abits.

By these and other means, if the captain and officers be at all
popular in their manners, or be known favourably in the service, or if
even without these advantages, the intended station to which the ship
is going be a favourite one, and ordinary pains be taken at the
rendezvous, the ship's company soon begins to assume a respectable and
business-like appearance. It then becomes of infinite importance, that
the first lieutenant should introduce a uniform and well-explained
system of discipline on board, especially as regards cleanliness and
neatness of appearance, which are best effected by frequent and
regular musterings, without too much fastidiousness in the first
instance, as this might only teaze the men, and prevent the effectual
establishment of those observances which it is the chief purpose of
good discipline to render habitual. Great efforts should always be
made to give to Sunday its true character of a day of repose; and in
the weekly mustering, in particular, a good deal may generally be
accomplished towards imparting to the ship and crew the appearance of
order, which in times more advanced ought to characterize them during
the whole week. The stock of clothes amongst the men will, it is true,
generally be scanty at first, but a portion of it may, with proper
management, be always kept clean, and a well-bleached shirt and
trousers, with a good scrape of the chin, and a thorough scrubbing
from top to toe, render poor Jack's toilet, if not the most refined in
the world, certainly very effectual towards its purpose. I have often
been amused to see the merry style in which they employed great lumps
of coarse soap and hard brushes, in vain endeavours to remove the
umber tints of tar from their hands, and the tanning of the sunshine
from their brawny arms. These indelible distinctions of their hard
service are rendered more striking at such moments by their contrast
with the firm and healthy whiteness of the skin round their shoulders
and chest.

An officer must be cautious how he issues slop clothing to newly
entered men, who have no pay due; and have a sharp, but reserved
look-out kept on doubtful characters as they go over the side on
leave, for there will ever be found at the great naval stations a
certain number of regular-built swindlers, who wander from port to
port expressly to pilfer. These vagabonds enter on board
newly-commissioned ships, make a great show of activity, and remain a
certain