\nUnited States ship Neversink. Why, through all time thereafter, barbers\r\nwould cut down their spiralised poles, and substitute miniature\r\nmain-masts for the emblems of their calling.\r\n\r\nAnd here is ample scope for some pregnant instruction, how that events\r\nof vast magnitude in our man-of-war world may originate in the pettiest\r\nof trifles. But that is an old theme; we waive it, and proceed.\r\n\r\nOn the morning following, though it was not a regular shaving day, the\r\ngun-deck barbers were observed to have their shops open, their\r\nmatch-tub accommodations in readiness, and their razors displayed. With\r\ntheir brushes, raising a mighty lather in their tin pots, they stood\r\neyeing the passing throng of seamen, silently inviting them to walk in\r\nand be served. In addition to their usual implements, they now\r\nflourished at intervals a huge pair of sheep-shears, by way of more\r\nforcibly reminding the men of the edict which that day must be obeyed,\r\nor woe betide them.\r\n\r\nFor some hours the seamen paced to and fro in no very good humour,\r\nvowing not to sacrifice a hair. Beforehand, they denounced that man who\r\nshould abase himself by compliance. But habituation to discipline is\r\nmagical; and ere long an old forecastle-man was discovered elevated\r\nupon a match-tub, while, with a malicious grin, his barber—a fellow\r\nwho, from his merciless rasping, was called Blue-Skin—seized him by his\r\nlong beard, and at one fell stroke cut it off and tossed it out of the\r\nport-hole behind him. This forecastle-man was ever afterwards known by\r\na significant title—in the main equivalent to that name of reproach\r\nfastened upon that Athenian who, in Alexander’s time, previous to which\r\nall the Greeks sported beards, first submitted to the deprivation of\r\nhis own. But, spite of all the contempt hurled on our forecastle-man,\r\nso prudent an example was soon followed; presently all the barbers were\r\nbusy.\r\n\r\nSad sight! at which any one but a barber or a Tartar would have wept!\r\nBeards three years old; _goatees_ that would have graced a Chamois of\r\nthe Alps; _imperials_ that Count D’Orsay would have envied; and\r\n_love-curls_ and man-of-war ringlets that would have measured, inch for\r\ninch, with the longest tresses of The Fair One with the Golden\r\nLocks—all went by the board! Captain Claret! how can you rest in your\r\nhammock! by this brown beard which now waves from my chin—the\r\nillustrious successor to that first, young, vigorous beard I yielded to\r\nyour tyranny—by this manly beard, I swear, it was barbarous!\r\n\r\nMy noble captain, Jack Chase, was indignant. Not even all the special\r\nfavours he had received from Captain Claret, and the plenary pardon\r\nextended to him for his desertion into the Peruvian service, could\r\nrestrain the expression of his feelings. But in his cooler moments,\r\nJack was a wise man; he at last deemed it but wisdom to succumb.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 4"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJVX0DG3QG3ASDM4V0FBS","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AMET99RMP9V3Z7V983RBR","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AMETEDTDM1MCR1GAJ2AR5","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:37.710Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:55.052Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}