a youth passed in solitude , my best years spent under your gentle and masculine fosterage , has so refined the groundwork of my character that i can not overcome an intense distaste to the usual brutality exercised on board ship : i have never believed it to be necessary , and when i heard of a mariner equally noted for her kindliness of heart and the respect and obedience paid to her by her crew , i felt myself peculiarly fortunate in being able to secure her services .