CHAPTER III. Petty officers, their duties, and address on their appointment. HAVING made choice of the petty officers, the earliest opportunity is taken of again assembling the people on the quarter-deck, to announce to them the persons thus appointed; to explain, in detail, the nature and extent of their duties; and to give a very brief outline of what is reciprocally incumbent upon the people, and those in authority over them. The following is a view of the designations of the petty officers, whose names are now announced to the people assembled: PETTY OFFICERS. First and second captain. 2 Captains of forecastle. To these appointments were added, 3 Cooks, one of whom to be supernumerary. 3 Barbers. 1 Head to each mess. 2 Delegates of the day. A Clerk. A Librarian. SPECIFICATION OF THEIR DUTIES. First Captain. To be at the head of the whole establishment; to have an eye upon all the people; to use his utmost efforts to maintain order, and promote the improvement and comfort of his fellow-prisoners; and also to assist in the serving out of provisions; and to be in constant communication with the surgeon-superintendent, from whom he is to receive all his orders, and whose views, in reference to the prisoners, he is to endeavour unceasingly and most strenuously to forward. Second Captain. To attend to all who may be under punishment; to see that they receive their allotted provisions; to co-operate with and assist the first captain in the discharge of all his duties; and, with him, to observe every proceeding amongst the people. Both first and second captains shall be furnished with a list of the names of the whole of the prisoners, arranged according to their messes and their respective divisions; also, with a small book of reports, into which they shall enter every observed offence, with the name and number of the offender. The offences recorded in the second captain's book shall be transferred to that of the first, and, after they have been duly investigated, and prepared to be brought before the surgeon-super intendent, shall be submitted to him every morning, after the muster of petty officers and schoolmasters, at nine o'clock A.M.* Captains of Divisions. To be at the head of their respective divisions; to muster their men every morning at half-past nine o'clock, for inspection; to report when they have done so, to the first or second captain, for the information of the surgeon-superintendent, who, attended by the reporting officer and captains of divisions respectively, shall proceed to pass through the ranks and carefully inspect the people. To superintend their respective divisions, when engaged in washing their persons and clothes. They shall also observe, at all times, whether their men are orderly, clean, and apparently healthy; see that their clothes are kept in good repair; attend to the "stopping" of washed clothes on the clothes-lines, and the lowering down of the same at the appointed times; and strictly attend to everything connected with their several divisions. Captains of Upper Deck. To have charge of the main-deck-two, the starboard; and two, the larboard side; to superintend and assist (if required) in washing of decks in the * Either the first or second captain will superintend, when the mess-carriers assemble to receive their rations, or direct some other efficient petty officer to attend to this duty; but none of them are permitted to enter the hold. morning, and to see that the main-deck is kept as clean and dry as possible during the day; to superintend the hanging up and lowering down of clothes-lines; the stowing and unstowing of bedding; the wringing, along with the captains of the forecastle, of swabs; have charge of the canvass drawing bucket, taking care that it never, on any account, be allowed to tow overboard, or its lanyard to be cast loose. To observe that none of the prisoners go up the rigging, or get up the bulwarks of the ship, excepting those who, in the execution of their duty, have the surgeon-superintendent's permission; and to report immediately to the first or second captain, every observed neglect of duty, or disobedience of orders. All the captains of the upper deck shall be at their posts, when the decks are being washed in the morning. Through the day, they shall be in "watch and watch." Captains of Forecastle. To have charge of forecastle; not to suffer more of the prisoners than the surgeon-superintendent permits, to be on the forecastle at one time; to see that the sentry is not interrupted in his walk, or the seamen hindered or interfered with in the working of the ship, or discharge of other duties. To allow none of the prisoners to lie over, or pass, the bulwarks, or, on any pretext whatever, to go out on the bowsprit, or climb up the rigging, with the exceptions specified in the instructions of captains of deck. To see that none of them place themselves in any position in which they shall be exposed to the smallest risk of falling overboard; in short, to observe, with the other petty officers, that all keep their proper place, when on deck, as directed by the surgeon-superintendent. They shall likewise observe, that none of the people, on any pretext whatever, tow their clothes. overboard, or use any vessel to draw water, excepting the canvass bucket. Captains of Main and Boys' Wards.* To have charge of their respective wards, which they shall see thoroughly cleaned-without the aid of water, when possible; and agreeably to the orders issued by the surgeon-superintendentevery morning immediately after "one bell,"† or the reading of the morning portion of Scripture. To observe that the appointed means for ventilating the wards, and keeping them as dry as possible, be carefully employed; and to take up the bottom boards, and clean under them every morning. They shall use their utmost endeavour to maintain and promote good order, and propriety of conduct, amongst the people whilst below; observe that no one has in his possession a tinder-box, flint, or any kind of instrument or material for striking fire or affording a light, or any instrument * The word "ward" is used instead of "prison." |