F CUSTOMS. The board of management of the customs
department of the public revenue.

COMMISSIONERS OF THE NAVY. Certain officers formerly appointed to
superintend the affairs of the navy, under the direction of the
lords-commissioners of the Admiralty. Their duty was more immediately
concerned in the building, docking, and repairing of ships in the
dockyards; they had also the appointment of some of the officers, as
surgeons, masters, &c., and the transport, victualling, and medical
departments were controlled by that board. It was abolished in 1831.

COMMIT ONE'S SELF, TO. To break through regulations. To incur
responsibility without regard to results.

COMMODORE. A senior officer in command of a detached squadron. A captain
finding five or six ships assembled, was formerly permitted to hoist his
pennant, and command as commodore; and a necessity arising for holding a
court-martial, he ordered the said court to assemble. Again, where an
admiral dies in command, the senior captain hoists a first-class broad
pennant, and appoints a captain, secretary, and flag-lieutenant, fulfils
the duties of a rear-admiral, and wears the uniform. Commodores of the
second class have no captain or pennant-lieutenant. A commodore rates
with brigadier-generals, according to dates of commission (being of full
colonel's rank). He is next in command to a rear-admiral, but cannot
hoist his broad pennant in the presence of an admiral, or superior
captain, without permission. The broad pennant is a swallow-tailed
tapered burgee. The second-class commodore is to hoist his broad
pennant, white at the fore. It is a title given by courtesy to the
senior captain, where three or more ships of war are cruising in
company. It was also imported into the East India Company's vessels, the
senior being so termed, _inter se_. It moreover denotes the convoy ship,
which carries a light in her top. The epithet is corrupted from the
Spanish _comendador_.

COMMUNICATION. Corresponding by letter, hail, or signal. (_See_ LINE OF
COMMUNICATION and BOYAUX.)

COMMUTE, TO. To lighten the sentence of a court-martial, on a
recommendation of the court to the commander-in-chief.

COMPANION. The framing and sash-lights upon the quarter-deck or
round-house, through which light passes to the cabins and decks below;
and a sort of wooden hood placed over the entrance or staircase of the
master's cabin in small ships. Flush-decked vessels are generally fitted
with movable