sail, at what time of the tide would you unmoor, and which anchor would you take up first? 4. I would begin to unmoor at the first of the flood, and take up my small bower first. 2. In sailing within the Isle of Wight and through the Needles, what are your observations? A. To keep clear of the West Middle, I would keep South Sea Castle a sail's breadth open of the Kicker Point until I shut in West Cowes Castle, then steer directly for East Cowes Point, giving it a birth, then steer for Hurst Castle, and when abreast of it, borrow pretty near it, then steer for the Needle's Point; the leading mark through the Needles is a House to the eastward of Lymington Creek, called Petwell Bath, in one with Hurst Castle, bearing N. E. by E. E. I must be careful to keep the vanes of the windmill which stands on the island in sight, to keep me clear of Warden Ledge; great regard must be had to the tides, for the flood sets on the Needles, and the ebb on the shingles, with great velocity. N. B. To the northward of the West Middle lies the Bramble; the Bramble and West Middle have each two buoys on them; if I sail to the northward of the West Middle, I must sail between it and the Bramble, leaving the Bramble on the starboard side; when I come to West Cowes Castle, I must give it a good birth, as there is a ledge of rocks that lie off it: Warden Rock lies on the island side with a buoy on it: when I come near the Needles, must give them a good birth to avoid the Chalk Rock *. 2. What is your course from Dunnose to Portland? A. W. by N. 18 leagues. Q. If you are forced into Portland, what precautions are necessary? 4. I must take care of the shambles, they bear from Portland Lights, which lie north and south of each other, N. W. by W. 4 miles, with only 14 feet on them at low water; to sail into the road from the westward, I must keep close to the Bill, and keep my lead going; when I am round the East Point, haul up and anchor against the Pier, in 9 or 10 fathoms, with the Bill bearing S. S. E. Portland Castle S. S. W. and Weymouth Castle N. W. In sailing out of Portland Road, I must keep Week Church open of the Stone Pier, and that will carry me clear to the eastward of the Shambles. The tide flows hard from the Road to the Bill E. S. E. 7 hours, and the flood sets right of the Bill 9 hours. N. B. In case I should be embayed to the westward of Portland, and no possibility of getting out between Burton and Chiswell, where it ebbs 9 hours and flows only 3 hours, there is a steep beach of pebbles: I would there run my ship on shore with as much sail as I could carry, especially at the beginning of an ebb, and remain on board for three or four seas, when I may get on shore with safety. 2. What is the course from Portland to Torbay, and how do you anchor there? A. The course is W. N. W.-and distance about 14 leagues; to anchor in the bay, I would bring the Berry Head to bear S. by E. or S. S. E. and Brixham Church on with the Pier; the best anchoring for small ships is 14 from Brixham Pier Head, in 7 fathoms, or just to the Eastward of Torpier. 2. What is your course from the Berry Head to the Start? Q. Is there any danger near the Start? A. Yes, about two miles to the eastward of the Start, there is a shoal with not more than 9 feet on it: the Bolt Head being kept open of the Start Point, will carry me` clear of it. Q. What is your course from the Start to the Eddistone? A. W. S. 7 leagues. Q. What is your course from the Start to Ramhead? A. W. N. W. 7 leagues. Q. What is to be observed in sailing into Plymouth Sound? A. If coming from the westward, and am got round the Ramhead, I must give Penlee Point a good birth, by reason of a ledge of rocks that lies off from it, then haul N. N. E. E. for anchoring; the leading mark in is Plymouth Church on with the middle Obelisk on the Hoa. In going into the Sound I may anchor in Cawsand Bay, in 20 fathoms, with Penlee Point S. W. and the town of Cawsand W. N. W. The leading mark to carry me in between the Knap and Shovel, iş Plymouth old church on with a white patch on the Hoa. I may go into the Sound on the east side, between the Tinker and Shag-stone, by keeping Mount Batton a sail's breadth open of Staden Point, and keep in that direction until Maker's church bears N. W. and Withy Edge open, then haul over to the eastward and anchor. Q. How do you sail into Hamoaze? A. I would keep Kingsand open of Redding Point, until the large House at Stoke touches the East side of Mill Bay; steer in until the Obelisk comes on with Block House Point; keep in that direction, till the easternmost summer house on Mount Edgecomb Side comes open with the point within which it stands; then steer for it, until the east point of Mount Wise comes open with Block-house Point; then steer mid-channel for Stone-house Pool till Drake's Island is shut within Block-house Point: I must not open it till South Down comes open with the Obelisk, then steer up the harbour with the side of Drake's Island just touching Passage Point, which will lead me to the southward of the Harbour shoal, on the outer part of which there is a rock, with only sixteen feet on it, but on any other part there is a 3 fathoms. N. B. The marks to know the Sound when I am coming from sea in the day-time, are, Ram Church, which stands to the northward of the Ram-head, and a square tower standing on the highest part of the land. Q. You are bound into Falmouth, how would you proceed? A. In going to Falmouth, there is a rock, called the Block Rock, with a pole on it, and shows itself at half tide; it lies nearest to the west shore; I may sail in on either side of it, but the east side is the best. If I would sail into Carrick Road, I must keep in the fair way, and my lead going, as there is a narrow deep channel all the way, of 16 or 18 fathoms. I may borrow on St. Mawes side in 5 or 6 fathom. The best anchoring in Carrick Road, is St. Mawes Castle E. S. E. and lay my easternmost anchor in 16 or 18 fathoms, and my westernmost anchor in 4 or 5 fathoms. Just pass St. Mawes there is a sand that is steep to, called St. Mawes Sand, and lies almost half channel over. N. B. Great ships anchor, with Manacle Point on with the point of Falmouth, or a great house, that is to the westward of Penryn, just open Trefusis Point, in 18 fathoms:-The Manacles lie from Falmouth about S. S. Q. How do you know the Lizard when you first make it? A. It is the southernmost land on the coast, and may be seen 7 or agues off, in 42 fathoms. 2. How does the Land's End appear when you make it? A. It appears in hummocks with a church on it, and may be seen 7 or 8 leagues off, in 54 fathoms. 2. What are the dangers off the Land's End? A. Many-1st, The Runnel-stone lies about nine-tenths of a mile S.S. E. from Tol-peden-penwith. 2d, N. E. by N. from the Runnel-stone there is a rock, called the Leawmean, which appears at half ebb, with a passage between it and the main, seldom used by any but by coasters. 3d, The Wolf Rock; bears from Tol-peden-penwith W. S. W. distance 7 miles; it is small and may be seen at half tide; the largest of the Bresam Rocks, kept open of the outermost of the Long Ships (on which there is a light-house erected), will lead me clear to the westward of the Wolf. 4th, The Long Ships lie N. W. by N. about 3 miles from the S. W. point of the Land's End, and 1 mile W. N. W. from the westernmost point; they are high, and may be seen 4 or 5 leagues off. 5th, The Kettle-bottom, is a shoal with only 6 feet on it, and lies about half-way between the northernmost part of the Long Ships, and the west point of the Land's End. 6th, The Bresam rocks lie about 3 miles N. E. by N. 3 E. from the Long Ships. 7th, The Seven Stones are a row of rocks that come not above water, but the sea always breaks over them; they lie from Cape Cornwall W. S. dist. 5 leagues; and from St. Martin's Head, Scilly, N. E. dist. 3 leagues. Q. If you are forced into Mount's Bay, where would be the safest anchoring ground? A. Mount's Bay lies between the Lizard and the Land's End; there is a high Island on the east side, and a Castle on the west side of it, called St. Michael's Mount; from the east side of it lies a ledge of rocks, near a league into the sea; the coast is full of rocks, and not safe to anchor in. To sail into the Bay I must bring St. Paul's steeple W. and keep over to the west shore, and make St. Clement's Island, which is before the town of Mousehole, having the castle on the starboard side; I shall then see a large sandy bay, and, when within the island, there is a good anchoring in 7 or 8 fathoms. 2. If you are bound or forced to go into Scilly, what would you do? A. I would steer for St. Mary's Sound, and run in for the southernmost Point of St. Mary's Island, called Penninis Point, minding to keep the lead going, and approach no nearer than 5 fathoms water; about N. W. of Penninis Point, a little more than half a mile, is the Woolpack, the shoal lies near to the shore; I must continue to run in 5 or 6 fathoms, keeping pretty close to St. Mary's Island, to avoid the Spanish Ledge, which lies about half a mile W. by S. from Penninis Point; some part of this shoal may be seen at low water, and part of the Woolpack shows itself before low water; when I have got abreast of the Woolpack, to which I must give a good birth, about a cable's length, and steer for the Stevel Rock which is bold to; when I am abreast of the Stevel, must then steer N. W. by W. until Little Crow Island comes on with Bantscarren Point; then steer N. N. E. until Crow Island comes open a ship's length of Bantscarren Point, or bring the castle, which is on St. Mary's Island, to bear S. S. E. and anchor in 6 of 5 fathoms water. THE METHOD OF EXERCISING MERCHANT SHIPS' COMPANIES FOR WAR. IT is not presumed, in the following pages, to offer any hints to the officers in the Royal Navy, who may be said to be trained up in the school of war: we only attempt the humbler task of suggesting a few observations to the commanders of merchant ships, who, occupied in commercial pursuits in time of peace, are sometimes deficient in the method of defending themselves when attacked in time of war. We would first recommend to station their crews according to their rank and capacities, by forming a quarter bill, and to exercise them in their respective stations. As merchant ships are so variously fitted out with guns and men, it is impossible to form a quarter bill to suit all. We have, however, given two quarter bills, one for a trading ship of fourteen six-pounders, and fifty men, and the other for a privateer of twenty nine-pounders, and 160 men, which may be varied as circumstances and the difference of guns, carriages, and men, may require. A Quarter Bill for a Trading Ship of Fourteen Six-pounders and Fifty Men. The captain to command in chief, on the quarter-deck, if it be fortified to afford common shelter from small arms ....... 1 The chief mate to command the six foremost guns, and work the ship forward .... 1 The second mate to command the eight aftermost guns The boatswain to pass the word, and get the captain's orders executed fore and aft, as occasion may require 1 The carpenter to attend the pumps, shot-plugs, &c. ........ 1 1 1 A good man at the helm 1 Four men to each gun and its opposite, and a boy to fetch powder 35 Seven men at small arms and occasional duty 7 50 A Quarter Bill for a Privateer of Twenty Guns, Nine-pounders, and Four Three-pounders on the Quarter-Deck and Forecastle. The captain to command the whole ...... The master to assist and work the ship according to orders 1 A quarter-master at the cun, and another at the helm ......... On the Main Deck. 2 25 4 The first lieutenant to command the ten foremost guns 1 1 1 .... 2 The boatswain's mate, with two seamen, to assist in working the ship, and to repair the main rigging The carpenter and his crew to attend the pump, and the wings On the Forecastle. The boatswain to command, with two seamen to work the ship and repair the fore rigging..... 3 4 70 3 Three men, and a boy, to fetch powder, for the two three-pound ers ... The second marine officer, with nine musketeers .... 4 10 In the barge upon the booms, the third marine officer with eight musketeers 9 In the main top, five men with a midshipman at small arms, and to observe the conduct and condition of the enemy..... 6 In the fore top, five men at small arms and to repair the rigging 5 In the mizen top, three men at small arms and to repair the rigging.... 3 In the powder-room, the gunner's mate with an assistant to fill and hand powder to the boys, carriers In the cock-pit, the doctor and his mate 2 2 160 Here it may not be amiss to remark, that the people should be quartered to fight nearest to where they are stationed to work the ship; that is, the after guard on the quarter deck, the waisters in the waist, forecastle men that are necessary in the forecastle, &c. The quarter bill and discipline of the crew should be kept from disorder as long as possible; and when occasional duty requires the people to be let go from their quarters, it should not be done at random, but with judgement, such as will suit the occasion, from the musketeers, or a man from each great gun, &c. where they can be best spared. On Preparing for Exercise or Action. When all hands are called to quarters, every man should bring his |