"The second vessel ever built at Exeter was launched on Saturday, by Mr. J.B. Mansfield, from the building yard lately occupied by Mr. Wm. Potter. The ceremony of "christening" was performed by Mrs. Mansfield , in the following words: - 'I name thee Black Cat: May God grant thee a safe release from this to thine intended element, and may success and prosperity ever attend those who may possess thee.'
"The bottle was then broken against the bows, and three cheers given by Mr. Mansfield and his men. Orders having been given to cut the treenails, she glided like magic, and sat with swanlike appearance on the waters of the Exe, amid the cheers of the spectators.
"She will be rigged as a brigantine, is about 167 tons B.M., and will carry about 240 tons dead weight."
I like Mr. Mansfield's choice of name for his vessel. Ship's cats ought always to be black cats because, apart from killing rats, they bring good luck to ships and sailors. I hope 'Black Cat' lived up to her name. (N.B: nothing here to do with 'blackcatting'!)
I also like Mrs. Mansfield's address to the ship using the familiar pronoun and the scrupulously correct 'thine intended'. That's clearly how ships like to be addressed. I wonder if the Mansfields were Quakers.
'Treenail' is a jolly name for a wooden peg. Devon, and maritime, elision would surely bring about the pronunciation 'trennel' which, with 'trunnel' is also in the dictionaries.
Source: The Western Times, 6th March, 1857.
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