CHAPTER III. VIEW OF PETTY OFFICERS, WITH SPECIFICATION OF THEIR DUTIES. HAVING made choice of the petty officers, the earliest opportunity was embraced of again assembling the people on the quarter-deck, for the purpose of having those appointed to fill offices of trust, set before them; of hearing, in detail, the nature and extent of their duties, and a very brief outline of what was reciprocally incumbent upon the people and those placed in authority over them. The following is a view of the designations of the petty officers selected and appointed, and whose names were now announced to the people assembled. PETTY OFFICERS. One first, and one second, captain. Three captains of divisions. Four captains of upper deck. Two captains of forecastle. Four captains of main-ward. Three captains of boys' ward. To these appointments were added, Three cooks, one of whom to be supernumerary. Three barbers. One head to each mess. Two delegates of the day. A clerk and librarian. SPECIFICATION OF DUTIES. FIRST CAPTAIN. To be at the head of the whole establishment; to have an eye upon all the people; to use his utmost effort to maintain order, and promote the improvement and comfort of his fellow-prisoners. When required, to superintend, and also to assist, in the serving out of provisions, and to be in constant communication with the surgeon-superintendent, whose views, in references 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 they receive their allotted provisions; to cooperate 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 as they are formed into messes-noting also their respective divisions; and 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-superintendent, shall be submitted to him every morning, after the muster of petty officers and schoolmasters, at 9 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 9 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 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 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 that all keep their proper place-that is, have their feet on the deck. 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' WARD.† To have charge of their respective wards, which they shall see thoroughly cleaned, and with the use of as little water as possible, every morning immediately after "one bell," or the reading of the morning portion of Scripture. To observe that the appointed means for ventilating and preserving as dry as possible the wards, be carefully employed; and to take up, and clean under, the bottom boards every morning. * It is now seldom necessary to appoint captains of forecastle, or, that any of the prisoners should be admitted to that part of the deck, *The word ward is used instead of "prison." |
