rwise, to a species of
putrefaction; that very cause, of which the ill-grounded class of
alcalescents was supposed to be a promoter*.

[* See this remark more at large, in my Observations on the Diseases of
the Army, App. Pap. 7.]

Among other of the late improvements of the naval stores we have heard
much of the Portable-Soup, and accordingly we find that Captain Cook hath
not a little availed himself of it in his voyage. This concentrated broth
being freed from all fat, and having by long boiling evaporated the most
putrescent parts of the meat, is reduced to the consistence of a glue,
which in effect it is, and will, like other glues, in a dry place, keep
sound for years together. It hath been said, that broths turn sour on
keeping, though made without any vegetable*. Now, whether any real acid
can be thus formed or not, I incline at least to believe that the
gelatinous parts of animal substances, such as compose these cakes, are
not of a nature much disposed to putrefy. But however that may be, since
Captain Cook observes, that this soup was the means of making his people
eat a greater quantity of greens than they would have done otherwise, in
so far we must allow it to have been virtually antiseptic.

[* La feule matiere qui s'aigriffe dans le sang est la matiere
gelatincuse, etc. Senac, Structure du Coeur, 1. iii. ch. 4. para. 5.]

So much for those articles that have of late been supplied to all the
king's ships on long voyages, and in which therefore our worthy brother
claims no other merit than the prudent dispensation of them; but what
follows being regulations either wholly new, or improven hints from some
of his experienced friends, we may justly appropriate them to himself.

First then, he put his people at three watches, instead of two, which
last is the general practice at sea; that is, he divided the whole crew
into three companies, and by putting each company upon the watch by
turns, four hours at a time, every man had eight hours free, for four of
duty: whereas at watch and watch, the half of the men being on duty at
once, with returns of it every four hours, they can have but broken
sleep, and when exposed to wet, they have not time to get dry before they
lie down. When the service requires it, such hardships must be endured;
but when there is no pressing call, ought not a mariner to be refreshed
with as much uninterrupted rest as a common day-labourer?

I am well informed, that an officer distin