44 Voyage of the Novara. 



this is done by contractors, who let out the furniture at 

 the rate of five per cent, annually on the value. This sum 

 is deducted monthly from the pay. The same system is also 

 adopted on board English men-of-war. The cabins of the 

 officers are there furnished and provided with all the requisite 

 comforts by contractors under the superintendence of the Ad- 

 miralty. The value of each article is marked in a printed 

 list deposited with the authorities. The captain pays a 

 yearly rate of five per cent, on the valuation, and binds 

 himself besides, in the event of the ship's being paid ofi\, 

 or of being appointed to another vessel, to return in good 

 condition all the articles specified, and pay the value noted 

 in the list for everything missing. This agreement is 

 registered at the Admiralty, and the contractor receives 

 the amount monthly. The advantage of such an arrange- 

 ment to the commander of a ship will be more fully appre- 

 ciated by those who, from personal experience, are aware 

 of the expense attending an outfit, and the great loss which 

 an officer transferred from one ship to another suffers through 

 a sudden and forced sale of his property. The commander 

 of a ship is moreover often not in a condition to spend for 

 his personal outfit a sum of perhaps a thousand pounds 

 sterling, but he can conveniently pay annually from £40 to 

 £50 for the hire in monthly instalments ; and it thus becomes 

 easier for him to maintain the appearance due to his position. 



The commander and officers of the Caroline^ which, after 

 an absence since the 12th of May, had rejoined us on the 



