COME NO NEAR! The order to the helmsman to steer the ship on the course
indicated, and not closer to the wind, while going "full and by."--_Come
on board, sir._ An officer reporting himself to his superior on
returning from duty or leave.--_Come to._ To bring the ship close to the
wind.--_Come to an anchor._ To let go the anchor.--_Come up!_ with a
rope or tackle, is to slack it off.--_Comes up_, with the helm. A
close-hauled ship comes up (to her course) as the wind changes in her
favour. To _come up with_ or overhaul a vessel chased.--_Come up the
capstan._ Is to turn it the contrary way to that which it was heaving,
so as to take the strain off, or slacken or let out some of the cablet
or rope which is about it.--_Come up the tackle-fall._ Is to let
go.--_To come up_, in ship-building, is to cast loose the forelocks or
lashings of a sett, in order to take in closer to the plank.
COMING-HOME. Said of the anchor when it has been dropped on bad holding
ground, or is dislodged from its bed by the violence of the wind and
sea, and is dragged along by the vessel, or is tripped by insufficient
length of cable.--_Coming round on her heel._ Turning in the same
spot.--_Coming the old soldier._ Petty man[oe]uvring.--_Coming-up
glass._ (_See_ DOUBLE-IMAGE MICROMETER.)
COMITY. A certain _comitas gentium_, or judgment of tribunals, having
competent jurisdiction in any one state, are regarded in the courts of
all other civilized powers as conclusive. Especially binding in all
prize matters, however manifestly unjust may be the decision. (_See_
JUDGMENT.)
COMMAND. The words of command are the terms used by officers in exercise
or upon service. All commands belong to the senior officer. Also, in
fortification, the height of the top of the parapet of a work above the
level of the country, or above that of another work. Generally, one
position is said to be commanded by another when it can be seen into
from the latter.
COMMANDANT. The officer in command of a squadron, ship, garrison, fort,
or regiment.
COMMANDER. An officer in the royal navy, commanding a ship of war of
under twenty guns, a sloop of war, armed ship, or bomb-vessel. He was
entitled master and commander, and ranked with a major of the army: now
simply termed commander, and ranking with lieutenant-colonel, but junior
of that rank. The act of the commander is binding upon the interests of
all under him, and he is alone responsible for costs and damages: he may
act erroneously, and abandon what might have turned out good prize to
himself and crew.--_Commander_ is also the name of a large wooden mallet
used specially in the sail and rigging lofts, as anything of metal would
injure the ropes or canvas.
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. The senior officer in any port or station appointed
to hold command over all other vessels within the limits assigned to
him. Thus the commodore on the coast of Africa is, _de facto_,
commander-in-chief, free from the interference of any other authority
afloat.
COMMAND-OF-MIND MEN. Steady officers, who command coolly.
COMMEATUS, OR PROVISIONS, going to the enemy's ports, subject only to
_pre_-emption, a right of purchase upon reasonable terms, but previously
liable to confiscation (Robinson). _Commeatus_, in admiralty law, is a
general term, signifying drink as well as eatables.
COMMERCE. Was not much practised by the Romans. The principal objects of
their water-carriage were the supply of corn, still termed _annona_, and
the tribute and spoils of conquered countries.
COMMERCIAL CODE OF SIGNALS. As Marryat's and others.
COMMISSARIAT. The department of supplies to the army.
COMMISSARY. The principal officer in charge of the commissariat.
COMMISSION. The authority by which an officer officiates in his post.
Also, an allowance paid to agents or factors for transacting the
business of others.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Those appointed by commissions. Such are
admirals, down to lieutenants, in the royal navy; and in the army, all
from the general to the ensign inclusive.
COMMISSIONERS, LORDS, OF THE ADMIRALTY. In general the crown appoints
five or seven commissioners for executing the office of lord
high-admiral, &c.; for this important and high office has seldom been
intrusted to any single person. The admiralty jurisdiction extends to
all offences mentioned in the articles of war, or new naval code, as
regards places beyond the powers of the law courts, or outside the
bounds of a county. But all criminal acts committed within the limits of
a county, or within a line drawn from one headland to the next, are
specially liable to be tried by the common law courts. The high court of
admiralty civil court takes cognizance of salvage, prize-derelict,
collision, &c., at sea beyond the county limits, even as relates to
ships of war if in fault.
COMMISSIONERS OF CUSTOMS. The board of management of the customs
department of the public revenue.
COMMISSIONERS OF THE NAVY. Certain officers formerly appointed to
superintend the affairs of the navy, under the direction of the
lords-commissioners of the Admiralty. Their duty was more immediately
concerned in the building, docking, and repairing of ships in the
dockyards; they had also the appointment of some of the officers, as
surgeons, masters, &c., and the transport, victualling, and medical
departments were controlled by that board. It was abolished in 1831.
COMMIT ONE'S SELF, TO. To break through regulations. To incur
responsibility without regard to results.
COMMODORE. A senior officer in command of a detached squadron. A captain
finding five or six ships assembled, was formerly permitted to hoist his
pennant, and command as commodore; and a necessity arising for holding a
court-martial, he ordered the said court to assemble. Again, where an
admiral dies in command, the senior captain hoists a first-class broad
pennant, and appoints a captain, secretary, and flag-lieutenant, fulfils
the duties of a rear-admiral, and wears the uniform. Commodores of the
second class have no captain or pennant-lieutenant. A commodore rates
with brigadier-generals, according to dates of commission (being of full
colonel's rank). He is next in command to a rear-admiral, but cannot
hoist his broad pennant in the presence of an admiral, or superior
captain, without permission. The broad pennant is a swallow-tailed
tapered burgee. The second-class commodore is to hoist his broad
pennant, white at the fore. It is a title given by courtesy to the
senior captain, where three or more ships of war are cruising in
company. It was also imported into the East India Company's vessels, the
senior being so termed, _inter se_. It moreover denotes the convoy ship,
which carries a light in her top. The epithet is corrupted from the
Spanish _comendador_.
COMMUNICATION. Corresponding by letter, hail, or signal. (_See_ LINE OF
COMMUNICATION and BOYAUX.)
COMMUTE, TO. To lighten the sentence of a court-martial, on a
recommendation of the court to the commander-in-chief.
COMPANION. The framing and sash-lights upon the quarter-deck or
round-house, through which light passes to the cabins and decks below;
and a sort of wooden hood placed over the entrance or staircase of the
master's cabin in small ships. Flush-decked vessels are generally fitted
with movable companions, to keep the rain or water from descending,
which are unshipped when the capstan is required.
COMPANION-LADDER. Denotes the ladder by which the officers ascend to,
and descend from, the quarter-deck.
COMPANION-WAY. The staircase, porch, or berthing of the ladder-way to
the cabin.
COMPANY. The whole crew of any ship, including her officers, men, and
boys. In the army, a small body of foot, or subdivision of a regiment,
commanded by a captain.
COMPARATIVE RANK. _See_ RANK.
COMPARISON WATCH. The job-watch for taking an observation, compared
before and after with the chronometer.
COMPARTMENT BULK-HEADS. Some of the iron ships have adopted the
admirable Chinese plan of dividing the hold athwart-ship by strong
water-tight bulk-heads, into compartments, so that a leak in any one of
them does not communicate with the others--thus strengthening a vessel,
besides adding to its security. Compartment bulk-heads were first
directed to be fitted under the superintendence of Commander Belcher in
H.M. ships _Erebus_ and _Terror_ at Chatham, for Arctic service in 1835.
H.M.S. _Terror_, Commander Back, was saved entirely owing to this
fitment, the after section being full of water all the passage home; and
lately the mail packet _Samphire_ was similarly saved.
COMPASANT. A corruption of _corpo santo_, a ball of electric light
observed flickering about the masts, yard-arms, and rigging, during
heavy rain, thunder, and lightning.
COMPASS. An instrument employed by navigators to guide the ship's course
at sea. It consists of a circular box, containing a fly or paper card,
which represents the horizon, and is suspended by two concentric rings
called gimbals. The fly is divided into thirty-two equal parts, by lines
drawn from the centre to the circumference, called points or rhumbs; the
interval between the points is subdivided into 360 degrees--consequently,
the distance or angle comprehended between any two rhumbs is equal to 11
degrees and 15 minutes. The four cardinal points lie opposite to each
other; the north and south points form top and bottom, leaving the east
on the right hand, and the west on the left; the names of all the
inferior points are compounded of these according to their situation.
This card is attached to a magnetic needle, which, carrying the card
round with it, points north, excepting for the local annual variation
and the deviation caused by the iron in the ship; the angle which the
course makes with that meridian is shown by the lubber's point, a dark
line inside the box. (_See_ ADJUSTMENT OF THE COMPASS.)
COMPASS, TO. To curve; also to obtain one's object.