ble
consequence; and therefore, even in the very busiest times of the
outfit, the yards should be carefully squared every evening after the
work is over, all the ropes hauled taut, and the decks swept as soon
as the artificers leave off work. Not a single person beyond the
sentries should ever be allowed to go from the hulk to the ship,
except during working hours. This rule prevents any interference with
the tools or unfinished work of the dockyard men. In a word, the crew
should never be allowed to suppose that the discipline of forms and
appearances, so to call it, is relaxed, because the usual regularity
of working is in some degree interrupted. That a ship is essentially
in good order can at once be discovered by a professional eye, in the
midst of her most bustling occupations and at any stage of the outfit.

Last of all the pilot comes on board; the sails are loosed and
hoisted; and the lashings being cast off from the hulk, the gay ship
sails joyously out of harbour, and takes up her anchorage at the
anchoring ground. The officers and crew set to work in getting things
into their places; and being all thoroughly tired of harbour, and
anxious to get to sea, a fresh feeling of zeal and activity pervades
the whole establishment.

The powder is now got on board; the warrant-officers "indent" or sign
the proper acknowledgments for their stores at the dockyard; and the
purser, having completed the stock of provisions, closes his accounts
at the victualling-office. The captain's wife begins to pack up her
band-boxes in order to return home, while the Jews and bum-boat folks
are pushing all the interest they can scrape together to induce the
first lieutenant to give them the priority of entrance with their
goods and chattels on the approaching pay-day. The sailors' wives
about this period besiege the captain and his lady alternately, with
petitions to be allowed to go to sea in the ship; to all, or most of
which, a deaf ear must be turned. When all things are put to rights,
the port-admiral comes on board to muster and inspect the ship's
company, and to see how the different equipments have been attended
to.

At length, just before sailing, pay-day comes, and with it many a
disgusting scene will ever be associated until the present system be
modified. The ship is surrounded by a fleet of boats filled with gangs
of queer-looking Jew-pedlars sitting in the midst of piles of
slop-clothing, gaudy handkerchiefs, tawdry t