Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 17.djvu/305

Rh NAVY 293 eu- The lieutenants take the watch by turns, and are at such ant. times entrusted, in the absence of the captain, with the command of the ship. The one on duty is to inform the captain of all occurrences which take place during his watch, as strange sails that may be in sight, signals from other ships in company, change of wind, &c. He is to see that the ship be properly steered, the log hove, and the course and distance entered on the log-board; and, in short, he is to see that the whole of the duties of the ship are carried on with the same punctuality as if the captain himself were present. In the absence of the captain, the commander or senior executive officer is responsible for everything done on board. avigat- The navigating officer receives his orders from the g captain or the senior executive officer. His more imme- ficer&amp;lt; diate duties are those of stowing the ship s hold and attending to her sailing qualities, of receiving and placing the provisions in the ship, so as most conveniently to come at those which may be wanted. He is to take care that the cables are properly coiled in the tiers. The keys of the spirit-room are in his custody, and he is directed to entrust them only to the officer authorized to use them. He has the charge of the store-rooms of the warrant- officers, which he is ordered frequently to visit ; and he is also entrusted, under the command of the captain, with the charge of navigating the ship, bringing her to anchor, ascertaining the latitude and longitude of her place at sea, surveying harbours, and making such nautical remarks and observations as may be useful to navigation in general. He. keeps the ship s log-book and remark-book, arrant- The warrant-officers of the navy may be compared with fficers. the non-commissioned officers of the army. They take rank as follows, viz., gunner, boatswain, carpenter; and, compared with other officers, they take rank after sub-lieu tenants and before midshipmen. They are charged with the duty of receiving on board from the dockyards, and examining, the stores of their respective departments, and keeping an account of the expenditure of them. ner. The gunner has the charge of the ship s artillery, and of the powder magazine. He is to see that the locks and carriages are kept in good order, and that the powder is preserved from damp ; he is frequently to examine the musketry and small arms, and to see that they are kept clean and fit for service ; and, in preparing for battle, it is his duty to take care that all the quarters are supplied with everything necessary for the service of the guns, and, during the action, that there be no want of ammunition served out. He is frequently to exercise the men at the guns, and to see that they perform this part of their duty with correctness. The armourer and his mates are under the immediate orders of the gunner in everything that relates to the great guns and small arms. The boatswain is charged with all the stores belonging Boat- to his department, consisting chiefly of the ropes and rig- swain, ging, the latter of which he is ordered to inspect daily, in order that any part of it chafed or likely to give way may be repaired without loss of time. He is always required to be on deck at such times as all hands are employed ; he is bound to see that the men, when called, move quickly upon deck, and when there that they perform their duty with alacrity, and without noise or confusion. The sail- maker and the ropemaker are under his immediate orders. The carpenter, when appointed to a ship, is carefully to Car- inspect the state of the masts and the yards, whether in penter. the dockyard or on board of the ship, to see that they are perfectly sound and in good order. He is to examine every part of the ship s hull, magazine, store-rooms, and cabins. He is every day when at sea carefully to examine into the state of the masts and yards, and to report to the officer of the watch if any appear to be sprung, or in any way defective. He is to see that the ports are secure and properly lined, and that the pumps are kept in good order, as also the boats, ladders, and gratings. The caulker, carpenter s mates, and carpenter s crew are placed under his immediate orders. The midshipmen are considered as the principal subor- Mid- dinate officers, but have no specific duties assigned to them, shipmen. In the smaller vessels some of the senior ones are entrusted with the watch ; they attend parties of men sent on shore, pass the word of command on board, and see that the orders of their superiors are carried into effect ; in short, they are exercised in all the duties of their profession, so as, after five years service as cadets and midshipmen, to qualify them to become lieutenants, and are then rated sub-lieu tenants provided they have passed the requisite examina tion, and are nineteen years of age. 2. The civil branch comprises the following officers, whose relative rank is stated against their names : Denomination of Civil Officer. 1. Inspector-general of hospitals and fleets.... 2. Secretary to an admiral of the fleet 3. Paymaster-in-chief 4. Chief inspector of machinery 5. Deputy-inspector-general of hospitals and fleets , 6. Inspector of machinery , Secretary to a commander-in-chief Inspector of machinery Secretary to a commander-in-chief Fleet surgeon Paymaster Chief engineer Naval instructor Secretary to a junior fiug-officer,commodore of the 1st class, or captain of the fleet Staff surgeon Paymaster Naval instructor Chief engineer Secretary to a commodore of the 2d class... Paymaster Naval instructor Surgeon Assistant-paymaster Engineer Assistant-paymaster Engineer Chief carpenter Assistant-engineer Carpenter Clerk Assistant-clerk Of 8 vears service as such. Of 5 years service as such. Under 8 years service as such. Under 5 years service as such. Of 15 years seniority. Of 10 years seniority. Of 15 years seniority Of 8 and under 15 years seniority. Of 8 and under 15 years seniority. Under 10 years seniority. Under 8 years seniority. Under 8 years seniority. Of 8 years seniority. Of 8 years seniority. Under 8 years seniority. Under 8 years seniority. To rank with Rear-admiral, according to the date of commission. Captain of 3 years seniority, according to the time served as such secretary. Captain of 3 years seniority, according to date of commission. Captain of 3 years, whose seniority will reckon from the completion of such 3 years in that rank ; that of the inspector of machinery from the com pletion of 8 years service as such. ) Captain under 3 years seniority. The secretary to a commander-in-chief Is j to reckon his seniority from the date of completing 5 years service as such. Commander, according to time served as secretary to a commander-in-chief. Commander, according to date of commission. The paymaster, chief I engineer, and naval instructor to reckon their seniority from the date of f completing 10 or 15 years seniority in their several ranks respectively; ) the fleet surgeon from the date of his commission. 1 Lieutenant above 8 years seniority, according to date of commission, but the lieutenant, paymaster, and naval instructor are to reckon their seniority from the date of completing 8 years seniority in their respective ranks. With but after lieutenant of 8 years seniority. V Lieutenant under 8 years seniority, according to date of commission. I With but after lieutenant under 8 years seniority. I Sub-lieutenant, according to date of commission. I With hut after sub-lieutenant. With but after gunners and boatswains. Midshipman, according to date of passing. Naval cadet, according to date of entry. Chaplains shall not hold any naval rank, but shall retain, when afloat, the position to which their office would entitle them on shore ; and the chaplain of Greenwich Hospital shall be considered ths head of the chaplains, with the title of chaplain of the fleet.