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INFORMATION ON SPECTACLES*. SPECTACLES and side-saddles, we are quaintly informed, became common in England in the reign of Richard the Second. The ancients, however, knew the power of burning-glasses, and one cunning rogue, we are told, discovered a new way to pay old debts by means of a round stone or glass, used in lighting of fires, with which he melted the bond, written, as usual in those days, on wax. Their burning-glasses were spheres, either solid or full of water, their foci were consequently very short and confined. A long interval occurred before spectacles were constructed, and three hundred years elapsed between the invention of spectacles and telescopes.

Our eyes should have our nicest and most tender care, since it is by them we are familiarized with objects of the most exquisite interest and beauty, abounding on the earth we inhabit, and in the starry firmament above us :-

"My soul, while Nature's beauties feast mine eyes,

To Nature's God contemplative shall rise."-DODSLEY, The faculty of sight should be estimated and regarded by us with more than ordinary care, when we reflect that it is the medium through which the most exalted and gratifying impressions are received; and our watchful regard to its healthy preservation and agreeable exercise is the more required from the consideration, that while to its admirable organization and delicate sense of perception we stand so much indebted, those very qualities render it extremely sensitive to injudicious treatment.

The eyes, when in a sound and healthy state, instinctively adjust themselves at a distance of twelve inches from a book or paper, when they are observing the same. This distance is found to be most natural and agreeable; for when we extend it to sixteen, twenty, or thirty inches, the crystalline lens is stimulated to keep a distant and clear perception, until, as the distance increases, the object become less and less perceptible. When we are compelled to extend this natural distance, experience difficulty in reading small characters, or find it necessary to get more light on what we are observing, we may safely conclude that artificial assistance is needed, and that, judiciously applied, the tendency to decay will be mildly arrested.

The design of spectacles is to supply the loss of power which is experienced by the eyes at different periods of life, and arising from various causes. These productions of art are constructed with a close observance to, and act upon, the same principles as those by which the process of vision is regulated. Spectacles ought not to do more than maintain or preserve to us the capability of seeing at the natural distance. This is, in fact, all they are intended to effect. When the crystalline lens of the eye, losing its convexity, fails to converge the rays of light, and bring them to their natural focus on the retina, an artificial lens, of suitable convexity, supplies to it this capability, and compensates for its gradual diminution of capacity. Thus lenses for assisting the sight are fashioned upon the optical principles so apparent in the mechanism of the eye itself, which, it will be observed, is neither round nor flat, but of that nicely moulded convexity which is indispensable for the performance of its functions. If lenses were either spheres or planes, they likewise would be ineffective for the purpose proposed. There is not any material in existence, beside pebble and glass, which is calculated for spectacle purposes. The pretended "improvements," "pellucid lenses," "refractive transparencies," "patent amber," "crystal preservers," &c., are new-fangled terms, coined to entrap the uninitiated. Glass for optical uses s heavy, homogeneous, and free from streaks and veins. More expensive chemical substances are employed in its manufacture than are used in making common glass.

Brazil pebbles, or crystallized quartz, are imported to this country in rough blocks; these are cut or slit, by the aid of * From a lively tract, called "Spectacle Secrets," by George Cox. London, 1838.

pulverized diamond, into slabs or pieces, of the diameter required. Those pieces in which bubbles, waves, or blemishes appear, are thrown aside by the optician who is tenacious of his fair fame, as their imperfections become more apparent in every afterstage of their progress; and when polished, centred, and shaped for the spectacle-frame, they are really improper to be used at all; nevertheless, the needy, or dishonest, rather than lose a fraction of their gains, often persist in working up such imperfect material, and, harping upon their being pebble-real pebble -palm them upon the uninitiated as genuine articles. Pebbles have the following important advantages: they are of equal density, and exceedingly hard, firm, and clear; their surfaces are not liable to become misty or scratched (which circumstance alone often compels a change of glasses): they are of a pure, cool nature, and show this contrast to glass (which is, on the contrary, produced by the action of artificial heat) in the touch of the finger or tongue to their surfaces. They are, in consequence of these properties, calculated to suit the sight for a longer period than glass; but they need not be thrown aside when, from the indications already referred to, we find an increase of magnifying power is required, as they can be reworked readily enough to meet the acquirement of the eyes, and at an expense of scarcely more than that of a new pair of glasses, ascertaining the focus of concave or convex pebbles, are the or about one-third of their original cost. The directions for same as described for concave or convex glasses.

The use of wire, gauze, crape, and muslin, as substitutes for glass, should be avoided, because it is a fallacy to assert that they are cooler and more agreeable to the eye. There is ahundant space for the circulation of air in the region of the eye if the spectacle-frame adapts itself pleasantly to the wearer's face; look on things around us, a transparent medium is preferable while the eye and common sense may answer together that, to to a hazy and indistinct one. We do not choose bars and gratings, or coarse curtains, in preference to glass, for the windows of apartments; but if the light is sometimes too intense, we place a shade to soften its dazzling effects. Such precisely is the reason why tinted glass spectacles, for defending the eyes from rain, dust, and wind, are recommended.

ties, within a given time, than those worked by hand. They Lenses worked by machinery are produced in greater quantiare passed through the different stages of grinding and polishing without having the keen eye of the workman carefully watching their progress, and adjusting the inequalities in their surfaces or edges, which will always appear more or less in the working.

The price at which competition demands those lenses shall be ducer cannot afford to throw aside such as are faulty, and the rendered, operates against the wearer of spectacles; for the prowholesale agent and retail dispenser cannot expect to have, at the low price charged, lenses which will bear a critical examination; and thus all which can possibly be used are thrust into frames of one kind or other, from the common iron or horn sold by the poor hawkers at sixpence, eightpence, and one shilling per pair, to the more expensive frames; while many faulty and imbibing extraordinary "light-modifying and refractive virglasses, after being dubbed with some ear-tickling appellation, tues," by passing into the hands of the hawker of a higher class, are palmed upon the unfortunate spectacle-purchasers who are simple enough to give credence to the wondrous tale.

The eyes in which no malformation or disease exists, but which simply partake of constitutional decay, or, from too continued application to sedentary and studious pursuits, are beginning to feel a want of assistance, should have spectacles of sixty-inch focus, which is an exceedingly slight magnifying power; and if these are found to be insufficient to afford an agreeable and natural perception (not an enlarged or magnified distance of twelve or fourteen inches from the eye), then apply image of the letters of a book, &c., held in the hand at the those of the next power, viz. forty-eight inches' focus. If these again are unequal to supply the loss of power or incapacity of the eye to converge the light to a point at the instant it reaches the retina, then lenses of thirty-six inches focus are to be had recourse to; and when these fail to afford agreeable vision, thirty, twenty-eight, twenty-four, twenty, must be progressively adopted, thus gradually descending the scale, until the eyes receive such compensation for their progressive decay and loss of power, as spectacles carefully suited to the sight are capable so effectually to supply.

The period at which the sight begins to fail does not at all

depend on age, but varies in different persons according to the formation of the eyes, the treatment they have received, and the constitutional capability; therefore, the age of the person requiring spectacles gives but a vague general idea to the optician as to what is required, unless other particulars are stated; such as whether glasses have been used before; the distance at which writing and printing are seen pleasantly without assistance: the focus of those last used, or sending even but a broken piece of the same.

THE PROFESSOR OF SIGNS. KING JAMES VI., on removing to London, was waited upon by the Spanish Ambassador, a man of erudition, who had a crotchet in his head that every country should have a Professor of Signs, to teach him, and the like of him, to understand one another.

The Spanish ambassador was lamenting one day, before the king, this great desideratum throughout all Europe, when the king, who was a queerish sort of man, said to him, "Why, I have a Professor of Signs in the northernmost college of my dominions, viz., at Aberdeen; but it is a great way off, perhaps

The near-sighted, or those who require concave spectacles, should use those of the slightest power; No. 0, or No. 1, will generally be sufficient at first, but this, by the aid of the trialbox, can readily be determined by the wearer himself. There is such an immense benefit experienced by the short-sighted from spectacles which suit their sight, that to argue for their adop-six hundred miles."—" Were it ten thousand leagues off, I shall tion of them would be quite superfluous. Without spectacles they are excluded from observing beautiful landscapes, recognising individuals, or viewing to advantage any of the crowd of interesting objects around them; but by adopting them they are placed on a par with the long-sighted in such circumstances, while the sharp and microscopic character of their sight without spectacles, gives them many advantages over those possessing ordinary vision.

concave spectacles.

see him," said the ambassador, "and I am determined to set out in two or three days." The king saw he had committed himself, and wrote, or caused to be written to the University of Aberdeen, stating the case, and desiring the professors to put him off some way, or make the best of him. The ambassador arrived, which of them had the honour to be the Professor of Signs? was received with great solemnity, but soon began to inquire And being told that the Professor was absent in the Highlands and his return uncertain, said the Ambassador, "I will wait his return, though it were twelve months." Seeing that this would not do, and that they had to entertain him at a great expense all the while, they contrived a stratagem. There was one Geordie, a butcher, blind of an eye, a droll fellow, with

The short, or near-sighted eyes, have the cornea, and often the crystalline lens, more convex or arched out than in longsighted eyes. This formation causes the rays to converge to a focus before they reach the retina, but by the application of a concave lens the difficulty is corrected, and the rays are carried on to the proper point for giving a perfect image on the retina. This character of sight is very frequent, and is more particu-much wit and roguery about him. He is got, told the story, larly remarkable among those whose mode of life restricts them to crowded cities, sedentary employments, and confined situations. Those whose infantine and youthful years have been passed in the country, or where the eyes have had a free range of view, not circumscribed by the walls of the nursery, or limited to the observation of objects near at hand, rarely require The spectacle-frames next demand our attention, as our utmost care in judiciously selecting lenses of the proper focus or our sight will be neutralised if the frame or mounting in which they are placed does not apply comfortably to the head, leaving the lenses they carry fair and parallel before the eyes. If the front of a pair of spectacles is too short for the wearer's face, he will look upon the edge of the lens, and a portion of the exterior rim of the frame; if they are too long his eye will meet the opposite edge and inner curve of the rim. Spectacle-frames are fashioned to suit the variety of formation in different individuals, and therefore such should be applied as adapt themselves pleasantly to the temples, across the forehead and before the eyes.

The material of which they are composed should be gold, ilver, or enamelled blue steel. Tortoiseshell, also, when well made, is very light and pleasant to wear, particularly for ladies. There is no advantage in large size, or round-eye spectacles, to compensate for their clumsy appearance and great weight; we get a sufficient expanse of observation with the oval-shaped glasses without harassing the eye with an excess of light, which the large glasses admit.

Solid blue steel mountings are a decided improvement, and

are invaluable for persons who constantly require spectacles. They are wrought from a plate of steel, and shaped as light and uniform as any other town-made elastic blue steel spectacles, with the advantage of being more durable, and eventually less expensive; for as they have no soldering in their composition, it is scarcely possible to break them, and therefore they rarely want repairing. Blue steel spectacles, in consequence of their being so much in request, are coarsely imitated, and vast numbers are sold by the pretended cheap shops, at apparently low prices which the wearer will find to be immensely beyond their real value. There are thirteen different qualities of the spectacles termed blue steel. The chief part are country made, and roughly put together, some being all iron, others having iron fronts and steel sides; others again bearing a tolerably close resemblance to the best town-made articles, which, unless the two are compared together, is likely to deceive a casual observer. It will be perceived that it is the workmanship and nice finish of the best town-made spectacle-frames which necessarily increases the price. Thus, a single pound of pig iron, which costs one penny, can be manufactured into watch-springs of the value of 2407.

and instructed to be the Professor of Signs, but not to speak on pain of death. Geordie undertakes it. The ambassador is now told the Professor of Signs would be at home next day, at which he rejoiced greatly. Geordie is gowned, wigged, and placed in a chair of state in a room of the college, all the professors and the ambassador being in an adjoining room. The ambassador is now shown into Geordie's room, and left to converse with him as well as he could. The ambassador holds up one finger to Geordie, Geordie holds up two, the ambassador holds up three fingers, Geordie clenches his fist and looks stern. The ambassador then takes an orange from his pocket and holds it up; Geordie takes a piece of barley-cake from his pocket and holds it up; after which the ambassador bows profoundly to him and retires to the other professors, who anxiously inquired his opinion of their brother? "He is a perfect miracle," said the ambassador, "I would not give him for the wealth of the Indies ! I first held up one finger, denoting that there is one God; he held up two, signifying that these are the Father and Son; I held up three, meaning the Father, Son, and Holy I Ghost; he clenched his fist, to say that the three are one. then took out an orange, signifying the goodness of God, who gives his creatures not only the necessaries, but the luxuries of life; upon which the wonderful man presented a piece of bread,

showing that it was the staff of life, and preferable to every

luxury."

The Professors were glad that matters had turned out so well; so, having got quit of the ambassador, they next went to Geordie, to hear his version of the signs. "Well, Geordie, how have you come on, and what do you think of your man?"-" The rascal!" said Geordie, "what did he do first, think ye? He held up one finger, as much as to say, you have only one eye! I held up two, meaning, that my one eye was as good as both his. Then the fellow held up three fingers to say there were three eyes between us, and then I was so mad, I steeked my neive, and would have come a whack on the side of his head, but for your sakes. Then the rascal takes out an orange, as much as to say, your poor beggarly cold country cannot produce that! I showed him a whang of bear bannock, meaning I did na care a farthing for him or his trash either, so long's I hae this! but, by a' that's guid, (concluded Geordie) I'm angry yet that I did na thrash the hide of the scoundrel!"

So much for signs, or two ways of telling a story.

THE APPROACH OF AGE.

As oft as I hear the robin-redbreast chaunt it as cheerfully in September, the beginning of winter, as in March, the approach of the summer, why should not we (thinks I) give as cheerful entertainment to the hoaryfrosty hairs of our age's winter, as to the primroses of our youth's spring? Why not to the declining sun in adversity, as (like Persians) to the rising sun of prosperity? I am sent to the ant, to learn industry; to the dove, to learn innocency; to the serpent, to learn wisdom; and why not to this bird, to learn equanimity and patience, and to keep the same tenor of my mind's quietness, as well at the approach of the calamities of winter as of the spring of happiness? and since the Roman's constancy is so commended, who changed not his countenance with his changed fortunes, why should not I, with a Christian resolution, hold a steady course in all weathers, and though I be forced with cross winds to shift my sails and catch at side winds, yet skillfully to steer and keep on my course by the Cape of Good Hope, till I arrive at the haven of eternal happiness?— Warwick's Spare Minutes.

WIT AND JUDGMENT.

Wit is brushwood, judgment tinder: the one gives the greatest flame, the other yields the durablest heat; and both meeting make the best fire. -Sir T. Overbury.

COSTUME IN EDWARD III.'S REIGN.

Dress in the reign of Edward III. 1327, is thus described by Knyghton, an historian of these times:-" As regards gentlemen, what could exhibit a more fantastical appearance than an English beau of the 14th century? He wore long-pointed shoes, fastened to his knees by gold or silver chains, a stocking of one colour on one leg and one of another colour on the other, short breeches which did not reach to the middle of his thighs; a coat one half black the other half white or blue, a long beard, a silk hood, buttoned under his chin, embroidered with grotesque figures of animals, and ornamented with gold, silver, or precious stones." The dress of ladies is thus described: The tournaments are attended by many ladies of the first rank and greatest beauty dressed in party-coloured tunics. Their tippets are very short, their caps remarkably small and wrapt about their heads with cords. Their girdles are ornamented with gold and silver, and they wear short swords, like daggers, before them, which hang across their stomachs. They are mounted on the finest horses with the richest furniture; and thus equipped they ride from place to place in quest of tournaments, by which they dissipate their fortunes, and often ruin their reputations."

EFFECTS OF WINE ACCOUNTED FOR.

When Noah planted the first vine, and retired, Satan approached and said "I will nourish you, charming plant!" He quickly fetched three animals-a sheep, a lion, and hog-and killed them, one after another, near the vine. The virtues of the blood of these three animals penetrated it, and are still manifest in its growth. When a man drinks one goblet of wine, he is then agreeable, gentle, friendly-that is the nature of the lamb. When he drinks two, he is like a lion, and says, "who is like me?"-he then talks of stupendous things. When he drinks more, his senses forsake him; and, at length, he wallows in the mire. Need it be said, that he then resembles the hog?-Richardson.

SIR WILLIAM JONES AND THOMAS DAY. One day, upon removing some books at the chambers of the former, a large spider dropped upon the floor, upon which Sir William, with some warmth, said, Kill that spider, Day! kill that spider." "No," said Mr. Day, with coolness, “I will not kill that spider, Jones: I do not know that I have a right to kill that spider. Suppose, when you are going in your chaise to Westminster hall, a superior being, who perhaps may have as much power over you as you have over this insect, should say to his companion, Kill that lawyer! kill that lawyer!' how should you like that, Jones? and I am sure that to most people, a lawyer is a more noxious animal than a spider."

A JUST FLOGGING.

I had one just flogging. When I was about thirteen I went to a shoemaker, and begged him to take me as his apprentice. He being an honest man, immediately took me to Bowyer, (the master of the Blue-Coat School, in which Coleridge was educated,) who got into a great rage, knocked ine down, and even pushed Crispin rudely out of the room. Bowyer asked me why I had made myself such a fool? To which I answered that I had a great desire to be a shoemaker, and that I hated the thought of being a clergyman. "Why so?" said he. "Because, to tell you the truth, sir,' said I, "I am an infidel!" For this, without more ado, Bowyer flogged me, wisely as I think; soundly, as I know. Any whining or sermonising would have gratified my vanity, and confirmed me in my absurdity; as it was, I was laughed at and got heartily ashamed of my folly.-Coleridge. TO TAKE OFF IMPRESSIONS IN PLASTER OF PARIS OR SULPHUR.

The plaster must be pulverized and sifted through a piece of very fine gauze. First rub over the medal or engraved stone very softly with oil, and having wiped it with cotton surround the edge of it with a slip of thin lead; mix up the sifted plaster with water and stir it gently to prevent it throwing up air bubbles, then pour it over the medal, or whatever it may be, the impression of which is wanted, and suffer it to harden and dry; it is easily detached, and forms a mould strongly marked. The process by sulphur is the same. Before these are used as moulds for impressions they must be oiled.

INDUSTRY.

Heat gotten by degrees, with motion and exercise, is more natural, and stays longer by one, than what is gotten all at once by coming to the fire. Goods acquired by industry prove commonly more lasting than lands by descent.-Fuller's Holy and Profane States.

Æleas, a king of Scythia, used to say that he thought himself no better than his horse-keeper when he was idle.-Plut. Moral. p. 394.

SPRATS.

Sprats ("Clupea sprattus") abound on the Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kentish, and other coasts, and afford during the whole of the winter, a cheap supply of food both to rich and poor. The largest quantities are taken when the nights are dark and foggy. From 400 to 500 stow-boats are employed during the winter. Many thousand tons in some seasons are taken, and sold at 6d. and 8d. the bushel, depending on the supply and demand, to farmers, who distribute about forty bushels of sprats over an acre of land, and sometimes manure twenty acres at the cost of 20s an In the winter of 1829-30, sprats were particularly abundant; large loads, containing from 1,000 to 1,500 bushels, bought at 6d. a bushel, were sent up the Medway as far as Maidstone, to manure the hop grounds. Notwithstanding the immense quantity consumed by the 1,500,000 inhab itants of London and its neighbourhood, there is yet occasionally a surplus to be disposed of at so low a price as to induce the farmers even so near the metropolis as Dartford, to use them for manure.-Yarrell's British Fishes.

acre.

ANTIQUITY OF EPITAPHS.

Many instances of epitaphs in prose and in verse, may be collected from the old Greek poets and historians, who were yet but children compared to the Chaldeans and Egyptians. But the most ancient precedent of epitaphs must be that recorded in the most ancient history, namely the Old Testament, 1 Sam. vi. 18; where it is recorded, that the great stone erected as a memorial unto Abel, by his father Adam, remained unto that day in being, and its name was called "the stone of Abel;" and its elegy was, " Here was shed the blood of the righteous Abel: " as it is also called 4,000 years after, Matt. xxiii. 35. And this is the origin of monu mental memorials and elegies.-Athen. Oracle.

CHAIN OF BEINGS.

Bitumen and sulphur form the link between earth and metal, vitriols unite metals with salts, crystallisations connect salt with stones, the amianthes and lytophites form a kind of tie between stones and plants, the polypus unites plants to insects, the tube-worm seems to lead to shells and reptiles, the water-serpent and the eel form a passage from reptiles to fish, the anas nigra are a medium between fishes and birds, the bat and the flying squirrel link birds to quadrupeds, and the monkey equally gives the hand to quadrupeds and to man.

CHINESE APHORISMS.

He who toils with pain will eat with pleasure. No duns outside, nor no doctors within. Forbearance is a domestic jewel. Something is learned every time a book is opened. To stop the hand is the way to stop the mouth. Who aims at excellence will be above mediocrity; who aims at mediocrity will fall below it.

CASH AND COURAGE.

A man

None fight with true spirit who are overloaded with cash. who had been fortunate at cards, was applied to, to act as a second in a duel, at a period when the seconds engaged as heartily as the principals. "I am not," said he, "the man for your purpose, just at present, but go and apply to him from whom I won a thousand guineas last night, and, I warrant you, he will fight like any devil! "—Andrews' Anec. p. 138.

MAN'S INSIGNIFICANCE.

Whoever shall represent to his fancy, as in a picture, that great image of our mother Nature, portrayed in her full majesty and lustre, whoever in her face shall read so general and so constant a variety, whoever shall observe himself in that figure, and not himself, but a whole kingdom, no bigger than the least touch or prick of a pencil, in comparison of the whole, that man alone is able to value things according to their true estimate and grandeur.-Montaigne's Essays.

DEBT.

There can be no independence or calmness without freedom from debt, which subjects one to indignities that harrow up the soul. Where the mind and temper are irritated in this way, what enjoyment can there be in anything? And what ripe and perfect fruits can the imagination or the understanding produce? Even the charms of nature are thus clouded, and the airs of heaven cannot soothe us.-Autobiography of Sir E. Brydges, Bart.

SLEEPING IN CHURCH.

'Tis a shame when the church itself is a cometerium, where the living sleep above ground as the dead do beneath.-Fuller's Holy and Profane States.

CURIOSITY.

The curiosity of an honourable mind willingly rests there where the love of truth does not urge it further onward, and the love of its neighbour bids it stop; in other words, it willingly stops at the point where the interests of truth do not beckon it onward, and charity cries, Halt !—Omniana.

London: WILLIAM SMITH, 113, Fleet Street. Edinburgh: FRASER & Co., Dublin: CURRY & Co.-Printed by Bradbury & Evans, Whitefriars.

THE

No. VIII.

PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM SMITH, 113, FLEET STREET.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1839.

THE BRITISH NAVY.

SECOND ARTICLE.-MANNING AND FITTING OUT. High o'er the poop the flattering winds unfurled The imperial flag that rules the watery world."-FALCONER. THE formal ceremony performed of "Putting the ship in commission," the officer next proceeds, in company with the master attendant, to select and receive charge of a hulk. This is an old vessel fitted up for the habitation of the crew during the time the ship is equipping. The principal object is to select one sufficiently capacious to accommodate the officers and men, and moored (situated) as near the dock-yard as possible, for the greater facility of boats passing to and fro.

The choice of the hulk approved, a pendant is hoisted, and never struck (taken down) night or day. The ensign or colours (a large oblong flag with a union-jack in the upper corner) is also hoisted every morning at eight o'clock, and displayed

until sunset.

The next step is to procure a clerk, if he is not already provided; and should the captain have no one in view for this office, application is generally made to the admiral's secretary, who recommends one of several always on his list for employment. The clerk immediately makes out a demand for stationery, and having procured the signature of the commanding officer, he repairs to the superintendant of the dock-yard, who approves it; he then draws from the store-keeper the necessary supply, comprising various printed forms, which must be filled up, signed, and countersigned, after a regulated manner, before stores or provisions of any description can be obtained. The clerk also makes entries of the name, age, and description of every person who joins the ship; copies the port-admiral's orders, and has in fact a very busy time of it whilst in harbour.

Due notice of the intention of putting the ship in commission has in the mean time been given to the commandant of the division of royal marines; and as soon as the hulk is reported ready for their reception, the party of marines, or sea-soldiers, called jollies by the seamen, is marched from the barracks to boats and embarked on board. From thenceforth, like every one serving under that awful symbol the pendant, the marines are amenable to naval discipline; directed at work and ordered about by naval officers: in fact their own officers have little to do with them afloat, except inspecting the condition of their appointments, with an occasional exercise.

The purser is generally appointed early, but should he not have made his appearance, (or joined, as it is called,) a supply of provisions is obtained from the flag-ship. As soon as this official appears, however, he speedily procures all that is necessary in his department, for his principal emoluments are derived from the savings he can effect in the allowance made him for providing coals, candles, and other necessaries.

As the officers appear, and their names are inserted on the books, they enter on their various duties; the lieutenants, mates, and midshipmen, being attached to the parties which are sent daily to the dock-yard and gun-wharf, to prepare the ship's rigging, furniture, and armament. When the captain or either

VOL. I.

[PRICE TWOPence.

of the lieutenants (these being distinguished as commissioned officers) joins, all hands are called, and his commission, similar to the one we have described, is read aloud in presence of the whole ship's company.

The first lieutenant, (or commander, if the captain has made his election for one,) master, boatswain, gunner, and carpenter, are the persons on whom devolve the principal duties in fitting out. Whilst the first two superintend the whole process, the master, and one of his mates, pay particular attention to the stowage of ballast, water tanks, provisions, &c. in the holds ; for a judicious distribution of the weight has a great effect upon the ship's motion at sea, and also upon her sailing qualities. The boatswain superintends the rigging; the gunner, besides the rigging of the mainmast and main yard, is employed fitting the tackling and breechers (ropes which secure and work the cannon); and the carpenter takes care that the masts and yards are free from defects, besides busying himself in preparing the boats, and various other matters.

If men are slow in entering, not much can be done in the way of rigging for some time, unless expedition is required, in which case, working parties are sent from the flag-ship, or other ships in port, to assist; but in all cases it is desirable that the vessel shall be fitted in every respect by her own crew: meanwhile there is plenty of employment in getting on board the ballast, water tanks, &c., stepping the masts, and other heavy jobs, at which the marines prove very useful.

During war, vessels are manned by draughts from the guardships, or other ships paid off, and by pressing any seamen that can be laid hold of; in seasons of peace, the crews are all volunteers, who enter for the ship, or for general service. The term implied is three years, but once entered they can be detained, if the service requires it, for five years.

There is seldom, under ordinary circumstances, a necessity for hurrying a ship's equipment, and as unnecessary severity of discipline and frequent corporal punishment are greatly discountenanced by the Board of Admiralty, captains are of course anxious to procure men of good character, so that they may have the less occasion to exercise severity. For this reason ships are sometimes very slowly manned in the present day, and good men being frequently rejected for frivolous causes, or a fastidiousness on the part of the captain, they are the less inclined to submit to this mortification, and when slighted repair to the merchant, and often, we fear, to foreign service. Very much also depends upon the reputation which the captain and his commander or first lieutenant enjoys amongst the seamen ; a hasty or contemptuous expression, a character for harassing the men with trifling jobs, or any prejudice taken up, runs like wild-fire amongst seamen; for they congregate together and discuss these matters-the most interesting that can be to them; and cases of this sort militate against the manning a particular ship, whilst men will enter freely for another. Indeed, experience shows that it is not the strictest disciplinarians who are unpopular, very far from it; because, under them, the seaman knows every one must perform his duty, and the willing man is not obliged to do the work of the skulker. It may be very generally and certainly

[Bradbury and Evans, Printers, Whitefriars.]

I

assumed, that when men show a disinclination for a particular ship, there is a prejudice existing against some party on board; the remedy the Dutch formerly adopted for this was to nominate another captain, if the one first appointed failed to enlist his crew within a specified time. No doubt such a regulation induced officers to cultivate the respect and affection of their

men.

To many it may seem surprising that seamen will enter at all in the Royal Navy, when they can always earn nearly double, and sometimes treble, the wages in trading ships. Experience shows, however, that they do, and the fact is indisputable that upwards of twenty thousand are now serving in the fleet, all volunteers. There must be some reasons for this, and the fact is there are various advantages present, contingent, and in prospect, connected with the Queen's service, that operate upon the minds of men who bestow a thought on the matter. But as we believe that three-fourths of our merchant seamen never heard of, or at all events do not know enough of these advantages to appreciate them, we shall be performing a kindness by describing the most prominent, reserving more detailed observations upon "Impressment and Manning the Fleet" for a special article, in which we purpose treating on the matter hereafter.

The average wages of seamen in merchants' ships, may be estimated roundly, at 45s. per month. In some trades they earn considerably more; and an able seaman, who really deserves the title, and has served his apprenticeship to the sea, may always calculate on obtaining 60s. per month.

The best seamen in the Navy do not (until they attain to petty officer's ratings) receive more than 34s. per month, but their pay is calculated by the lunar, not (as in the merchant's service) the calendar month, so that in this respect, they have an advantage of thirteen to twelve. But the man-of-war's man's pay is always accruing; he is subjected to no interruptions nor mulcts, his pay goes on in sickness or health, when captured or shipwrecked *, even when on leave of absence: in fact, he need never lose a day's wages, for when discharged from one ship, he can immediately enter on board the flag ship, and obtain two or three weeks' leave for recreation on shore, depositing his chest, bedding, and a portion of his money, in safety, until his return. Again, he incurs no drawbacks, like the merchant seaman, for damage or pillage of the cargo; neither is he obliged to hang about the docks for ten days after discharge, before he can claim a settlement of his wages, all which time the seaman is a prey to Jews, who advance him money on exorbitant terms : in fact, notwithstanding the disparity of wages, if a balance is struck at the end of half-a-dozen years, it will be found that the man-of-war's man had earned the most money, and maintained his family in the greatest comfort, owing to the regularity of his employment, and punctuality of his allotment.

But it is only in the matter of wages—and that we have shown is questionable—that the merchant seaman can claim an advantage; in every other respect, he is immeasurably deficient. The man-of-war's man enjoys good treatment, food, and lodging, greater safety from the superior qualities of his ship, the skill of the officers to navigate her, and the strength of the crew : in

sickness, skilful professional treatment, with a profuse use of the most costly medicines to alleviate his pain, and restoratives to

*If a merchant vessel is captured or wrecked, the crew are not entitled

to wages. In either case, but particularly the former, when the man is generally detained in prison during the war, his allotment is stopped, and his family deprived of any help from him. The man-of-war's man is not liable to this, but his wages continue to accrue when he cannot receive them, and his allotment is punctually paid, even should he be detained in a French prison twenty years or more.

further his recovery. If wounded or maimed, casualties to which his profession render him peculiarly liable, he has surgical assistance on the spot, for want of which, and the means of performing an operation in season, thousands of merchant seamen perish miserably. Moreover, should disease overtake him, and incapacitate him at any time whilst serving, he is invalided and pensioned at from eight pence to nine pence per day, instead of becoming dependent on parish relief. His children are eligible for Greenwich school, where they receive an education that qualifies them for advancement in life to any station good conduct can obtain. In case of death, his wife receives an annuity, and when he has served twenty-one years, he can claim a pension for life, either at sea or on shore, of from ten pence to fourteen pence per day, and more if he served in petty officer's ratings. The seaman who resolves upon entering the Royal Navy with a view to serving therein twenty-one years, may therefore set casualty and fate at defiance; he need take no further thought of provision for life. He may save out of his pay (to say nothing of his chance of prize money) scores, nay, hundreds of pounds, if provident, leaving himself ample means for enjoyment besides, for every want is supplied to him; and, should he so desire, Greenwich Hospital at last receives him. The merchant seaman has nothing of this kind to depend on. It is true he subscribes to a fund, but unless he makes some additional provision for old age, he will find but a scanty maintenance from what that affords; and should his constitution break down, or injury or disease incapacitate him, he has no resource for himself or family from which he can claim the means of support.

Having detailed the advantages which the seaman enjoys in the royal navy, so far as regards his wages and entitlements, the reader will be anxious to know how he fares? The best information we can give him on this point is to append the following Table, which shows the provision made for his support, and the judicious manner in which his food is varied from day to day.

The following scheme shows the proportion of provisions, with salt-meat, for each man, for fourteen days.

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the slightest distinction being made, either in quality or quantity, Every individual of the crew receives the same allowance, not between the captain and the smallest boy on board the ship.

Formerly there existed what were called "Banyan days," being three days in the week, not strictly of abstinence, but on which no dinner was cooked, the men making a cool and comfortless meal on whatever they saved from the previous day. Banyan days have been abolished since the war, and the above arrangement adopted, by which a hot dinner every day of beef

pint.

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