resent their body; the guard was
paraded, under its officers; the drums rolled; the boatswain piped six
side boys over, and Lord Geoffrey skipped down first into the boat,
remaining respectfully standing, until his superior was seated. All
these punctilios observed, the boat was shoved off from the vessel's
side, the eight oars dropped, as one, and the party moved towards the
shore. Every cutter, barge, yawl, or launch that was met, and which did
not contain an officer of rank itself, tossed its oars, as this barge,
with the rear-admiral's flag fluttering in its bow, passed, while the
others lay on theirs, the gentlemen saluting with their hats. In this
manner the barge passed the fleet, and approached the shore. At the
landing, a little natural quay formed by a low flat rock, there was a
general movement, as the rear-admiral's flag was seen to draw near; and
even the boats of captains were shoved aside, to give the naval _pas_.
As soon, however, as the foot of Bluewater touched the rock, the little
flag was struck; and, a minute later, a cutter, with only a lieutenant
in her, coming in, that officer ordered the barge to make way for _him_,
with an air of high and undisputed authority.

Perhaps there was not a man in the British marine, to whom the etiquette
of the service gave less concern, than to Bluewater. In this respect, he
was the very reverse of his friend; for Sir Gervaise was a punctilious
observer, and a rigid enforcer of all the prescribed ceremonials. This
was by no means the only professional point on which these two
distinguished officers differed. It has already been mentioned, that the
rear-admiral was the best tactician in England, while the vice-admiral
was merely respectable in that branch of his duty. On the other hand,
Sir Gervaise was deemed the best practical seaman afloat, so far as a
single ship was concerned, while Bluewater had no particular reputation
in that way. Then, as to discipline, the same distinction existed. The
commander-in-chief was a little of a _martinet_, exacting compliance
with the most minute regulations; while his friend, even when a captain,
had thrown the police duty of his ship very much on what is called the
executive officer: or the first lieutenant; leaving to that important
functionary, the duty of devising, as well as of executing the system by
which order and cleanliness were maintained in the vessel. Nevertheless,
Bluewater had his merit even in this peculiar featu