to the lazy Mids, "to rouse out ;" and the dozy Muzzy, who had the middle watch, and was the perpetrator of the nocturnal mischief on Morland's hammock, was actually cut down in a similar manner by Peters, justified by virtue of his office.

It was Sunday morning, and no sooner were the hammocks neatly arranged on the margins of the upper bulwarks, than the lower decks. underwent a thorough cleansing by means of the holy stone system; a scouring operation performed by men in a kneeling position with sand and stones, which gives a dry and white appearance to the decks. The upper parts of the. ship had been washed, the ropes fancifully coiled down, and every part of the rigging was in the neatest order.

After breakfast, the word was passed to muster at six bells (eleven o'clock); and many of the Mids having neglected to decorate their persons till near that time, blacking and brushes were flying about-boots lost-cocked-hats

astray-dirks not to be found-towels hid— soap stolen-sentinel refusing to pipeclay waistcoats and weekly accounts*-when suddenly the drummer was called to beat to divisions, and there was a clattering of chest lids over a confusion of uniforms and cleansing apparatus, which merits the delineative appellation of a midshipman's chest, where every thing is uppermost and nothing at hand.

It was at such a time that Scud the messenger arrived, to say "the captain was coming." Morland had not yet seen his uncle, as he did not reside on board while the ship was in harbour; he therefore repaired to the quarter-deck with the other midshipmen.

A guard of marines was drawn up on the opposite side of the deck to that which the boat was expected, where the lieutenants, master, surgeon, purser, and marine officers were pacing; while the master's-mates, midshipmen,

* The name given to the white patch on the collar of a Midshipman's coat.

warrant officers, surgeons' assistants, and clerks, occupied the other portion of the deck near the guard. The boatswain stood close to the sentinel on the gangway, and as the bowman of the neatly painted barge spun his oar in the air, laid it in, and stood erect in the bow with the boat-hook, the boatswain gave a loud pipe, and four boys ran down the side with red covered ropes, becketed to the upper bulwark, the first lieutenant walked to the gangway, and the rest of the officers faced that way. As Captain ***** appeared on the deck, the sentinel and guard presented arms, the boatswain piped, and the officers lifted their hats, which the captain returned by uncovering, and looking politely round, ordered the guard to be dismissed.

There are few situations more despotic in their nature than a captain of a ship of war, for although he is subject to, and governed by the same laws as very man and officer in the fleet, yet he is, as it were, the head of the law in his

own little dominions, and cannot, according to regulation, be accused by his inferiors, except through himself. It is true, he is in duty bound to forward such accusation to the admiral, under whom he serves; but it is scarcely necessary to say more on his absolute dominion than to notice the power he has to flog any of his crew without their being tried by a court-martial-a power so great that perhaps it is extraordinary we do not find it more frequently abused by whim, passion, and prejudice.

Whether the degrading punishment of flogging is necessary to the maintenance of good discipline, it remains for those who have marked, as well as those who have experienced its effects, to determine.

In the humane and cultivated mind there can be but one opinion on the subject; but it is melancholy to know, that even among men who have suffered under the lash, many are found advocates for its use; and it is no new sentiment among sailors who have served on board

ships of war to declare they could not be kept in order without flogging.

It must be admitted that it is an abasing sentiment, and imbibed by ignorance, for it will scarcely be denied that a free and martial spirit may be broken by a slavish motive to action; and it is to be hoped that education will do as much for sailors as others, and render such severe laws altogether unnecessary.

Morland was received in the kindest manner, but he had not been an inattentive observer of the deep respect which was paid to his uncle; and when the drums beat to divisions, and he noticed him inspecting upwards of 500 men, ranged in lines along the different decks by the guns, he felt rather awed than pleased at the presence of one who seemed to hold so many in

strict obedience.

The quarter-deck was now screened in by flags; benches and chairs were arranged for the officers and men; and a high table, covered with a union jack, served as a reading-desk for the