. Reminiscences of the Baltic fleet of 1855 . swearing, and evenpraying; the height of mirth and the depth ofgrief side by side; recklessness blended withprudence ; piety mixed with ribaldry, profanitywith prayer ; thieves, cheap-jacks, mountebanks,and preachers shouted against each other ! The feelino-s and sentiments of the participators - BALTIC FLEET OF 1855. 21 in the scene were, doubtless, as mixed and variedas the medley itself. The men of the Fleet mustall, in greater or less degree, have realised theywere proceeding- on service of which none couldestimate the peril, or foretell who mi
. Reminiscences of the Baltic fleet of 1855 . swearing, and evenpraying; the height of mirth and the depth ofgrief side by side; recklessness blended withprudence ; piety mixed with ribaldry, profanitywith prayer ; thieves, cheap-jacks, mountebanks,and preachers shouted against each other ! The feelino-s and sentiments of the participators - BALTIC FLEET OF 1855. 21 in the scene were, doubtless, as mixed and variedas the medley itself. The men of the Fleet mustall, in greater or less degree, have realised theywere proceeding- on service of which none couldestimate the peril, or foretell who might , individually the out look was very different;the gay young sailor kissing his Polly was inquite a different position from the sedate marriedman embracing his weeping wife, and clinging*children — perhaps for the last time! Suchreflections were readily suggested to the scene was altogether one only to beparalleled and called forth on the departure of ag-reat Fleet in time of war, none who saw it couldforget it!. CHAPTER III. JOIN THE FLEET. OX Saturday, March 31st, I embarked for duty;but, at the ships side, before my chestand bedding could be hoisted on board, I hadto go through the formality of obtaining thepermission of the First Lieutenant, after which itwas swung up, and speedily deposited in the cock-pit, under the hooks where my hammock was toswing nightly. The top of the chest and thehammock were to constitute my private residencefor the next six months. I personally reported my arrival on board to theCommander—Preedy—who had the reputation ofbeing a tartar, but was in reality a frank and heartysailor. My colleague, More, shortly afterwards turnedup, and was located near me. My introduction to the Gun Room was devoidof the smallest formality, and I had not the leastdifficulty in making the acquaintance of my mess-mates, who were all as frank and free with eachother as members of a family. A Marine named Hamblin, a thoroughly know-ing ol
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectnavalmedicine, bookye
