imbs, that no traces of scurvy have begun
to show themselves.

While the mustering and inspecting of the divisions is going on, the
captain paces the quarter-deck, in company with the first lieutenant.
No other voices are heard except theirs, and that of the midshipmen
calling over the names of the men, or the officers putting some
interrogatory about a spot of tar on a pair of duck trousers, or an
ill-mended hole in the sleeve of a shirt. In a few minutes even these
sounds are hushed, and nothing is distinguishable fore and aft but the
tread of the respective officers, on their way aft to report to the
captain on the quarter-deck that all are present, properly dressed,
and clean, at their different divisions. The marine officer likewise
makes a report of his party and their equipments. The first lieutenant
now turns to the captain, takes off his hat, and says,--

"All the officers have reported, sir."

To which the other replies,--

"We'll go round the ship, then, if you please;" and off they trudge,
after leaving the deck in charge of the second lieutenant, or the
master, as may be determined upon at the moment.

As the captain approaches the first division, he is received by the
officer commanding it, who touches his hat, and then falls into the
train behind. Of course, the moment the skipper appears, the men along
the whole line take off their hats, smooth down their locks, make many
clumsy efforts to stand erect, fumble interminably with the waistband
of their trousers, and shuffle, to more or less purpose, according to
the motion of the ship, to maintain their toes exactly at the line or
seam in the deck along which they have been cautioned twenty times
they are to stand. The captain, as he moves slowly past, eyes each man
from head to foot, and lets nothing pass of which he disapproves. The
officer of the division is ready to explain, or to take a note of what
alteration is required; but supposing all to be right, not a syllable
is spoken, and at the end of the division the captain again touches
his hat to the officer, who returns the salute, and remains with his
people.

He then proceeds to the forecastle, at the break of which he is
received by the three warrant-officers, the boatswain, gunner, and
carpenter, in their best coats, cut after the fashion of the year one,
broad-tailed, musty, and full of creases from bad packing and little
use, and blazing from top to bottom with a double-tiered battery of