some small knowledge of reading and
writing, who, by overhearing the daily clinical lectures of the
doctor, contrives to pick up a smattering of medical terms, which he
loses no opportunity of palming off upon his messmates below as
sublime wisdom sucked in at Alma Mater.

Just before leaving the sick-bay, the captain generally turns to the
surgeon, and says, as a matter of course, "Doctor, mind you always
send aft at dinner-time for anything and everything you require for
the sick;" and I have frequently remarked that his whole tone and
manner are greatly softened during this part of the rounds, perhaps
without his being conscious of any difference. A very small share of
attention on the part of a commanding-officer on such occasions, if
kindly and unaffectedly exercised, leaves a wonderfully favourable
impression, not only among the invalids to whom it is more
particularly addressed, but seldom fails to extend its salutary
influence over the rest of the ship's company, and thus, of course,
contributes materially to strengthen and to maintain his authority.
Such expressions of sympathy never fail to act like drops of oil on
the machinery of discipline, making all its wheels work smoothly and
sweetly.

The lower deck is next examined. The bags have been carried on deck,
so that, as I mentioned before, nothing remains but the people's
mess-tables and mess things, their kids, and crockery. As Jack is
mighty fond of a bit of show in his way, many of the berths or
mess-places exhibit goodly ranges of tea-cups and regiments of plates
worthy of the celebrated Blue Posts Tavern, occasionally flanked by a
huge tea-pot, famously emblazoned with yellow dragons and imitation
Chinese. The intervals between the shelves are generally ornamented
with a set of pictures of rural innocence, where shepherds are seen
wooing shepherdesses, balanced by representations of not quite such
innocent Didos weeping at the Sally Port, and waving their lily hands
to departing sailor-boys. On the topmost-shelf stands, or is tied to
the side, a triangular piece of a mirror, three inches perhaps by
three, extremely useful in adjusting the curls of our nautical
coxcombs, of whom one at least is to be found in every berth.

The mess-tables, which are kept so bright you would suppose them
whitewashed, are hooked to the ship's side at one end, while the other
is suspended by small ropes covered with white canvas. Against these
lines rest the soup and g