Did he ever head a watch? He does not know starboard from
larboard, girt-line from back-stay."

While we deferentially and cheerfully leave to Navy officers the
sole conduct of making and shortening sail, tacking ship, and
performing other nautical manoeuvres, as may seem to them best;
let us beware of abandoning to their discretion those general
municipal regulations touching the well-being of the great body
of men before the mast; let us beware of being too much
influenced by their opinions in matters where it is but natural
to suppose that their long-established prejudices are enlisted.



CHAPTER LVI.

A SHORE EMPEROR ON BOARD A MAN-OF-WAR.


While we lay in Rio, we sometimes had company from shore; but an
unforeseen honour awaited us. One day, the young Emperor, Don
Pedro II., and suite--making a circuit of the harbour, and
visiting all the men-of-war in rotation--at last condescendingly
visited the Neversink.

He came in a splendid barge, rowed by thirty African slaves, who,
after the Brazilian manner, in concert rose upright to their oars
at every stroke; then sank backward again to their seats with a
simultaneous groan.