disobliging; for pertinacity in sticking
to the mere letter of their instructions, and forgetting its spirit;
and for throwing obstacles in the way of the service, instead of
promoting its advancement. But I can only say for myself, that I never
met with anything but a hearty zeal to furnish all that was right, and
that, too, in the pleasantest manner, provided the proper degree of
civility were used in making the application.

People too often forget, that politeness, punctuality, and general
attention to business, are all reciprocal qualities; and that, unless
they themselves employ such means in their intercourse with official
authorities, it is hopeless to expect these authorities will put
themselves one inch out of their way to oblige persons who manifestly
hold them in contempt. At least, until we can procure angels to take
the office of master-attendant, master-shipwright, storekeeper, and so
forth, the laws and customs of human nature will continue to regulate
such influences. Your gruff and sulky letter-of-the-law man will, no
doubt, get his ship fitted, in process of time, but not half so well,
nor nearly so quickly, as he who takes matters cheerfully.

When a sufficient number of hands have been volunteered at the
rendezvous, and stationed to the different parts of the ship's duty,
the first lieutenant should form them into separate working parties,
as carefully selected as possible for the different kinds of work
required. The gunner will take one of these gangs to the
ordnance-wharf, to fit the tackles and breechings; another party will
be sent to the sail-loft to fit the sails; a third party may be
occupied with stowing the water-tanks, and preparing the holds for the
provisions; while some hands should be sent to weave mats for covering
the different parts of the rigging. The carpenters form a most
important department of the crew, as there are many little jobs to be
attended to in every part of the ship which the dockyard pass over;
and it is useful to have one or two carpenters always ready at a call
to drive in a nail here, or fix a cleat there, or to ease or fill up
what does not fit nicely.

When a ship is first commissioned, the captain should apply to the
builder to have the caulking of the sides, and especially of the
decks, carefully examined, and if this important operation is to be
repeated, it should be got over as soon as may be. If the caulking be
delayed, as too frequently occurs, till