sense and conviction that it is absolutely necessary, and from a just estimation of the respect due to those who are placed in superior situations, for the purpose of directing the efforts of the public service in a proper channel; and this leads me to a very important, though certainly a difficult subject, namely, the motives for performing your duty.

"Although I would have you endeavour to gain the approbation and esteem of your superiors, by proper and laudable efforts in performing the duties of your station, as well as in becoming and respectful behaviour towards them; yet you must be careful that their personal commendation does not become your chief motive of action, because you may find, during your professional career, those whose personal approbation may be valueless; while, on the other hand, if you take your motive of duty from the principles which your father has been so careful to instruct you in, there is no possibility of its ever failing you.

"In saying so much, however, I must warn

you against presumption, obstinacy, and selfconceit; and request you will bear in mind, that on professional subjects, the opinions of your superiors, from their long experience, must always be entitled to the greatest respect; and remember, that although there may be times when you cannot conscientiously give your judgment up to others, yet let not that affect your obedience.

"Perform the duties allotted to you with promptness, recollecting that you are a link in the chain of discipline; and if you do not bear your proportionate strain, mechanically speaking, you distress the rest, and morally, you steal the strength of others, besides being answerable for all the baneful and contagious influence of bad example; and, whether you command a boat or a ship, do that which is allotted to you first, and never risk the failure of a whole plan for the sake of personal distinction. This is not said with the idea of prescribing certain bounds to your exertions, for

you cannot do too much for your country; but merely to warn you against that species of gallant folly which sacrifices public good for par

ticular notice.

66

Perhaps in no profession more than the Navy, is theory subject to prejudicial opinions; and this, because it is known to be entirely useless, without a combination of practical knowledge; on that account, however, we should be blamable to neglect the trite advice of a scientific signpost, which points out the nearest, best, and safest road to professional skill; besides, the tree of science is now flourishing almost throughout the world, and it would ill become the naval heroes of England to linger in its shade!

"We have a schoolmaster on board, who will instruct you in navigation and the necessary branches of mathematics applicable to nautical astronomy; but, in your leisure hours, I wish you to inform yourself on general subjects, and, for this purpose, I present you with an Ency

clopedia, as a book of reference, from which you will derive much more correct information than from hearsay; and I shall always feel happy in directing you in the choice of other works that may be necessary for you in acquiring a knowledge of hydrography, naval tactics, and the modern languages.

"And now for the practical part of your profession. I hope you will perceive, in the discipline of this ship, something worth remembering in your professional career.

"By the contempt of some officers for the more trivial duties of their profession, those of greater importance are brought into disrepute, and by that means the public duty retarded. On this head it may be sufficient to remark, that the fewer orders which are given the better; provided they comprehend, clearly and distinctly, all that is necessary for the purpose to which they may be directed: but no command, however trivial, should be allowed to pass by, without its strictest fulfilment; for it is better

not to issue an order, than, by permitting the non-obedience of it, to bring the whole code of regulations, and even personal commands, into contempt.

"I shall expect a strict attention to the system of gunnery and seamanship, which will be frequently displayed before you, and also to the interior regulations of cleanliness and order.

"I should recommend to your notice the advantage of always giving the word of command in the same terms; and I wish you to encourage alacrity and spirit, by an example of activity and obedience in your own station.

"I hope also that you will soon become acquainted with the minutia of the boatswain's, gunner's, and carpenter's departments; for this, instead of being beneath your notice as an officer, is absolutely necessary to a complete knowledge of your profession, for it is a bad description of vanity which causes the slovenly performance of duty. I shall not only expect you