157 



ingly zealous to do every thing that can pre- 

 ferve the health of the foldiers, and has iffued 

 his orders accordingly. 



We have contrived a method whereby 

 the bathing is effected with lefs trouble than 

 was at firft apprehended. The men are regu- 

 larly affembled by companies upon the quarter 

 deck, at an early hour of the morning, and 

 there undreffing, two at a time, they go down 

 to the waift of the fhip, and remain at the 

 bottom of the ftep "leading from the quarter 

 deck, until two or three buckets of water have 

 been daflied upon them by fome of thdir com- 

 rades {landing dire&ly above them upon the 

 edge of the quarter deck, others being ftationed 

 at the fides to draw up water for the purpofe. 

 After being thus waflied, they move on to the 

 forecaftle to drefs themfelves, others follow- 

 ing in fucceffion until the whole are bathed. 



We find fome difficulty in eftablifhing 

 this practice, but I hope in a few days to fee 

 it brought to the regularity of a military move- 

 ment : the benefit of it is not confined fimply 

 to cleanlinefs of perfon, for while the bathing 

 is going on, the decks, where the men fieep, 



