MIDSHIPMEN. 51 



voidable, and the captain's power unlimited, 

 but is now I believe out of the scale of pro- 

 bability : it was one, too, that materially 

 altered my position. Two of our midship- 

 men were not on very good terms with 

 the captain. One had refused his in- 

 vitation to breakfast, which being re- 

 ported to the captain, and, as I understood, 

 his refusal or excuse being highly coloured 

 by the valet or steward (who to the best of 

 my recollection was either Swiss or French) 

 his commander said that he never knew a 

 midshipman in his life but what would eat 

 two breakfasts ; consequently he fell into dis- 

 favour: the other had been so for some 

 time. It was the custom of the service 

 then, and I believe it is so still, for one of 

 the midshipmen to breakfast and another 

 to dine with the captain every day ; they were 

 selected in turn, the first from the morning, 

 the other from the forenoon watch. 



In consequence of the expected long run 

 to Calcutta, that the dull sailing of the 



E2 



