SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

It may be as well here to remark that the system of pilotage is
different now from what it used to be at the period of which I am
writing. The Cinque Port pilots now carry vessels from the Downs to the
river, and from the river to the Downs. Their pilotage extends no
farther. Vessels seldom require pilots for the Channel, and do not take
them unless they are bound to some port in the Channel with which they
are unacquainted, and those pilots who ply in the Channel are termed
Hoblers; but at the time I refer to, the regular pilots used to go out
in their galleys to the chaps of the Channel, and take charge of vessels
all the way up, which, by the new regulations, they do not do. The
arrangements for pilotage have been much improved of late years, and
those employed are better qualified.

I had remained at Deal about three weeks when an outward-bound Indiaman
anchored in the Downs: her pilot came on shore, and she made the signal
for another. It was Bramble's turn, a galley was launched, and we went
on board.

The ship was bound to Plymouth, from whence she was to sail with convoy
to a certain latitude. The weather was now fine and frosty, and we made
sail when the tide served. As soon as we were fairly out in the
Channel, Bramble went with me into the main-chains, and showed me how to
heave the lead. After several attempts, in which I sometimes would hit
the spare topsail-yard upon which I stood, sometimes would nearly break
my own head, and once contrived to throw the lead over the hammock-rails
in board, I succeeded in getting it round over my head; and when I had
once gained that point, I made fewer mistakes. In two days we arrived
at Plymouth; and as Bramble kept me at it till my arms ached, nearly
half the day, I could by that time heave the lead pretty fairly, that is
to say, without danger to myself or other people. The day after we
arrived at Plymouth we got into a pilot boat and went out in search of
employment, which we soon found, and we continued chiefly taking vessels
up to Portsmouth and down to Plymouth, or clear of soundings, for some
time. During this time my practice at the lead was incessant, and I
became very perfect. When I was not at the lead Bramble would make me
stand at the binnacle and watch the compass, so that, by the time we
arrived at Deal again, I was pretty competent in those two branches of
my art, except that, having practised the lea