The surgeon, or first mate, is to be always on board; and the junior mate is to go to the hospital with sick people.
When in a foreign port, the surgeon is to visit the hospital, or sick-quarters, every second day; and, when in an English harbour, he is to go to the hospital every Monday and Thursday morning; for which purpose he will be allowed a boat. On his return, he is to make a written report to the captain of the state of the sick people's health, and the probable time when they will be able to return on board.
The surgeon is to visit the between-decks every morning, and to make his report to the captain, at the time he delivers the sick list, of its state; pointing out any improvement which may conduce to render it more salubrious or wholesome.
When punishment takes place on board, the surgeon is to attend, to be ready to answer any questions respecting the prisoner's health, or ability to receive his punishement.
The purser is to be accountable for the candles being in the lanthorns designed for the quarters, before they are taken on deck at night.
The purser is to consider himself responsible for the regularity and cleanliness of the steward-room.
When any provisions are decayed, or in a state requisite to be surveyed, the purser is to make it known to the captain as soon as possible, that he may apply for an order to have it done.
The purser is to be very particular in providing a sufficient quantity of vegetables for the broth for the ship's company, when fresh beef is issued.
The purser is to deliver, at sea, a weekly report to the captain, of the expense of provisions, and the quantity of each particular species remaining.
No, slops, or tobacco, to be issued to any man, without an order from the lieutenant of his division.
When ordered on duty, in a boat, to take care of the crew, they must recollect that the people are individually under their charge, and that no circumstances can warrant a breach of this important service.
The good conduct of the mates and midshipmen will never be overlooked, and every degree of attention and indulgence will be regulated by it, which, it is hoped, will operate as inducements to them to do their duty with becoming spirit and activity; and, when they are below, that the conduct themselves with such respect and decorum towards each other, as shall insure them a superior degree of consequence in the eyes of the ship's company. [p 47]
Liquor is, on no account, to be put into the store-room, sail-room, or passages; and the greatest care is to be taken of the lights, which are never to be taken out of the lanthorns.
No article belonging to the ship is to be converted to the use of another; nor any expense of stores, without the express directions of the commanding officer, and the knowledge of the master, who is to order the alteration of sails or rigging.
The boatswain is to pay the greatest attention to the conduct of his mates, and to prevent them from inflicting any punishment with their sticks or canes, unles ordered by their superior officers.
After the storm stay-sails have been used
The people, in their respective stations, are to report the state of the rigging to the boatswain every morning, which is, as soon afterwards as possible, to be made known to the officer of the watch.
No clothes are ever to be suffred in the fore rigging, or on the bowsprit, when in harbour. Should any person wish to dry his wet clothes, permission will be granted for clothes-lines to be rove, by applying to the officer of the watch. When at sea, every measure is to be adopted, in order to prevent the use of fresh water for washing clothes, or other improper uses.
Any hammocks found lying about the decks, or without numbers, are to be reported to the officer of the watch, that proper measures may be taken to punish the men who are so negligent.
The sail-maker is to be directed to preserve the pieces of canvas, not serviceable for any other use, to make patches for the numbers of the hammocks; he is to cut them of one size, and of as white canvas as possible.
The establishment of two hammocks to each man, so conducive to the preservation of health, is always to be complied with, if it be possible; but the boatswain must be vigilant and attentice to see that this regulation is not perverted, and the hammocks appropriated to other uses than that of sleeping in.
The utmost attention must be always paid to keeping the yards square, when in harbour; and, when at sea, if going before the wind, or lying-to, to see that nothing is ever suffered to hang overboard; and, once a day at least, the boatswain is to apply for a boat to go round the ship, and always after the sails are furled from having been loosened.
When coming from sea, the guess-wharp-booms are to be ready to get out as soon as the ship is moored, and always to be gotten in when the ship is unmoored for going to sea.
After the braces have gotten to their proper stretch, they are to be moused; and, when in harbour, after wet weather, every precaution is to be taken to loose sails at the usual hours. The harbour-sheets to be kept on each side of the top, in readiness to carry out; the pins taken out of the clamp of the boom-irons; bunt-lines, clue-lines, leech-lines, clue-garnets, and down-hawls, over-hawled for running; the people stationed to go aloft, to loose sails ready to go up; the top-men uppermost, and lower-yard-men last; and none but the captains of the tops, and the men stationed to rig the upper-yard-arm of the top-gallant-yards, to be permitted to quit the deck before they are ordered,
The boatswain must always have a correct watch-bill, hammock-list, and station-bill of the people forward, about him.
The mats, points, robands, and gaskets, are always to be kept complete for two ser of sails.
The hammocks, when all up from below, are always to be reported to the forst lieutenant and officer of the watch; and also, when the yards are squared; the store-rooms and passages being clear at the time of returning the keys.
When the ship is tacked, wore, or any particular service happens, in the night, the boatswain's mates are to have directions to call the boatswain in sufficient time, that he may attend. ...
The carpenter is to pay great attention in keeping the boats properly repaired; he is to use every opportunity at sea in taking the ship's draught of water, and is to deliver a statement of it to the captain and master.
The carpenter is to be very careful in the expenditure of his stores, and also in his examination of the masts and yards, which he is required to inspect several times during the day, in bad weather, or when carrying a heavy press of sail; and every morning and evening at other times, which he is always to report to the officer of the watch.
The key of the carpenter's store-room will be always hung on the outside of the first lieutenant's cabin; and he is to apply for it, when wanted, to the officer of the watch, who will direct a midshipman to attend him whilst he is in it. He is to keep a sufficient number of shot-plugs made, and every thing at hand and ready, every night, for action; which is to be reported at sun-set, when the keys are delivered back to the first lieutenant, after having so inspected them. The axes are always to be kept prepared for any emergency, in the store-rooms.
The carpenter is to be attentive in stopping any leaks over the store-rooms, sail-rooms, and bread-rooms.
He is to be very careful in examining the ports himself in the daytime, and to direct his mates to do it at night; likewise to sound the well at stated times, which is always to be reported to the officer of the watch.
Updated 1995-09-26 by Lars Bruzelius
Sjöhistoriska Samfundet | The Maritime History Virtual Archives.
Copyright © 1995 Lars Bruzelius.