MALTA AND SICILY. 
27 
steam-vessels, for the advantage gained by 
a fair wind on the sails is more than coun¬ 
terbalanced by the increased motion of the 
water and of the vessel interfering with the 
proper action of the paddles, which are 
sometimes immersed too deeply, at others 
hardly touch the water at all. 
Our crew consists of a commander, master, 
two mates,* a surgeon, purser, gunner, boat¬ 
swain, carpenter, armourer, quarter-master, 
three cooks, two stewards, and a boy, three 
engineers, eight firemen, thirteen seamen, 
and two apprentices,—total forty-three. The 
duties of the vessel are carried on with the 
greatest order and decorum, the officers 
giving their orders without bullying, and the 
men performing their tasks cheerfully. Ex- 
* Midshipmen who have passed their examination, 
and are therefore qualified to receive the rank of lieu¬ 
tenant. 
