d by every one on board. When a good plan has been once fixed
upon, and the officers are vigilant, patient, and exact in their own
personal conduct, and the leading men have been made fully acquainted
with what is required, the rest of the crew will be but too happy to
do their duty manfully and well, without the instrumentality of the
lash, except in extreme cases.

In former times, the distinctions amongst ratings of the seamen on the
ship's books were so few that it was impossible to discriminate
correctly, or to assign to each man, with any justice, the exact
rating which his knowledge of seamanship, his experience in the
exercise of that knowledge, his general good conduct, and his
abilities, might entitle him to. An Order in Council, dated November,
1816, established a new system of Ratings; and by another Order, dated
the 23rd of June, 1824, "the net sea pay of the flag-officers of His
Majesty's fleet" was established, "together with the net sea pay and
number of their retinue; the number of commissioned, warrant, petty,
and non-commissioned officers, and the ratings of every description
both of seamen and marines, allowed to each class of His Majesty's
ships, with their rates of net sea pay respectively; and
distinguishing the several classes for sharing the produce of
seizures."[6]

As soon as the ship's company have been mustered, the captain takes
off his hat and reads the Articles of War, to which, out of respect to
this important act of parliament, the people listen in like manner
uncovered. Between breakfast and divisions, some captains occupy
themselves in examining the weekly reports of the expenditure of
boatswain's, gunner's, and carpenter's stores; and in going over with
the purser the account of the remains of provisions, fuel, and
slop-clothing on board. After which he may overhaul the midshipmen's
log-books, watch, station, and quarter bills, or take a look at their
school-books. If the ship be in harbour, he also glances his eye at
their accounts; and he generally takes occasion to indulge in a little
kindly gossip about their mess, their love of the sea, and the last
letters they received from home.

Thus the gallant skipper, as well as his gallant crew, has seldom much
spare time on his hands during the forenoon of Sunday. I should be
right glad, indeed, to be informed what day, or hour, or even what
half-hour, in the whole week, from end to end, the captain can fairly
call his own. Not one!