time to lull suspicion. They then take up slops, that is,
obtain from the purser as many shirts, trousers, shoes, and other
articles, as they can persuade the commanding-officer they are in want
of; after which they desert upon the first opportunity, only to run
the same rig in some other ship. When a character of this kind is
caught in the act of making off with his own or his messmate's
blanket, it is best to let him go on shore (minus the blanket, of
course), and the chances are he will not return again. You lose the
man, but you are rid of a knave.

It is a fatal error in an officer to court popularity by unworthy
means, or indeed by any means, except those of fair-dealing and strict
propriety, equal justice to all, and as much indulgence as the nature
of the service will admit of. But, at the same time, advantage may be
taken of accidental opportunities of putting the people into
good-humour during an outfit; and by indulging them in a
jollification, we may occasionally give them something to think of at
the moment, and to talk of for weeks afterwards.

When I was fitting out his Majesty's sloop Lyra at Deptford, in 1815,
to accompany the embassy to China, under Lord Amherst, it occurred to
me one cold morning, the 24th of December, that it might not have a
bad effect on the good name of my pretty little craft, if I gave the
ship's company a regular blow-out the next day. I communicated this
idea to the first lieutenant, who, seeing no objection, sent for some
of the leading men, and said each mess was to have a goose and a
turkey for their Christmas dinner. My steward was then told to arrange
the details; and presently he came to report that the men had taken it
into their heads, that, as the best poultry was to be procured in
London, they should like exceedingly to be allowed to despatch an
embassy to Leadenhall Market for that purpose; the first lieutenant
agreed also to this, and two seamen and one marine were forthwith
landed at Deptford to execute the mission. A cart being hired, off
they set, returning before sunset, with as noisy a cargo as ever I saw
packed together. It so happened, that while we lay on one side of the
hulk, I forget her name, another ship was lashed on the opposite side
for some temporary purpose. The crew of our neighbour dined on
Christmas-day on soup and beef as usual, and remained contented enough
till some of our fellows, waddling under the effects of double
allowance of solids, an