The Lieutenant and Commander Being Autobigraphical Sketches of His Own Career, from Fragments of Voyages and Travels   By: Basil Hall (1788-1844)

BEING AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF HIS OWN CAREER,

FROM

FRAGMENTS OF VOYAGES AND TRAVELS BY CAPTAIN BASIL HALL, R.N., F.R.S.

LONDON: BELL AND DALDY, 186, FLEET STREET, AND SAMPSON LOW, SON, AND CO. 47, LUDGATE HILL. 1862.

PREFACE.

The present volume is rather a condensation than an abridgment of the later volumes of Captain Hall's "Fragments of Voyages and Travels," inasmuch as it comprises all the chapters of the second and third series, only slightly abbreviated, in which the author describes the various duties of the naval lieutenant and commander, the personal narrative being the framework, and his own experience in both capacities providing the details.

The editor has no hesitation in stating, after the careful perusal and analysis he has necessarily made of this work, and that, with a tolerably extensive knowledge of books, he knows of none which may, with more propriety, be placed in the hands of young men, whatever may be their destination in life; but more especially are they adapted for the use of young officers and all aspirants to a seaman's life. The personal narrative, slight though it is, renders it very amusing, and every point the author makes inculcates a rigorous attention to "duty" duly tempered with discretion and humanity in commanding officers.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Taking a line in the service Duty of officers The dashing boys Dashing boys ashore Philosophers afloat Naval statesmen Scientific officers Hard working officers Poetical aspirants Taking a line

CHAPTER II.

A sailor on shore Irish hospitality A sailor ashore Irish factions Irish scenery Land locked bay Reflections and plans An awkward dilemma A retreat A country party A medical experiment My reception

CHAPTER III.

Tricks upon travellers Irish refinement A wise resolve After dinner The second bottle One bottle more Second thoughts best The game of humbug The climax You're off, are you? A practical bull Irish hospitality

CHAPTER IV.

The Admiralty List Chances of promotion The Admiral's list My own disappointment A good start Homeward bound A spell of bad weather

CHAPTER V.

The tropical regions at sea Sir Nathaniel Dance The old Indian ships Social life at sea Details of the voyage The Canary Islands The Trade winds Changes of climate The variable winds North east Trades Our limited knowledge The great monsoons

CHAPTER VI.

The Trade winds The monsoons Theory of the Trade winds Explanations Tropical winds Motion of cold air Direction of clouds Equatorial Trades Calms and variables South east Trades Application of theories Atlantic winds Monsoons of India Trade winds of the pacific Monsoons of Indian seas Velocity of equatorial air Obstructions of the land Horsburg's remarks Dampier's essay

CHAPTER VII.

Progress of the voyage Cape of Good Hope Ships' decks in the tropics Sweeping the decks Marine shower bath Flying fish A calm Ships in a calm A tropical shower Washing day Comforts of fresh water

CHAPTER VIII.

Aquatic sports Weather wisdom An equatorial squall Flying fish A chase The dolphin Capture Porpoises Harpooning The bonito Dolphin steaks Porpoise steaks The albatross Shark fishing A shark hook Habits of sharks Seizing its prey Flying at the bait The shark captured Killing the shark The buffalo skin A narrow escape

CHAPTER IX.

A man overboard Crossing the line Duty of officers Rival Neptunes A boy overboard Affecting incident A true hearted sailor Bathing at sea A well timed action Swimming A necessary acquisition A man overboard What should be done, and how to do it Effects of precipitancy Life buoy Regulations for emergencies Managing the ship with a man overboard Stationing the crew Directing the boats