Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-23
A IMAM OF WAR.
hFH,ict rom Me 1eto .3merican Wo,,.. entitled
''ShefcA'es Of .Nleat LIFE, Sc,"--CoScLUpEp.


accustomed to sec the sword of mower in
the scabbard, this. constant view of its bare
edge and point, suspended as it is. over MS
though not by hair, yet bya slight cord, ex-
cites Ut hrst unpleasant sensations. But we
| soon get used TO II, and If one does not los
ue' of lfihe with 1t, 1t hangs innoccntly
enough
The captainsjs an officer so high in dioni-
| ty and rank, that he ought moi even to s6ew
himself often to vulgar eyes; and those, it is
| SAID, who succeed best, conine themselves
most 10 their cabins. He. conseoueptIv. sell
dom i,tcricres with the active duties of the
ship: his orders are given, generally. to the
iirst lieutenant, or through IA midshipman. to
| The officer OF the deck; and thong exerci-
stag close scrutiny over every part, it is
without appearing TO 60 So 49,
! Such Is this officer, in the ship: but he hos
other, and much higher duties; and these
should never be lost sight of, in forming
our cstimatesof his character The other
officers feel themselves mcmbers of a snpIe
vessel: he must take more enlarged views:
ior he is the connecting link between his own
snip and other ships; between his own ma
ilon and other nations. In official inter
course abroad, he, Of course appears. and
his character gives Il tone To- all such pro-
ceedlngs. TO fit linn for this requires an
asscmbage of qualities seldom found in ono
views OF society; thorough knowledge of his
tory, laws and governments: sound iudg-
ment; qmckEcss, decision, iiguncss, and in
trepIdity.
| come now to the other officers. The
Hrst lieutenant has the actual superinten-
dcnce of the ship. lie is the oldest* lieu.
tenant ON board, and OH his character that OF
the ship very much depends His powers
are very great and leac!. to every part;
and as 1t Is most felt, the Office is ant 10 be
an invldious one: but murmurs, il any. are
silent ones. He can even thwart the captain.
and often does so, while his actions have tie
scmblancc OF obedience. He ought to be a
man, ready and prudent; not harsh, but dc.
cIslve; and above all, well skilled i'm oil the
duties of u ship. In times of danger. he
takes the trumpet; as he does also i'm getting
under way and coming to anchor; but, in all
other cases, is excused from the services OF
the deck: but is responsible for the cleanli-
less and good order of the ship: complaints
oigricvanccs are made to lin: he decides
on duties and rights: gives permission TO
leave the ship, when for the day only: sious
, orders on the store rooms; and when The
captain IS absent, is commander ofthe shin.
10 frgatc of this class there are five
more heutcnantS, each taking rank accor-
ding to his date. | suppose YOU do not
know what watch is. The dav is divided
INTO five part, Of four hours each. called
watches, and two, of halfthat length, called
dog watches, though the name ofwatcb is =
general term for all of them. These ncute-
nants keep watch, each in his turn; when
he has command of the deck. and at sea
sails the ship, but is not suffered TO make
any very material alteration in the sails.
without sending to the captain for pcrms-
SION. lie also reports to the captain any
unusual incidents secs that the men have
their meals at the proper hour; and has a
general supervision of the upper deck. In
port, the general passing concerns of tho
ship are under his care: he must be applied
10 for a boat when one is wanted: every
individual must report to him. when he
leaves the slap. or returns: he is notified of
the approach of boats, and prepares for them,
when necessary; he keeps account of the po-
sitiOn of the cables, and reports the state of
things to his successor, at the close of his
watch; and the hour of noon TO the captuin.
when it arrives. The ono on duty is Cl.
military called "thc officer of the deck "
) The youngest Lieutenant, in addition To- this.
IS the visiting officer, when other national
ships arrive in port.
II is generally thought, on shore, that the
sailing master, or master as he is usually
called, sails the ship. lie las nothing to do
with this duty. Ills Office is the most re-
Sponsibc one next TO that of the first lieu
tenant; his duties arc the most arduous and
complicated; and yet, the station is usually
given to- midshipman. Ii is a separate
rank in the navy, and, heretofore. has been
filled 10y IFS proper characters but this is now
getting out of fashion, and the oldest mid
shpman is usually the incumbent. 1t is an
excellent prcparatyo Tor Ills higher duties
and the cagcrncsss TO recommend himself in
that station is So great, that the midship-
man usually does better than the regular
master, whose expectations are conficd tc
his present rank, and, therefore, with
out the stImuants possessed by the
other The ships stores of all kinds, hcl
rigging, spars, sails, DC, the bold, and it.
appurtenances come under his care he pre-
Whom ancak of am clIiccr.. a-.. I .-.-L n.-.-rn