The later-built Northern Light represented a type of medium clipper brought out to supersede the out -and-out clippers which could not carry half as much cargo. The older Northern Light carried only 2000 against 4000 tons on the later vessel, and with the same size crew. No one of the present generation can form any sort of an idea of the majestic grandeur of a ship of the Northern Light class, not only as a picture, tearing along under a cloud of canvas, but even when lying quietly at anchor with the forest of yards correctly squared and harbor stows on the sails. It was a sight to compel a feeling of awe merely to look aloft to trace out the massive hempen shrouds and backstays, to say nothing of tracing out the leads of the running gear. To know that was in itself an education, and to be master of all was a big job. There were many such masters, and many such ships.
The Northern Light was the largest of twenty wooden ships from the same ways at Deacon Thomas' yard, near the present location of the Fore River Works. It is remarkable how a ship-building tradition sticks to one place. The exact spot where this ship was built was visited later by the Captain, just after he launched a much smaller ship, the little Spray. In her day the Northern Light was considered in New York, her hailing port, as the "finest American vessel afloat." The above excerpt in its entirety is credited in my bibliography, number 4.
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