These causes alone enable American ships still to keep the element and show the flag of their country in distant seas." What was likely to befall a shipmaster in the turbulent eighteenth century may be inferred from the misfortunes of Captain Michael Driver of Salem.

In 1759 he was in command of the schooner Three Brothers, bound to the West Indies on his lawful business.

Jogging along with a cargo of fish and lumber, he was taken by a privateer under British colors and sent into Antigua as a prize.

Unable to regain either his schooner or his two thousand dollar cargo, he sadly took passage for home.

Another owner gave him employment and he set sail in the schooner Betsy for Guadaloupe.