ervice, as laid down by the Board of
Admiralty, and the articles of war, were as rigidly observed by him, and
extracted from others, as if they had been added to the Decalogue; and
any deviation or neglect was sure to bring down reprimand or punishment
upon the offender, whether it happened to be the senior lieutenant, or
the smallest boy in the ship's company.

But, with all his severity, so determined was Captain M--- to be just,
that he never would exercise the power without due reflection. On one
occasion, in which the conduct of a sailor had been very offensive, the
first lieutenant observed that summary punishment would have a very
beneficial effect upon the ship's company in general. "Perhaps it
might, Mr H---," replied he; "but it is against a rule which I have
laid down, and from which I never deviate. Irritated as I am at this
moment with the man's conduct, I may perhaps consider it in a more
heinous light than it deserves, and be guilty of too great severity. I
am liable to error,--subject, as others, to be led away by the feelings
of the moment--and have therefore made a compact with myself never to
punish until twenty-four hours after the offence has been committed; and
so repeatedly, when at the time I have settled in my mind the quantum of
punishment that the offender should receive, have I found, upon
reflection, which delay has given time for, reasons to mitigate the
severity, that I wish, for the benefit of the service, that the
Admiralty would give a standing order to that effect."

Such was the character of Captain M---. It hardly need be added, after
the events already narrated of this history, that he was a man of
undaunted bravery. In his person he was tall, and rather slight in
figure. His features were regular, but there was a sternness in his
countenance, and lines of deep thought on his brow, which rendered the
expression unpleasing. It was only when he smiled that you would have
pronounced him handsome; then he was more than handsome, he was
fascinating.

Mr Bully, the first-lieutenant (who was the second-lieutenant in the
ship in the action with the French frigate), was an officer who well
understood his duty. He had the merit of implicitly obeying all orders;
and, considering the well-known fact, that a first lieutenant has always
sufficient cause to be put out of temper at least twenty times during
the twelve hours, he was as good-tempered as a first-lieutenant could
possibly b