height of the object, by means of the side-sights; and then the person
pointing is to direct his fire by the upper-sight, having a crow on one
side and a hand-spike on the other, to heave the gun by his direction
till he catches the object.
“N. B. The men who heave the gun for pointing, are to stand between the
ship’s side and their crows or hand-spikes, to escape the injury they
might otherwise receive from their being struck against them, or
splintered by a shot; and the man who attends the captain with a match
is to bring it at the word, “Point your guns,” and kneeling upon one
knee opposite the train-truck of the carriage, and at such a distance as
to be able to touch the priming, is to turn his head from the gun, and
keep blowing gently upon the lighted match to keep it clear from ashes.
And as the missing of an enemy in action, by neglect or want of
coolness, is most inexcusable, it is particularly recommended to have
the people thoroughly instructed in pointing well, and taught to know
the ill consequences of not taking proper means to hit their mark;
wherefore they should be made to elevate their guns to the utmost
nicety, and then to point with the same exactness, having caught the
object through the upper-sight at the word,
8th. fire.
“The match is instantly to be put to the bruised part of the priming;
and when the gun is discharged the vent is to be closed, in order to
smother any spark of fire that may remain in the chamber of the gun; and
the man who spunges is immediately to place himself by the muzzle of the
gun in readiness, when, at the next word,
9th. Spunge your gun.
“The spunge is to be rammed down to the bottom of the chamber, and then
twisted round, to extinguish effectually any remains of fire; and when
drawn out, to be struck against the out-side of the muzzle, to shake off
any sparks or scraps of the cartridge that may have come out with it;
and next its end is to be shifted ready for loading; and while this is
doing, the man appointed to provide a cartridge is to go to the box, and
by the time the spunge is out of the gun, he is to have it ready; and,
at the word,
10th. Load with cartridge.
“The cartridge (with the bottom-end first, seam-downwards, and a wad
after it) is to be put into the gun, and thrust a little way within the
mouth, when the rammer is to be entered; the cartridge is then to be
forcibly rammed down, and the captain at the same time is to keep his
priming-wire in the vent, and, feeling the cartridge, is to give the
word _home_, when the rammer is to be drawn, and not before. While this
is doing, the man appointed to provide a shot is to provide one (or two,
according to the order at that time) ready at the muzzle, with a wad
likewise, and when the rammer is drawn, at the word,
11th. Shot your guns.
“The shot and wad upon it are to be put into the gun, and thrust a
little way down, when the rammer is to be entered as before. The shot
and wad are to be rammed down to the cartridge, and there have a couple
of forcible strokes, when the rammer is to be drawn, and laid out of the
way of the guns and tackles, if the exercise or action is continued; but
if it is over, the spunge is to be secured in the place it is at all
times kept in.
12th. Put in your tompions.
“The tompions to be put into the muzzle of the cannon.
13th. House your guns.
“The seizing is to be put on again upon the clinched end of the
breeching, leaving it no slacker than to admit of the guns being housed
with ease. The quoin is to be taken from under the breech of the gun,
and the bed, still resting upon the bolt, within the carriage, thrust
under, till the foot of it falls off the axle-tree, leaving it to rest
upon the end which projects out from the foot. The metal is to be let
down upon this. The gun is to be placed exactly square, and the muzzle
is to be close to the wood, in its proper place for passing the muzzle
lashings. See CANNON, and fig. 19, plate VII.
14th. Secure your guns.
“The muzzle lashings must first be made secure, and then with one tackle
(having all its parts equally taught with the breeching) the gun is to
be lashed. The other tackle is to be bowsed taught, and by itself made
fast, that it may be ready to cast off for lashing a second breeching.
“N. B. Care must be taken to hook the first tackle to the upper bolt of
the carriage, that it may not otherwise obstruct the reeving of the
second breeching, and to give the greater length to the end part of the
fall.
“No pains must be spared in bowsing the lashing very taught, that the
gun may have the least play that is possible, as their being loose may
be productive of very dangerous consequences.
“The quoin, crow, and handspike, are to be put under the gun, the
powder-horn hung up in its place, &c.
“Being engaged at any time when there is a large swell, a rough sea, or
in squally weather, &c. as the ship may be liable to be suddenly much
heeled, the port-tackle falls is to be kept clear, and (whenever the
working of the gun will admit of it) the man charged with that office is
to keep it in his hand; at the same time the muzzle lashing is to be
kept fast to the ring of the port, and being hauled taught, is to be
fastened to the eye-bolt over the port-hole, so as to be out of the
gun’s way in firing, in order to haul it in at any time of danger.
“This precaution is not to be omitted, when engaging to the windward,
any more than when to the leeward, those situations being very subject
to alter at too short a warning.
“A train tackle is always to be made use of with the lee-guns, and the
man stationed to attend it is to be very careful in preventing the gun’s
running out at an improper time.”
EXERCISE may also be applied with propriety to the forming our fleets
into orders of sailing, lines of battle, &c. an art which the French
have termed _evolutions_, or _tactiques_. In this sense exercise may be
defined, the execution of the movements which the different orders and
disposition of fleets occasionally require, and which the several ships
are directed to perform by means of signals.
EYE _of a block-strop_. In the article BLOCK it has been mentioned, that
a block is commonly bound with a ring, or wreath, formed of a piece of
rope, called the _strop_; the eye of the strop, therefore, is that part
by which it is fastened, or suspended, to any particular place upon the
sails, yards, or rigging, the eye whereof is represented by fig. 37,
plate II. The eye is sometimes formed by fastening the two ends of the
strop together with a short line, so as to bind round a mast, yard, or
boom, as occasion requires. See fig. 38, of the same plate.
EYE _of a stay_, _oeillet_, that part of a stay which is formed into a
sort of collar to go round a mast-head.
EYE-BOLT, a long bar of iron with an eye in one end of it, represented
by fig. 39, plate II. It is formed to be driven into the decks or sides
of a ship for divers purposes, as to hook _tackles_, or fasten ropes to,
as occasion requires.
EYE-LET-HOLE. See the article _Sails_.
EYES _of a ship_, _oeils_, a name frequently given to those parts which
lie near the hause-holes, particularly in the lower apartments within
the vessel.
F.
FACTOR, in commerce, an agent, or correspondent, residing beyond the
seas, or in some remote part, and commissioned by merchants to buy or
sell goods on their account, or assist them to carry on their trade.
Hence any place where a considerable number of factors reside, to
negociate for their masters, or employers, is called a factory; as the
factories of Lisbon, of Leghorn, of Calcutta, &c.
FAG-END, the end of any rope, or cord, which is become untwisted and
loosened by frequent use. To prevent this effect, the ends of ropes are
generally well fastened by winding a piece of small line, or
pack-thread, around them, which operation is called _whipping_.
FAIR, a general term for the disposition of the wind, when it is
favourable to a ship’s course, in opposition to that which is contrary
or _foul_.
This term, when applied to the wind, is much more comprehensive than
_large_, since the former seems to include about eighteen points of the
compass, or at least sixteen; whereas _large_ is confined to the beam or
quarter, that is, to a wind which crosses the keel at right angles, or
obliquely from the stern, but never to one right a-stern. See the
articles LARGE and SCANT.
FAIR-CURVE, a winding line, used in delineating ships, whose shape is
varied according to the part of the ship it is intended to describe:
this curve is not answerable to any of the figures of conic sections,
although it occasionally partakes of them all.
FAIR WAY, the path or channel of a narrow bay, river, or haven, in which
ships usually advance in their passage up and down; so that if any
vessels are anchored therein, they are said to lye in the fair-way.
FAKE, one of the circles, or windings, of a cable, or hauser, as it lies
disposed in the coil. See the article COILING. The fakes are greater or
smaller in proportion to the extent of space which a cable is allowed to
occupy where it lies.
FALL, _garant_, the loose end of a tackle; or that part upon which the
people pull, or hoist, to produce the required effect. See the article
TACKLE.
_To_ FALL _aboard_. See the article ABOARD.
_To_ FALL _a-stern_, (_tomber en arriere_,) to be driven backwards; to
retreat with the stern foremost: expressed of the motion of a ship
either under sail or at anchor.
_To_ FALL _calm_, _pacifier_, a phrase expressed of the weather,
implying to fall into a state of rest by a total cessation of the wind.
_To_ FALL _down_, in navigation, to sail, or be conducted from any part
of a river, towards some other nearer to its mouth or opening.
FALLING-OFF, _abatíe_, the movement or direction of the ship’s head to
leeward of the point whither it was lately directed, particularly when
she sails near the wind, or lies by.
_Cat_ FALL. See the article CAT.
FALLING-OFF, is also the angle contained between her nearest approach
towards the source of the wind, and her farthest declination from it,
when TRYING. See that article.
FASHION-PIECES, _estains_, the aft-most or hind-most timbers of a ship,
which terminate the breadth, and form the shape of the stern. They are
united to the stern-post, and to the extremity of the wing-transom by a
rabbit, and a number of strong nails, or spikes, driven from without.
See their connection with the stern post and transom, in plate X. fig.
I. as explained in the article STERN.
FATHOM, _bras_, a measure of six feet, used for a variety of purposes at
sea; as to regulate the length of the rigging, cables, &c. and to divide
the log lines, and sounding-lines.
_To_ FAY, to fit any two pieces of wood so as to join close together.
The plank is said to fay to the timbers, when it bears, or lies, close
to all the timbers. _Murray’s Ship-building._
FENDERS, (from _fend_,) certain pieces of old cable, timber, faggots, or
other materials, hung over the side of a ship or vessel, to prevent it
from striking or rubbing against a wharf, or key: as also to preserve
the smaller vessel from being damaged by the larger ones.
_To_ FETCH WAY, to be shaken or agitated from one side to another. It is
usually applied to a mast, bowsprit, &c. when it is not sufficiently
wedged, being loose in the partners: it is also said of a cask, box, or
such body which moves by the rocking of the ship at sea, as not being
well secured and enclosed.
FETCHING _the pump_, the act of pouring a can of water into the
upper-part of it, to expel the air which is contained between the lower
box, or piston, and the lower-end of the pump that rests upon the ship’s
floor; and accordingly to make the water, poured into the chamber,
communicate with that in the bottom of the pump-well, so as to be thrown
out above by _striking_ with the brake, or handle. See PUMP.
FID, _clef de ton_, a square bar of wood, or iron, with a shoulder at
one end, as represented in plate IV. fig. I. It is used to support the
weight of the top-mast, when erected at the head of the lower-mast, by
passing through a mortise in the lower end of the former, and resting
its ends on the tressel-trees, which are sustained by the head of the
latter. The fid, therefore, must be withdrawn every time the top-mast is
lowered. The top-gallant-mast is retained at the head of the top-mast in
the same manner. See the article MAST.
FID, (_fitta_, Ital.) is also a large pin of hard wood, tapering to a
point, and used for splicing of cables or large cordage.
_Sea_-FIGHT. See the article ENGAGEMENT.
_To_ FILL, in navigation, _faire servir_, to brace the sails in such a
manner, as that the wind, entering their cavities from behind, dilates
them so as to advance the ship in her course, after the sails had for
some time been shivering, or braced aback. See those articles.
FIRE-ARROW, a steel dart used by privateers and pirates to fire the
sails of the enemy in battle: these machines are particularly described
in the article ENGAGEMENT.
FIRE-SHIP, _brulot_, an old vessel filled with combustible materials,
and fitted with grappling-irons to hook, and set fire to, the enemies
ships in battle, &c.
As there is nothing particular in the construction of this ship, except
the apparatus by which the fire is instantly conveyed from one part to
another, and from thence to the enemy, it will be sufficient to describe
the fire-room, where these combustibles are enclosed, together with the
instruments necessary to grapple the ship intended to be destroyed.
The fire-room is built between-decks, and limited on the after-part by a
_bulk-head_, I, behind the main-mast, from which it extends quite
forwards, as represented in fig. 2, plate IV. The train enclosed in this
apartment is contained in a variety of wooden troughs, D, G, which
intersect each other in different parts of the ship’s length; being
supported at proper distances by cross-pieces and stanchions. On each
side of the ship are six or seven ports, H, about eighteen inches broad,
and fifteen inches high, and having their lids to open downward,
contrary to the usual method.
[Illustration:
_PLATE. IV._
]
Against every port is placed an iron chamber[24], which, at the time of
firing the ship, blows out the port-lid, and opens a passage for the
flame. Immediately under the main and fore shrouds is fixed a wooden
funnel, M; whose lower-end communicates with a fire-barrel[25], by which
the flame passing through the funnel is conducted to the shrouds.
Between the funnels, which are likewise called fire-trunks, are two
_scuttles_, or small-holes in the upper-deck, serving also to let out
the flames. Both funnels must be stopped with plugs, and have
sail-cloth, or canvas, nailed close over them, to prevent any accident
happening from above to the combustibles laid below.
The ports, funnels, and scuttles, not only communicate the flames to the
out-side and upper-works of the ship, and her rigging, but likewise open
a passage for the inward air, confined in the fire-room, which is
thereby expanded so as to force impetuously through those out-lets, and
prevent the blowing up of the decks, which must of necessity happen,
from such a sudden and violent rarefaction of the air as will then be
produced.
On each side of the bulk-head behind is cut a hole L, of sufficient size
to admit a trough of the same dimensions as the others. A leading
trough, L I, whose foremost-end communicates with another trough within
the fire-room, is laid close to this opening, from whence it extends
obliquely to a sally-port, I, cut through the ship’s side. The decks and
troughs are well covered with melted rosin. At the time of firing either
of the leading troughs, the flame is immediately conveyed to the
opposite side of the ship, whereby both sides burn together.
The spaces N, O, behind the fire-room, represent the cabins of the
lieutenant and master, one of which is on the _starboard_, and the other
on the _larboard_ side. The captain’s cabin, which is separated from
these by a bulk-head, is exhibited also by P.
Proportion of Stores for one Fire-ship,
┌────────────┬───────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┐
│ │Number │ │ │ │
│ │ of │ Interior │ Interior │Height of the│
│ │stores │ diameter of │ diameter at │composition. │
│ │of each│ each end. │ the bulge. │ │
│ │nature.│ │ │ │
├────────────┼───────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
├────────────┼───────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┤
│ │ │Feet. Inches.│Feet. Inches.│Feet. Inches.│
├────────────┼───────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┤
│Fire │ 8│ 1 8½ │ 2 9½ │ 2 1 │
│ barrels, │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Curtains, │ 30│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Bavins, │ 200│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Port fires, │ 24│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Reeds│long, │ 150│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │short,│ 75│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │short │ │ │ │ │
│ │double│ 75│ │ │ │
│ │dipped│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Composition │ │ │ │ │
│ in │ 3½│ │ │ │
│ barrels, │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Quick match │ │ │ │ │
│ in │ 1│ │ │ │
│ barrels, │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Hand │ 60│ │ │ │
│ grenadoes,│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Chambers for│ 12│ │ │ │
│ ports, │ │ │ │ │
└────────────┴───────┴─────────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┘
┌────────────┬─────────────┬────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ Greatest │ Weight │ Length of │ Diameter of │
│ │ height. │ empty. │ one. │ the breadth │
│ │ │ │ │ of one. │
│ │ │ │ │ │
├────────────┼─────────────┼────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
├────────────┼─────────────┼────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┤
│ │Feet. Inches.│℔ ℥ ʒ │Feet. Inches.│Feet. Inches.│
├────────────┼─────────────┼────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┤
│Fire │ 2 4 │ │ │ │
│ barrels, │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Curtains, │ │ │ 3 9 │ 3 9 │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Bavins, │ │ │ 4 6 │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Port fires, │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Reeds│long, │ │ │ 3 5 │ 5 │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │short,│ │ │ 2 6 │ 4½ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │short │ │ │ │ │
│ │double│ │ │ 2 6 │ 4½ │
│ │dipped│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Composition │ │ │ │ │
│ in │ │ │ │ │
│ barrels, │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Quick match │ │ │ │ │
│ in │ │ │ │ │
│ barrels, │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Hand │ │ │ │ │
│ grenadoes,│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│Chambers for│ │ │ │ │
│ ports, │ │ │ │ │
└────────────┴─────────────┴────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┘
┌────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ Composition. │
│ │ │
│ │ │
├────────────┼─────────┬─────────┬─────────┬─────────┬─────────┤
│ │ Swedish │ Tallow. │ Corn │ Salt │ Rosin. │
│ │ pitch. │ │ powder. │ petre. │ │
├────────────┼──┬───┬──┼──┬───┬──┼──┬───┬──┼──┬───┬──┼──┬───┬──┤
│ │C.│Qr.│℔ │C.│Qr.│℔ │C.│Qr.│℔ │C.│Qr.│℔ │C.│Qr.│℔ │
├────────────┼──┼───┼──┼──┼───┼──┼──┼───┼──┼──┼───┼──┼──┼───┼──┤
│Fire │ │ │3 │3 │ │ │ │ │6 │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ barrels, │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Curtains, │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Bavins, │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Port fires, │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Reeds│long, │ │ 2 │4 │ │ │6 │ │ │ │ │ │ │1 │ │8 │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │short,│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │short │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │double│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │dipped│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Composition │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ in │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1 │22│ │ │6 │
│ barrels, │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Quick match │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ in │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ barrels, │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Hand │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ grenadoes,│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Chambers for│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ ports, │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
└────────────┴──┴───┴──┴──┴───┴──┴──┴───┴──┴──┴───┴──┴──┴───┴──┘
┌────────────┬───────────────────┐
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ Composition. │
│ │ │
│ │ │
├────────────┼─────────┬─────────┤
│ │Sulphur. │ Mealed │
│ │ │ powder. │
├────────────┼──┬───┬──┼──┬───┬──┤
│ │C.│Qr.│℔ │C.│Qr.│℔ │
├────────────┼──┼───┼──┼──┼───┼──┤
│Fire │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ barrels, │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Curtains, │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Bavins, │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Port fires, │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Reeds│long, │ │ 3 │6 │ │ │12│
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │short,│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │short │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │double│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │dipped│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Composition │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ in │ │ 1 │12│ │ 3 │16│
│ barrels, │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Quick match │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ in │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ barrels, │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Hand │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ grenadoes,│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Chambers for│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ ports, │ │ │ │ │ │ │
└────────────┴──┴───┴──┴──┴───┴──┘
Four of the eight fire-barrels are placed under the four fire-trunks;
and the other four between them, two on each side the fire-skuttles,
where they are securely _cleated_ to the deck. The longest reeds[26] are
put into the fore and aft troughs, and tied down: the shortest reeds are
laid in the troughs athwart, and tied down also. The bavins[27], dipped
at one end, are tied fast to the troughs over the reeds and the curtains
are nailed up to the beams, in equal quantities, on each side of the
fire-room.
The remainder of the reeds are placed in a position nearly upright, at
all the angles of every square in the fire-room, and there tied down. If
any reeds are left, they are to be put round the fire-barrels, and other
vacant places, and there tied fast.
Instructions to prime.
Take up all your reeds, one after another, and strow a little
composition at the bottom of all the troughs under the reeds, and then
tye them gently down again: next strow composition upon the upper part
of the reeds throughout the fire-room, and upon the said composition lay
double quick-match[28] upon all the reeds, in all the troughs: the
remainder of the composition strow over all the fire-room, and then lay
your bavins loose.
Cast off all the covers of the fire-barrels, and hang the quick-match
loose over their sides, and place leaders of quick-match from the reeds
into the barrels, and from thence into the vent of the chambers, in such
a manner as to be certain of their blowing open the ports, and setting
fire to the barrels. Two troughs of communication from each door of the
fire-room to the sally-ports, must be laid with a strong leader of
quick-match, four or five times double: also a cross-piece to go from
the sally-port, when the ship is fired, to the communication trough,
laid with leaders of quick-match, that the fire may be communicated to
both sides at once.
What quick-match is left, place so that the fire may be communicated to
all parts of the room at once, especially about the ports and
fire-barrels, and see that the chambers are well and fresh primed.
N. B. The port-fires[29] used for firing the ship, burns about twelve
minutes. Great care must be taken to have no powder on board when the
ship is fired.
The sheer-hooks represented by fig. 3, plate IV. are fitted so as to
fasten on the yard-arms of the fire-ship, where they hook the enemies
rigging. The fire-grapplings, fig. 4, are either fixed on the yard-arms,
or thrown by hand, having a chain to confine the ships together, or
fasten those instruments wherever necessary.
When the commanding officer of a fleet displays the signal to prepare
for action, the fire-ships fix their sheer-hooks, and dispose their
grapplings in readiness. The battle being begun, they proceed
immediately to prime, and prepare their fire-works. When they are ready
for grappling, they inform the admiral thereof by a particular signal.
To avoid being disabled by the enemy’s cannon during a general
engagement, the fire-ships continue sufficiently distant from their line
of battle, either to windward or to leeward.
They cautiously shun the openings, or intervals, of the line, where they
would be directly exposed to the enemy’s fire, from which they are
covered by lying on the opposite side of their own ships. They are
attentively to observe the signals of the admiral, or his seconds, in
order to put their designs immediately in execution.
Although no ship of the line should be previously appointed to protect
any fire-ship, except a few of the smallest particularly destined to
this service, yet the ship before whom she passes in order to approach
the enemy, should escort her thither, and assist her with an armed boat,
or whatever succour may be necessary in her situation[30].