CAPTAIN HENRY BAYNHAM, R.N.
I thank Mr W. Barclay Squire and Mr F. Kidson, for their versions of the tune, “Drops of Brandy”; and Mr Martin Shaw for permission to use his arrangement of the tune of “Spanish Ladies.” I also wish to thank Mr Laurence Binyon for his help in the selection of the illustrations here reproduced.
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER I | |
| PAGE | |
| Ship designing, building, sheathing, and rigging—The external decorations and appearance—The internal arrangements, deck by deck—The orlop and hold | [1] |
| CHAPTER II | |
| The guns in use in our navy—Their nature—How loaded and fired—Varieties—Carronades—Shot—Small-arms—Gun-ports. | [31] |
| CHAPTER III | |
| The quarter-deck officers—The captain—The lieutenants—The master, second master, and master’s mates—The midshipmen—The midshipman’s berth | [51] |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| The civilian and warrant or standing officers—The surgeon—The surgeon’s assistants—The chaplain—The boatswain—The purser—The gunner—The carpenter—Mates and yeomen—The sailmaker—The ship’s police—The ship’s cook | [85] |
| CHAPTER V | |
| The people—The boys—Manning—The divisions—The messes—The dress—The King’s allowance—Grog—Marines | [119] |
| CHAPTER VI | |
| Sea punishments—The cat—Flogging at the gangway—Flogging through the fleet—Running the gauntlet—Keel-hauling—Hanging | [157] |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| In action | [170] |
| CHAPTER VIII | |
| The daily routine—Sunday—Ship visiting | [185] |
| CHAPTER IX | |
| In port—Jews—Lovely Nan—Mutinies—Their punishment—Sailor songs—“Drops of Brandy”—“Spanish Ladies,” etc.—Flags—Salutes | [199] |
| Epilogue | [216] |
| Appendix | [219] |
| Index | [223] |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| A Frigate under Sail | [Frontispiece] |
| TO FACE PAGE | |
| A First-Rate Ship of War, circa 1760 | [9] |
| Section of a First-Rate Ship of War, late Eighteenth Century | [25] |
| The Guns in Use in the Navy | [35] |
| A Three-Decker | [50] |
| A Midshipman’s first Introduction to the Berth | [75] |
| A Frigate in Chase—going free | [100] |
| The Head of a 74-Gun Ship, with Drawing of Spritsail Yard | [112] |
| Two of Nelson’s Sailors | [120] |
| Two of Nelson’s Sailors | [126] |
| A Horse Marine | [138] |
| A Frigate in Chase, before the Wind | [140] |
| The Lee Roll | [150] |
| A Flogging at the Gangway | [160] |
| Lieutenant Blockhead keeping the Morning Watch | [186] |
| H.M.S. “Venerable” at Anchor | [200] |
SEA LIFE IN NELSON’S TIME
CHAPTER I
Ship designing, building, sheathing, and rigging—The external decorations and appearance—The internal arrangements, deck by deck—The orlop and hold
The ships in which Nelson went to sea were designed by master-shipwrights, in large sheds or studios known as “mould-lofts.” There was a mould-loft in all the royal dockyards, near the dry docks or building slips. On the floor of a mould-loft the master-shipwrights drew the plans of their ships, at the full size of the intended vessel. On the walls, which were of great height, they chalked out their side elevations, from the keel to the prospective water-line, and from the water-line to the top of the poop-railings or hammock nettings, the parts farthest from the sea when the ship was afloat. Having chalked out their plans, and “laid down” their ships to their satisfaction, they gave orders for the timber to be cut in accordance with their designs. The work of building was then begun at that royal yard to which the mould-loft was attached. The chief yards were those at Chatham, Deptford, Plymouth, and Woolwich. The smaller ships were built on slips or launches, which sloped down to the water’s edge. Large ships, or first-rates, designed to carry 100 guns, were generally built in dry dock, and floated out when completed by the admission of water.