any
kind.

Thirdly, to see that the boat appointed to be employed on these
occasions is secured in such a manner that she may be cast loose in a
moment, and, when ready for lowering down, that she is properly
manned, and fitted, so as to be efficient in all respects when she
reaches the water.

Fourthly, to take care in lowering the boat neither to stave nor to
swamp her, nor to pitch the men out.

And, lastly, to have a sufficient number of the sharpest-sighted men
in the ship stationed aloft in such a manner as to give them the best
chance, not only of discovering the person who is overboard, but of
pointing him out to the people in the boat, who may not otherwise know
in what direction to pull.

It is conceived that all these objects may be accomplished with very
little, if any, additional trouble, in all tolerably well-disciplined
ships.

Various opinions prevail amongst officers as to the first point; but,
I think, the best authorities recommend that, if possible, the ship
should not merely be hove aback when a man falls overboard, but that
she ought to be brought completely round on the other tack. Of course,
sail should be shortened in stays, and the main-yard left square. This
plan implies the ship being on a wind, or from that position to having
the wind not above two points abaft the beam. But, on one tack or the
other, this will include a large portion of the sailing of every ship.

The great merit of such a method of proceeding is, that, if the
evolution succeeds, the ship, when round, will drift right down
towards the man; and, although there may be some small risk in
lowering the boat in stays, from the ship having at one period
stern-way, there will, in fact, be little time lost if the boat be
not lowered till the ship be well round, and the stern-way at an end.
There is more mischief done, generally, by lowering the boat too soon,
than by waiting till the fittest moment arrives for doing it coolly;
and it cannot be too often repeated, that almost the whole depends
upon the self-possession of the officer of the watch. This important
quality is best taught by experience, that is to say, by a thorough
and familiar practical knowledge of what should be done under all
circumstances. The officer in command of the deck ought to let it be
seen and felt, by his tone of voice, and by the judicious promptness
of his orders, that he, at least, is perfectly master of himself, and
knows distinctly what cours