326 Notice of Sketches of Naval Life. 



"The captain is an officer, so high in dignity and rank, thai 

 he ought not even to show himself often to vulgar eyes ; and 

 those, it is said, who succeed best, confine themselves most to 

 their cabins. He, consequently, seldom interferes with the ac- 

 tive duties of the ship : his orders are given, generally, to the 

 first lieutenant, or through a midshipman, to the officer of the 

 deck ; and, though exercising a close scrutiny over every part, 

 it is without appearing to do so. 



" Such is this officer, in the ship : but he has other, and much 

 higher duties ; and these should never be lost sight of, in forming 

 our estimate of his character. The other officers feel them- 

 selves members of a single vessel : he must take more enlarged 

 views; for he is the connecting link between his own ship and 

 other ships; between his own nation and other nations. In offi- 

 cial intercourse abroad, he, of course, appears, and his character 

 wives a tone to all such proceedings. To fit him for this, re- 

 quires an assemblage of qualities seldom found in one man — a 

 mind well disciplined; expanded views of society; thorough 

 knowledge of history, laws and governments; sound judgment; 

 quickness, decision, firmness and intrepidity. 



" 1 come now to the other officers. The first lieutenant has 

 the actual superintendence of the ship. He is the oldest* lieu- 

 tenant on board, and on his character, that of the ship very much 

 depends. His powers are very great, and reach to every part ; 

 and, as it is most felt, the office is apt to be an invidious one : 

 but murmurs, if any, are silent ones. He can even thwart the 

 captain, and often does so, while his actions have the semblance 

 of obedience. He ought to be a man, ready and prudent ; not 

 harsh but decisive ; and above all, well skilled in all the duties 

 of a ship. In times of danger, he takes the trumpet ; as he does 

 also in getting under way and coming to anchor ; but, in all other 

 ca-ies is excused from the services of the deck : but he is res- 

 ponsible for the cleanliness and good order of the ship : com- 

 plaints of grievances are made to him : he decides on duties and 

 rio-hts: gives permission to leave the ship, when for the day 

 only : signs orders on the store rooms ; and, when the captain is 

 absent, is commander of the ship. . 



" To a frio-ate of this class, there are five more lieutenants, 

 each taking rank according to his date." 



We will venture to add, that besides such a share of lite- 

 rature as shall 2;ive to his common intercourse, and especial- 

 ly to his officiarrelurns, the lustre of perspicuity, correctness 

 and good taste, he ought to possess a share of science. No 



* In official age. 



