Hornblower attends the Leighton's dinner party in resplendent clothing, ruefully noting only that his shoe buckles are brass instead of solid gold. Maria attends dressed in a shapeless and frumpy gown of much use. How does this discrepancy reflect upon Hornblower's character? Discuss.

Hornblower uses his own money to recruit men for Sutherland. His officers go around to various assizes to gain 'volunteers.' Finally, hundreds of Englishmen are simply pressed into service—that is, forced to enlist. Discuss how this method of assembling a crew could influence the crew's morale and discipline.

After escorting merchant ships beyond the threat of French naval forces, Hornblower basically robs the merchant ships of much of their crew. His rationale is sound, and he desperately needs the men aboard Sutherland. But pressing men out of merchant ships in such a manner was considered illegal. In the...