338 NAVIGATION. 



lage for every thing cheap has blinded many persons on 

 this subject ; and no other argument will obtain with them 

 but this, — " Tea can be brought to England cheaper in a 

 small ship than in a ship of 1200 tons; therefore small 

 ships are preferable." Much might be said on this subject 

 which would be out of place here. 



The East India Company have two classes of ships in 

 their regular service. The ships of the first class (eight in 

 number)' are the private property of the company. In these 

 ships all the appointments are in the gift of the East India 

 directors, and promotion from the lowest to the highest is 

 strictly according to seniority. A captain obtains the com- 

 mand of a ship in this class without paying sixpence for it, 

 and is allowed to retain the command for five voyages, after 

 ■which he must retire. The other class consists of ships 

 let on hire to the company for a certain number of voyages 

 by private owners. The captains and oflicers of these hold 

 the same rank in the company's service as the captains and 

 officers of the company's own ships, and are subject to the 

 same laws as to qualification, &c. ; but the appointments 

 of both captains and officers are in the gift of the private 

 owners, and the rule of seniority is not observed. In these 

 ships the progress of a young man through the different 

 gradations is very vexatious to parents, all depending upon 

 interest, which must be renewed and reapplied ever>- suc- 

 ceeding voyage. The most rapid promotion which can 

 take place would be thus : One voyage as midshipman ; 

 one as sixth or fifth officer ; one as third ; one as second 

 or first ; and then captain. Or it might be thus (which 

 •would probably be more advantageous to the officer) : Two 

 voyages as midshipman ; one as fourth officer ; one as third ; 

 and one as second or first. The captain, first, second, third, 

 and fourth officers, each take an oath of fidelity to the com- 

 pany every voyage. No person can be sworn in as fourth 

 officer without producing certificates that he has performed 

 two voyages to India ; that he is twenty-one years of age ; 

 that he is^qualified to work the longitude by chronometers 

 and lunars ; together with a certificate of good conduct from 

 his last commander. These certificates are all printed 

 forms. He is then examined in seamanship by the com- 

 pany's master-attendant. An officer is examined every time 

 he gains a steu, from fourth officer to first inclusive. The 



