Every other person on board has his hour, or
his four hours, or his eight hours of rest, and of relief from all
anxiety; but the poor captain has not a minute. He is the chief over
all, it is true; but he pays dearly and deeply for this distinction in
the shape of heavy responsibilities, and perpetual trials of various
kinds. Our poet says, "uneasy lies the head that wears a crown"--I am
quite sure that unburdened never lie the shoulders that wear two
epaulettes. The captain is at all calls, and must be ready at all
seasons with resources, good or bad, to supply the failures or
indolence of others; while his own fate, fortunes, and character, as
well as the credit of the service, and sometimes that of the country,
are made to hang upon the instantaneous nature of his decisions, and
upon the vigour and efficiency of his exertions, at moments perhaps
when his powers are nearly exhausted, and his spirit all but crushed
by sheer fatigue. The simple enumeration of a captain of a
man-of-war's ordinary responsibilities, I have often thought, would
win for his class a degree of considerate forbearance, and candid
allowance for his difficulties, which, perhaps, it has never yet
fairly received from the public. If, to such enumeration, a notice
respecting the duties of each were appended, an interesting peep
might be afforded to the curious of the internal government of our
singular community, and information supplied on not a few points,
respecting which most people are entirely ignorant.

It is frequently the practice in the navy on Sundays to muster clothes
at divisions, and to take a list of what slops are required by the men
to complete their kit, or stock of worldly goods. This overhaul or
inspection happens once a month; and when such is the intention, the
word is passed along the lower deck at breakfast-time, that the ship's
company are to "muster clothes at divisions." When the drum beats,
each man brings his bag to the place where he stands in his division,
and proceeds to arrange his things in order on the deck before him,
each article being placed separately, that the officer may count, and,
if he pleases, examine them, after the mates and mids have first
called over the names, to ascertain that every man has the proper
complement of articles, in good order, and well washed. A note is then
taken of what things are wanted, in the way of slops, to supply
worn-out and condemned clothes. "Slops" is the technical name for