hatever may
be his peculiarities, is consistent. Nothing is more unpleasant to men
than to sail under a person whom, to use their own expression, "they
never knew where to find."

The second and third lieutenants, Mr Percival and Mr Weymss, were
young men of good family, and were admitted to a very slight degree of
familiarity with Captain Delmar: they were of gentlemanly manners, both
good seamen, and kind to their inferiors.

Mr Culpepper, the purser, was my abomination--a nasty, earwigging,
flattering, bowing old rogue. The master, Mr Smith, was a very quiet
man, plain and unoffending, but perfectly master of, and always
attentive to, his duty.

The marine officer, Mr Tusk, was a nonentity put into a red jacket.
The surgeon was a tall, and very finicking sort of gentleman as to
dress; but well informed, friendly in disposition, and perfectly
acquainted with his profession.

My messmates were most of them young men of good birth, with the
exception of Tommy Dott, who was the son of a warrant officer, and Mr
Green, whose father was a boot-maker in London. I shall not, however,
waste my reader's time upon them; they will appear when required. I
shall, therefore, now proceed with my narrative.

It is usually the custom for the midshipmen to take up provisions and
spirits beyond their allowance, and pay the purser an extra sum for the
same; but this Mr Culpepper would not permit--indeed, he was the most
stingy and disagreeable old fellow that I ever met with in the service.
We never had dinner or grog enough, or even lights sufficient for our
wants.

We complained to the first lieutenant, but he was not inclined to assist
us: he said we had our allowance, and it was all we could demand; that
too much grog was bad for us, and as for candles, they only made us sit
up late when we ought to be in bed: he was, moreover, very strict about
the lights being put out. This, however, was the occasion of war to the
knife between the midshipmen and Mr Culpepper.

But it was of no avail; he would seldom trust his own steward or the
mate of the main deck; whenever he could, he superintended the serving
out of all provisions and mixing of the grog: no wonder that he was said
to be a rich man. The only party to whom he was civil was Mr
Hippesley, the first lieutenant, and the captain; both of whom had the
power of annoying him, and reducing his profits.

To the captain he was all humility; every expense that he required wa