Trust & Distrust: Corruption in Office in Britain and its Empire 1600-1850

Abstract

sovereignty’ (p. 165); Hubbard suggests that whilst at sea, the Company still needed to foster positive relations with its sailors (p. 176) – for which nationhood was a tool (p. 203). The most pertinent part of the chapter, however, is the establishment of non-English actors as ‘critical observers’ (p. 242) as Hubbard explores how, for the sake of trade and indeed safety, English seafarers engaged in ‘performing Englishness’ (p. 206). ‘Sailors and the State’ acts as the book’s de facto conclusion, discussing how England’s state ‘did indeed value its seafaring subjects’ (p. 241), developing a mutually beneficial relationship. At its core, this is a discussion of naval manning, and fostering ‘nurseries’ of sailors (p. 250). Hubbard uses the lenient courts to represent the state, drawing on work by G.F. Steckley for the purpose. As an illustration of the ‘vexed transition from a freewheeling, predatory mode [. . .] to a more disciplined commercial and colonial orientation’ (p. 276), Englishmen at Sea is remarkably successful. There are some gaps; for example, little attention is paid to the subsets of identity which may be contained within that of the English seafarer. A brief nod in Chapter 7 to differing experiences of ‘deep-sea sailors’ (p. 252) and ‘coastal fishermen’ (p. 268) shows that this does not entirely escape Hubbard’s notice, but the nuances of maritime labour and cultures are sacrificed in favour of a more homogenised English seafaring identity. This extends to terminology, with role terms like ‘sailor’, ‘mariner’, and ‘seaman’ used near-interchangeably. An exploration of different labour roles within this broader, nascent seafaring ‘Englishness’ would be of benefit – but overall, Hubbard’s thorough research, strong emphasis on social history, and eye for the historical experience gives strong foundation for the work’s broader arguments regarding national identity.