“He sometimes amused himself by paying a visit to the quarter-deck at what most people would deem very unseasonable hours.  Coming up one morning at half-past two, in the middle watch, he sent for Colonel Flight, the commanding officer of marines.  Up came the colonel, armed at all points, supposing that some enterprise was in hand.  ’I have sent for you,’ said the Chief, in the quiet and gentlemanly style which he could always command, ’I have sent for you, Colonel, that you might smell, for the first time in your life, the delicious odors brought off by the land wind from the shores of Andalusia.  Take a good sniff, and then you may go and turn in again.’”

“A lieutenant one day came on board to answer a signal.  Lord St. Vincent thought there was about him too much embonpoint for an officer of that rank.  ‘Calder,’ said he to the captain of the fleet, ’all the lieutenants are running to belly; they have been too long at anchor (for the fleet was still off Cadiz); block up the entering port, except for admirals and captains, and make them climb over the hammocks.’  The entering port in a three-decked ship being on the middle deck, the difference between going into that and climbing over the hammocks may be compared to entering the drawing-room by the balcony window, or mounting to the parapet and taking the attics by storm.  There was also great inconvenience, and even expense, attending this painful operation, since in those days all officers wore white knee-breeches, or shorts, as they were called, and many useful garments which could not readily be replaced, were torn and spoiled in this attempt at juvenile activity, and many oaths probably sworn, which but for this needless exertion would not have been elicited.”

A more pleasing, and it may well be believed much more characteristic, instance of his playfulness has also been transmitted; one illustrative too of his deep fund of kindliness which was shown in many acts, often of large pecuniary liberality, and tinged especially with a certain distinct service coloring, with sympathy for the naval officer and the naval seaman, which must have gone far to obtain for him the obedience of the will as well as submission of conduct.  He wisely believed in the value of forms, and was careful to employ them, in this crisis of the mutinies, to enforce the habit of reverence for the insignia of the state and the emblems of military authority.  Young lieutenants—­for there were young lieutenants in those days—­were directed to stand cap in hand before their superiors, and not merely to touch their hats in a careless manner.  “The discipline of the cabin and ward-room officers is the discipline of the fleet,” said the admiral; and savage, almost, were the punishments that fell upon officers who disgraced their cloth.  The hoisting of the colors, the symbol of the power of the nation, from which depended his own and that of all the naval hierarchy, was made an august and imposing