MANNING OF SUIPS. 93 



The sailors are organized into watches, something resembling the com- 

 panies of the army, consisting of a lieutenant, answering to a captain of the 

 land service ; several naval ensigns as first lieutenants and cadets of the first 

 class as second lieutenants ; two mates for the sails, one for the guns and 

 one for the ship's course ; eight quarter-masters, four of them for the sails, 

 two for the guns, one for the carpentry, and one for the caulking ; and 

 finally, of one hundred men. Any naval officer may, in cases of necessity, 

 be required to take the command, and incredible achievements have some- 

 times been performed by young men whom the casualties of the service have 

 placed in situations of responsibility. In illustration we have represented an 

 engagement of a weak brig of 16 18-pounder carronades, compelling another 

 brig of superior force, having 22 32-pounders, to strike her flag (pi. 25,Jig. 4). 



As soon as the men are on board, the officers must assign to them their 

 respective stations for every emergency. The order of battle comes 

 first. This is the basis of the whole organization, and it is no easy thing 

 to find just the right men for every post. This order is constantly prac- 

 tised. At any time of the day or night, the drum may beat to quarters, and 

 every man be summoned to his station. The most active and skilful sailors 

 are selected for duty on the tops {topmen,pl. 25,Jig. 6) ; they are intrusted with 

 the most difficult part of the management of the sails and ropes ; they often 

 swing on the mast-head or yard-arms, in order to arrange a rope or block, 

 or sit during an engagement on a yard, to watch the motions of the enemy 

 (pi. 23, Jig. 2), while the ship is so tossed about by the storm that the green 

 hand at sea has to cling to everything which he can grasp in order to keep 

 on his legs. 



The boatswain of a ship of the line or a frigate must be a perfect seaman, 

 presenting a model to the whole crew. He has in his charge the whole 

 rigging of the ship, the anchors, cables, and buoys, and all damage which 

 they receive must be repaired under his direction. The sailing-master's 

 mate and his men are stationed near the poop on the quarter-deck. The 

 sailing-master, under the superintendence of his superior officer, issues orders 

 to his mate, who transmits them through the boatswain, boatswain's mates, 

 and quarter-masters, to the sailors and boys. The wheel stands under the 

 poop (pi. 21, fig. 2). As soon as the squadrons have come together, the 

 signal flags are got in readiness, and the national flag is hoisted with all 

 the honors at the mast-head (pi. 24, fig. 3). The hour-glass is in charge 

 of the sailing-master, who has the command of the wheel. His mate stands 

 at his side, to assist in case of need. Certain sailors at the wheel, under 

 the command of a cadet or quarter-master, have the care of the flag, seeino- 

 that it constantly waves and is not struck except by orders from the com- 

 mander. 



The rest of the crew, who are not fit for more important services, keep 

 the deck clean, under the direction of the boatswain's mate (pi. 23, fig. 7), 

 or they indulge in amusements, among which is card-playing, which is 

 followed up without restraint in every place that can be found. This is 

 also a favorite recreation during the watch, the deck at the foot of the long 

 boat furnishing a card table (pi. 25, fig. 7). 



745 



