Oh give not these, ye Powers!-I ask alone, I ask the still, sweet Tear that list'ning Fancy weeps." PAGE 68. 1. 17, 18. Too late to weather now MOREA's land, And drifting fast on ATHENS' rocky strand. To weather a Shore is to pass to windward of it, which at this time was prevented by the violence of the Gale. DRIFT is that motion and direction, by which a Vessel is forced to leeward sideways, when she is unable any longer to carry sail; or, at least, is restrained to such a portion of sail, as may be necessary to keep her sufficiently inclined to one side, that she may not be dismasted by her violent labouring produced by the turbulence of the Sea. FALCONER. PAGE 69. 1. 2. And try beneath it sidelong in the Sea. TO TRY, is to lay the Ship with her side nearly in the direction of the Wind, and Sea, with her head somewhat inclined to windward; the Helm being fastened close to the lee-side, or in the sea language, hard a-lee, to retain her in that position. See a further illustration in the last Note of this Canto. FALConer. PAGE ibid. 1. 4. TOPPING LIFT; KNITTLE-THROT. A Tackle, or assemblage of Pullies, which tops the upper end of the Mizen-Yard. This Line, and the six fol lowing, describe the operation of reefing and balancing the Mizen. The KNITTLE is a short Line used to reef the Sails by the bottom. The THROT is that part of the Mizen Yard, which is close to the Mast. FALCONER. PAGE 69. 1. 5. The Head, with doubling Canvas fenced around, This was done to prevent any chafing of the Sail when balanced. The operation of Balancing is now totally disused; great improvements having been since made both in the Theory, and Practice of Seamanship. Captain Bentinck of the Royal Navy invented, and used Triangular Courses, which he carried with singular effect in the heaviest Gales; and these Courses were named after him BENTINCKS: since which, Storm Stay-sails have superseded their use; and seem to answer every purpose, either for lying-to, or giving the Ship way through the Water. N. P. PAGE 71. 1. 11, 12. Across the geometric Plane expands The compasses to circumjacent Lands; Here again, the third Edition has been guilty of an injudicious alteration : "In vain athwart the mimic Seas expands" It is to be lamented that in our Navy no mathematical Instruments are sent on board by the Admiralty. Even the Master is obliged to purchase them out of his pay; and, as that is but moderate, he naturally procures the cheapest that can be obtained. One Set at least of the very best that the Metropolis can produce, should be sent from The Board to each Ship; having previously been examined by the Royal Astronomer at Greenwich. The institution of an Hydrographer at the Admiralty, in order to furnish our Ships with correct Charts, will, probably, in time lead to the above mentioned desideratum. It is painful to observe the wretched Instruments that are now in use on board; nor can the exception of a few Ships, whose Captains are Men of independent Fortunes, weaken this assertion. PAGE 72. 1. 11. COMPANION, BINACLE. The COMPANION is a wooden Porch placed over the ladder, that leads down to the Cabins of the Officers. The BINACLE is a case, which is placed on deck before the Helm, containing three divisions; the middle one for a Lamp, or Candle, and the two others for Mariners Compasses. There are always two Binacles on the deck of a Ship of War, one of which is placed before the Master, at his appointed Station. In all the old Sea Books it was called BITTACLE.-FALConer. PAGE ibid. 1. 17. They sound the Well: The WELL is an apartment in a Ship's Hold, serving to inclose the Pumps: it is sounded by dropping down a measured iron rod, which is connected with a long lineThe BRAKE is the Pump handle: Falconer again alludes to this iron rod, (Page 83. 1. 9.) "Sounding her depth they eyed the wetted Scale." A most valuable discovery was made some years since by Mr. Richard Wells, and communicated to the American Philosophical Society; by means of which Vessels could be pumped at Sea, without the labour of Men. See also Naval Chronicle (Vol. II. p. 237.) PAGE 75. 1. 7. Meanwhile ARION traversing the Waist, The WAIST is that part of a Ship which is contained between the Quarter Deck, and Forecastle; or the middle of that Deck which is immediately below them. When the Waist of a Merchant Ship is only one, or two steps in descent, from the Quarter Deck, and Fore-Castle, she is said to be Galley built; but when it is considerably deeper, as with six or seven steps, she is then called Frigate built. FALCONER. PAGE 76. 1. 6. Cimmerian darkness shades the Deep around, I have already in the Life of FALCONER mentioned the uncertainty that prevails, respecting the Author of the favourite Song, Cease rude Boreas in this passage additional testimony seems to arise, that it was composed by FALCONER: "In our eyes blue Lightnings flash : All above us one black Sky!" PAGE 76. 1. 18. ..... the booming Waters roar, Beautifully expressive of their violence: thus Young booming o'er his head The Billows closed; he's numbered with the dead!" In the third Edition, however, this Epithet was expunged: .o'er The Sea-beat Ship th' involving waters roar." PAGE 77. 1.21. Her place discovered by the rules of Art, The Lee-way, or Drift, in this passage are synonymous terms. The true course and distance, resulting from these Traverses, is discovered by collecting the difference of Latitude, and departure of each Course; and reducing the whole into one departure, and one difference of Latitude, according to the known rules of Trigonometry: this reduction will immediately ascertain the base and perpendicular; or, in other words, will give the difference of latitude and departure, to discover the Course and Distance. FALCONER. PAGE 78. 1. 3. FALCONERA, ST. GEORGE, GARDALOR. FALCONERA a small island in the Archipelago, to the N. W. of Milo: there is an open space of Sea to the North and South of it; but in every other direction are Islands at no great distance. Falconer, in his Chart, prefixed to the second Edition, marked a line of Rocks throughout the E. and S. E. Coast of this Island. The small and steep |