THE DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS, November 18, 1864
TESTIMONIAL TO CAPTAIN DECKER, OF THE ALFRED.
(On board the Alfred)
Tuesday,
November 16, 1864
"To A Decker, commander of the ship Alfred.
Dear sir. -
Deeply impressed with a sense of the many obligations and favours
conferred on us during a long and pleasant voyage, and whilst the same,
by the will of Divine Providence, has been so successfully
accomplished, it is now full time that we should perform the pleasing
task of coming formal and expressing our grateful acknowledgments.
To say
nothing of our admiration or your great skill an unwearied vigilance as
captain - qualities which throughout inspired even the most timid
passenger with confidence, and a moral certainty of safety, - we feel
much pleasure in communicating to you our grateful acknowledgments for
the constant attention you paid us, and for the readiness which you
ever exhibited, in the most gentlemanly manner, to remove the many
discomforts necessarily attendant upon a sea voyage of so long
duration. We must not omit to advert likewise to that courteous
demeanour and Christian liberality of sentiment so eminently worthy of
your station, and so admirably calculated to remove prejudice, which
you always exhibited, by facilitating in every comfort and convenient
manner possible the education of children, and the free exercise of our
devotions.
To your
first and second officers, Messrs Luby and Wolfe, and to the gallant
crew of sailor boys under your command, we also tender our best
acknowledgments for their unvarying kindness.
Wishing you
every happiness, and a safe return to the bosom of your families,
whilst we pray that and all kind and bountiful Providence may protect
and sustain you in your important and perilous duties; that your
futures cares and anxieties may meet with the same success which
attended them in our regard, and that you may have the cheering
consolation to find them responded to by a truly sincere, grateful, and
appreciating public, - we beg to subscribe ourselves your sincere and
admiring friends."
(Here
follow the signatures.)
(On board the Hamburg barque Alfred.)
November 15, 1864
"Captain A. Decker,
Sir, - We
the undersigned steerage passengers beg to tender our most sincere
thanks to you, and your officers, for the kind and urbane treatment we
have always experienced at your hands, and also for the manner in which
you have conducted your vessel in bringing us safe, after a long and
perilous voyage. We must now conclude, as words we have not sufficient,
by wishing you and your officers every happiness and prosperity; and
may God bless and protect you all in your dangerous calling is the
sincere prayer of all."
(Here
follow the signatures.)
"The barque
Alfred, which arrived off the Heads on Wednesday night, worked up
harbour yesterday morning, and anchored off the Queen-street Wharf.
The following is a list of the steerage passengers, unavoidably omitted
in yesterday's issue:-"