The best-educated of the ship's hands approached him on the grievances with which the whole navy was stirring.
Something had put a new spirit into the life of his majesty's ships; it was, in a sense, the reflection of the French Revolution and Tom Paine's Age of Reason.

What the Americans had done in establishing a republic, what France was doing by her revolution, got into the veins and minds of some men in England, but it got into the veins and minds of the sailor first; for, however low his origin, he had intercourse not given to the average landsman.

He visited foreign ports, he came in touch with other elements than those of British life and character.
Of all the ships in the navy the Ariadne was the best that Dyck Calhoun could have entered.

Her officers were humane and friendly, yet firm; and it was quite certain that if mutiny came they would be treated well.

The agitation on the Ariadne in support of the grievances of the sailors was so moderate that, from the first, Dyck threw in his lot with it.