File:A sailor's life under four sovereigns (1899) (14596396180).jpg

Identifier: sailorslifeunder01kepp (find matches)
Title: A sailor's life under four sovereigns
Year: 1899 (1890s)
Authors: Keppel, Henry, Sir, 1809-1904
Subjects: Great Britain. Royal Navy
Publisher: London : Macmillan and co., limited New York, The Macmillan company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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being one-eighth, after expenses paid. Mr. Dunsterville had charge of Haulbowline, with a charming wife and family. A nice boy joined us as mid, deliciously Irish. With them I made excursions to Cork, and I enjoyed a lunch at the same time at the mess of the 13th Hussars. We sailed from Cork on the 25th, and got into the wide and open sea, when I saw, for the first time,the horizon of blue water all round. I now came in contact with those who were my messmates, among them a number of masters mates, whom the Admiralty did not promote, but gave them the option of servingon.1 The duties of these elderly gentlemen were mostly nominal ; they were styled mates of the hold or of stores, etc. They seldom appeared on deck except on Sundays, when they took their weeks exercise. Their uniform was a blue coat, in shape like our now plain evening-dress, anchor buttons anda small white cord edging, white pantaloons, Hessian boots, cocked hat, and sword. 1 Navy List of date records 3786 lieutenants in service.
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Ship Mates. 32 A Sailors Life chap. 1824. It was considered a compliment to be spoken to by them. I was favoured by being asked if I had not come to sea to avenge the death of Nelson.Others were anxious to know if my mother cried when I left home. Down in the midshipmen's berth they reigned supreme ; spoke very little before grog-time ; then a fork was stuck in the beam, a signal for us youngsters to scuttle out as fast as we could. A servant was told off to look after me. I forgo this name, and asked one of my aged shipmates ; word was passed along the lower deck for Cheeks, the marine. There was no place for midshipmen's stores, except the lockers on which we sat. Each of us was supposed to bring two table-cloths ; one lasted a week,when the steward—his name Edward Low, but called- Tommie Plenty—took possession of it to wipe knives, forks, cups, and spoons. It smelt before the next was due. We had no candlesticks. Dips obtained from the purser were stuck in bottles sup-ported by forks fixed

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