f an order from the Admiralty were
given, that all captains should pass again, although they might acquit
themselves very well in seamanship, nineteen out of twenty would be
turned back when they were questioned in navigation. It is from the
knowledge of this fact that I think the service is injured by the
present system, and the captain should be held _wholly_ responsible for
the navigation of his ship. It has been long known that the officers of
every other maritime state are more scientific than our own, which is
easily explained, from the responsibility not being invested in our
captains. The origin of masters in our service in singular. When
England first became a maritime power, ships for the King's service were
found by the Cinque Ports and other parties--the fighting part of the
crew was composed of soldiers sent on board. All the vessels at that
time had a crew of sailors, with a master to navigate the vessel.
During our bloody naval engagements with the Dutch, the same system was
acted upon. I think it was the Earl of Sandwich, of whom it is stated,
that his ship being in a sinking state, he took a boat to hoist his flag
on board of another vessel in the fleet, but a shot cutting the boat in
two, and the _weight of his armour_ bearing him down, the Earl of
Sandwich perished. But to proceed.

As soon as I had answered several questions satisfactorily, I was
desired to stand up. The captain who had interrogated me on navigation,
was very grave in his demeanour towards me, but at the same time not
uncivil. During his examination, he was not interfered with by the
other two, who only undertook the examination in "seamanship." The
captain, who now desired me to stand up, spoke in a very harsh tone, and
quite frightened me. I stood up pale and trembling, for I augured no
good from this commencement. Several questions in seamanship were put
to me, which I have no doubt I answered in a very lame way, for I cannot
even now recollect what I said.

"I thought so," observed the captain; "I judged as much from your
appearance. An officer who is so careless of his dress, as not even to
put on a decent coat when he appears at his examination, generally turns
out an idle fellow, and no seaman. One would think you had served all
your time in a cutter, or a ten-gun brig, instead of dashing frigates.
Come, sir, I'll give you one more chance."

I was so hurt at what the captain said, that I could not control my
f