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Dr. Bentley
Mr. Elias Derby is the Salem merchant and trader who owns one of the most renowned fleets in town. Captain John Derby sails Mr. Derby’s ships on his famous cross-Atlantic missions. Mr. Derby is an intelligent, perceptive man with a reputation for being able to predict political and economic shifts; thus, Nat greatly respects his opinions. He hires Captain Henry Prince to replace Captain Gibaut in command of the Henry, then he asks Prince and Nat to continue guiding his ships on historic voyages to the West Indies. Before his death of age and ill health, Derby begins fundraising efforts so that Salem can build a frigate to contribute to the United States’ newly formed navy.
Mr. Elias Derby Quotes in Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
The Carry On, Mr. Bowditch quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Elias Derby or refer to Mr. Elias Derby. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 8: “Lock, Stock, and Bookkeeper”
Quotes
There was another world, too—the world of Salem. Every time Nat went on an errand he realized how Salem was growing. The men of Salem were proud of their town. Their “city,” they called it now. Here it was—only 1790—not even ten years since we’d won our independence—and Salem had doubled in size! Eight thousand people now! The people bragged of the growth of Salem, and of the daring of her sailors. Elias Hasket Derby’s ships were going farther and farther from their home port. As Nat shouldered his way through the crowded wharves he heard talk of Russia and France and Spain, of Bombay and Calcutta.
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Chapter 12: Down to the Sea
Quotes
“When you’re off soundings, you’re on your own. I’ve given you suggestions for trading when you reach Bourbon. But when you get there, you may find my suggestions aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. You’ll use your own judgment. There are only two things I expressly forbid. You’ll never break a law in any port you enter. And you’ll never—never enter into slave trade.” He leaned forward, gripping the arms of his chair. “I’d rather lose any ship I own than to have it become a slaver! There is no excuse I’d accept. Even if a slaver attacked you, overpowered you, and forced you to carry a cargo of slaves—even that would be no excuse! You’d go down fighting—but you wouldn’t turn a Derby ship into a slaver!”
Before Nat realized what he was doing, he clapped his hands […].
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Mr. Elias Derby Quotes in Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
The Carry On, Mr. Bowditch quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Elias Derby or refer to Mr. Elias Derby. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 8: “Lock, Stock, and Bookkeeper”
Quotes
There was another world, too—the world of Salem. Every time Nat went on an errand he realized how Salem was growing. The men of Salem were proud of their town. Their “city,” they called it now. Here it was—only 1790—not even ten years since we’d won our independence—and Salem had doubled in size! Eight thousand people now! The people bragged of the growth of Salem, and of the daring of her sailors. Elias Hasket Derby’s ships were going farther and farther from their home port. As Nat shouldered his way through the crowded wharves he heard talk of Russia and France and Spain, of Bombay and Calcutta.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12: Down to the Sea
Quotes
“When you’re off soundings, you’re on your own. I’ve given you suggestions for trading when you reach Bourbon. But when you get there, you may find my suggestions aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. You’ll use your own judgment. There are only two things I expressly forbid. You’ll never break a law in any port you enter. And you’ll never—never enter into slave trade.” He leaned forward, gripping the arms of his chair. “I’d rather lose any ship I own than to have it become a slaver! There is no excuse I’d accept. Even if a slaver attacked you, overpowered you, and forced you to carry a cargo of slaves—even that would be no excuse! You’d go down fighting—but you wouldn’t turn a Derby ship into a slaver!”
Before Nat realized what he was doing, he clapped his hands […].
