step forward to the chestree, from whence, while resting his foot on the tack-block of the mainsail, he may cast his eye aloft to detect something to alter in the position of the head-yards.  Or if he hears any noise in the galley, or even on the lower deck, he can walk forward till he is able to peer down the fore-hatchway, by stooping under the bows of the boat on the booms.  Most of this fidget probably arises, not so much from any wish to find fault with what is wrong, as to maintain what is right.  The true preventive service of an officer is to interpose his superintending vigilance between the temptation, on the part of the men, to err, and their first motion towards offence.  Were this principle fully acted up to in all ships, how rapidly might not our punishments subside!

At four, or half-past four in the afternoon, the merry pipe to supper awakes the sleepers, arrests the peripatetics, and once more clusters young and old round the mess-table.  At sunset the drum beats to quarters, when the men’s names are carefully called over, and the sobriety of each ascertained.  Other duties may be intermitted on the day of rest, but not that of the guns, which are minutely examined, and all their appendages got ready every evening with as much earnest care as if the ship were that instant sailing into action.  A moment’s reflection, indeed, will show that there can, of course, be no difference in this respect between Sunday and any other evening.  Then come in succession the following routine orders, and their correspondent evolutions:—­“Reef topsails!” “Stand by the hammocks!” “Pipe down!” “Roll up the cloths!” “Call the watch!” “Pipe the sweepers!” And thus, at last, the first day of the week at sea, in a man-of-war, is at an end.

In old times, I recollect, the fashion was for the men to press aft in a disorganised crowd; but of late years the following more appropriate and orderly arrangement has been universally adopted.  The men are distributed in a close double row round the quarter-deck gangways and forecastle, each standing in his place according to the order of his name on the Open List.  A small table is then brought up, on which are spread the muster-books; and the captain’s clerk, who is the only person seated, begins calling over the names.  Each man, as his turn comes, pulls off his hat, smooths down his hair, and passes over from the lee side of the deck to the weather side, stepping across the gratings just before the binnacle.  The captain stands to windward, so that the men advance directly up towards him, and then pass forward in review.  By this means, not only the captain, but the officers, who, of course, are all present, become better acquainted with the men, learn their names, and ascertain their respective ratings and merits.  The first lieutenant plants himself at the captain’s elbow to furnish such general information as may be required, or to appeal for more minute details to the other lieutenants, warrant-officers, mates, or midshipmen, as the case may be.