Chapters 2 and 3 Summary

Worcester sails to Plymouth where Aubrey works to gain a full complement of crew and to complete his paperwork burden. The crew is filled out by various conscriptions of prisoners, lunatics, and unfortunate sailors attempting to return home. During one such process one man named Yeats complains bitterly that his fortunes will be ruined by impressments. Realizing that he has absolutely no nautical skill, Maturin feels the impressments unjust and contrives to discharge the man as medically unfit. Several lengthy conversations then ensue over the following days wherein the officers discuss the makeup of the crew, the personalities of other officers, and the probably mission of the ship. There is much dismay at the prospects of conveying a group of parsons for any distance. On one occasion Maturin and Aubrey have a discussion about a composer named Bach. Aubrey also frets about the political improprieties...