ers, as they are
technically much miscalled, may often be seen only then lugging their
shirts over their heads, or hitching up their trousers in all the
hurry-scurry of a lower-deck toilet. I should have recorded that in
the ship's head, as well as on the fore-part of the main-deck, and
likewise between the guns, chiefly those abreast of the fore-hatchway,
there have been groups assembled to scrape and polish themselves ever
since breakfast-time, and even before it. Some are washing themselves;
others cutting, and combing, and trimming their hair; for, now-a-days,
there are none of those huge long tails, or club ties, which descended
along the back of the sailors who fought with Benbow and Rodney. The
dandyism of Jack has now taken another turn, and the knowing thing at
present is to have a parcel of ringlets hanging from the temples
almost to the collar-bone. Some of the youngest and best-looking of
the foretop-men would also very fain indulge in the feminine foppery
of ear-rings; but in the British Navy this is absolutely forbidden.

I remember once, on the beach of Madras, witnessing an amusing scene
between Sir Samuel Hood, then commander-in-chief in India, and the
newly-promoted boatswain of a sloop-of-war belonging to the squadron.
The Admiral, who was one of the bravest, and kindest, and
truest-hearted seamen that ever trod a ship's decks, was a sworn foe
to all trickery in dress. The eye of the veteran officer was directed
earnestly towards the yeast of waves, which in immense double rows of
surf, fringe and guard the whole of that flat coast. He was watching
the progress of a Massullah boat, alternately lost in the foam, and
raised in very uncertain balance across the swell, which, though just
on the break, brought her swiftly towards the shore. He felt more
anxious than usual about the fate of this particular boat, from having
ordered on shore the person alluded to, with whom he wished to have
some conversation previous to their parting company. This boatswain
was a young man, who had been for some years a follower of the Admiral
in different ships, and to whom he had just given a warrant. The poor
fellow, unexpectedly promoted from before the mast to the rank of a
warrant-officer, was trigged out in his newly-bought, but marvellously
ill-cut uniform, shining like a new dollar, and making its wearer,
who for the first time in his life had put on a long coat, feel not a
little awkward.

As soon as the boat wa