A Continuing War_At Home and at Sea, 1803-1804
Page 27
Some readers have mentioned that Daphne seems to be far too ‘liberated’ for the time. I do not suggest that she is typical of ladies of the period, but they were much less restricted than is the usual portrayal of Victorian ladies, just as society was much less uptight than it would later become. This is not to say that the legal position of women was not appalling, just that it was not as bad as it might seem. For example, Jane Austen rather overdid the extent to which widows were automatically impoverished unless a relative took mercy on them. It was quite true, however, that unmarried single women had few financial rights and their opportunities for sustaining themselves independently were often bleak. Daphne could have existed, though she is not patterned on any particular lady.
Readers who are interested in reaching me can email me at jgcragg@telus.net. I always enjoy hearing from readers, both those who liked the yarn – they are always very encouraging – as well as from those who do not – whose criticism suggests ways to improve he next attempt. I might add that reviews given on Amazon are appreciated. Incidentally, reviews on one Amazon site are not usually transferred to another. For instance, Amazon.com often has different reviews from Amazon.uk. It is a point worth considering not only when buying books but also when considering other things that Amazon sells.
Glossary
Blue light:A type of firework that could be fired into the area giving quite strong, blue light over a considerable area.
BelayTie down. Regularly used by mariners to mean stop.
Belaying PinA substantial rounded piece of wood, with a shaft that would go through a hole on a railing or other horizontal fixed piece of wood and a bulbous knob on the other end, used to provide a place to secure lines. They made very useful cudgels.
Beating (to windward or into the wind)Proceeding to windward in a series of alternating tacks.
Between wind and waterThat part of a ship’s hull that can be above or below water depending on how the vessel heels.
BollardA short, thick post on a wharf or jetty to which a ship’s mooring lines may be fastened.
BoneyNickname for Napoleon Bonaparte
Bottom(1) A synonym for a cargo ship
(2) In relation to riding a horse – someone with excellent ability to ride easily and elegantly was said to have a “good bottom”
Brig(1) A two-masted square rigged ship.
(2) Slang for the prison on board a ship.
CarronadeA short gun, frequently mounted on a slider rather than a wheeled gun carriage, only used for close-in work. They were not usually counted in the number of guns by which a ship was rated.
ChurchingA church service to bless a woman after successfully giving birth.
Clear for actionWhen a war ship was preparing to fight another, all moveable items used for every-day living were stowed in the hold so that the decks would be unobstructed. This included the partitions which made “rooms” such as the captain’s cabin or the wardroom.
Come outYoung ladies “came out” when they were allowed to participate in adult gatherings, dinners and so on. At that time, they would be regarded as eligible for marriage and, in higher echelons of society, to be presented to the King at court.
ConsolA bond issued by the British Government with no stated redemption date, paying to the holder a specified amount per annum.
EntailA provision that the inheritance of real property would go to specified members of a family (or other specified group) usually to the closest male relatives. Usually implied that the present owner could not leave it to someone else and was usually put on a property to prevent the immediate heir from dissipating the inheritance but would pass it intact (more or less) to the next generation.
Fighting topA Platform on the mast where the main part met the top mast from which marines could fire their muskets on to the deck of an opposing ship.
Fodder Fother (a sail)Draw a sail treated with oakum under the bottom of a ship to slow leaks.
Grape (shot)Musket balls, or sometimes small scrap metal, used to fill bags which were them inserted in cannot as if they were cannot balls.
GrapnelA metal hook or set of hooks attached to a line that could be thrown and hook on to the edge of another ship or a wall or other object.
GunwaleThe side of a boat.
Heave tostopping the forward motion of a ship by turning one sail to work in opposition of the others.
Jobbing captainA post captain who has not been appointed to a ship and who is employed to captain another captain’s ship temporarily.
Jolly boatA small boat, usually the smallest on a ship.
Larboardthe left-hand side of the ship looking forward. Opposite of starboard. Now usually called “port”.
Larboard watchCrews were usually divided into two watches, who alternated the times when they were on duty with each other. The other one was called the starboard watch.
Lady Daysee quarter day
Lead lineA line in which knots have been tied at fixed distances, with a large piece of lead at the end which was used for measuring the depth of water.
LeagueThree nautical miles
LeewayThe speed with which a boat is blown strait downwind when it is drying to sail
Miss staysWhen tacking, failing to have a turn that switches the direction from which the wind is coming so that the ship is stuck and unable to complete the turn.
Muster RollList of all men serving on a ship.
The NoreAnchorage in the Thames estuary off the mouth of the Medway River. A major anchorage for the Royal Navy in the Age of Sail.
OakumFibrous material got from unravelling old ropes used with tar to caulk wooden ships.
Painterthe mooring line at the bow of a small boat.
Pocket Borough(later usually called a rotten borough) A formerly well-populated town that still returned two members to parliament even though population had fallen so low that one or a few landowners could select the next MP certain that they could control the election.
Press (ed) (gang)The Navy was enabled to seize men to serve on warships, without any form of due process. Exempt were gentlemen and certain others who had “protections.” While the process was supposed to require authorization from appropriate officials, it was standard for captains in need of men to send out parties to seize any one they could find who did not appear to be a gentleman.
Quarter daythe days on which traditionally rents were due, tenancies expired or began and other matters settled. They were Lady Day (March 25), Midsummer Day (June 24), Michaelmas (Sept. 29) and Christmas (Dec. 25)
Quarter deckThe outside deck of a ship at the stern.
Read (himself) in.A Captain was not formally in charge of a ship until he had read out loud his commission to command the vessel in the presence of the crew. This action was referred to by the captain reading himself in.
RaftedShips or boats are rafted together when they are tied to each other while at anchor
Redoubt:A minor or subsidiary fort. Here referring to a gun platform made level with guns firing over a parapet.
Remove(s)(Applied to dinners) Separate dishes at a dinner. There usually weren’t courses as we know them, at least not after the soup, and instead a variety of different dishes would be served in turn.
SalvageFee paid by a boat’s owner to rescuers of a ship in danger but not abandoned.
ShroudsA rope ladder formed by short lengths of rope tied tightly between the stays of a mast.
SheetA line controlling how much a sail is pulled in.
Sheeted inpulled in by a sheet
SkagenNorthern most cape in Denmark
SkagerrakThe passage (strait) between Norway and Denmark.
Slow matchA fuse in the form of a rope which burned at a premeasured speed used to blow up barrels of gunpowder or other bombs while allowing the persons lighting it to escape.
SoundingTaking the depth of water with a lead line.
Spring line (or just spring)A rope attached to the anchor cable which by being pulled in or let out could b
e used to change the direction in which the bow of the ship (or its broadside) was pointing when at anchor.
Spotted-dick A pudding made with dried fruit, usually served with custard. Lighter than a plum pudding.
St. Stephen’s DayThe day after Christmas. The term Boxing Day now used in the United Kingdom and some of the Commonwealth to refer to this day did not come into common use until the middle of the nineteenth century.
Stay(s)(1) A line used to prevent a mast from falling over or being broken in the wind
(2) Corsets
(3) See missed stays
StepPromotion from lieutenant to commander.
SternsheetsSeats or planking in the stern (back) part of an open boat.
Stove inBroken or snapped inwards.
StowPut out of the way.
StrakesPlanks used for the hull of a ship.
Struck belowClearing out the partitions and furnishings on the fighting decks of a ship, including especially the captain’s cabin, and stowing them out of harms’ way.
TackChange the direction in which a ship is sailing and the side of the ship from which the wind is blowing by turning towards the direction from which the wind is blowing.
TaffrailRailing at the stern of the quarter deck
Third rateNaval ships were rated by the number of guns they carried. A third rate would have somewhere between 64 and 80 guns.
Twelfth Night The evening of the Twelfth Day of Christmas, January 6, which is twelve evenings after Christmas Eve. Oddly enough this is also the date of “Old Christmas” the date to which the revision of the calendar assigned December 25 according to the unrevised calendar. Traditionally it was the time when roles between servants and master was reversed. By the early nineteenth century it had been much toned down and when celebrated it often was a party for the servants at which their masters would make a short appearance. Often not celebrated at all.
Walmer CastleA shore defense castle dating from the sixteenth century. The residence of the Warden of the Cinque Ports.
WardroomThe part of a ship used by the senior officers of a ship.
Warden of the Cinque Ports.A largely ceremonial title by the 19th century, though some holders did take their possible duties of defending the coast seriously.
Watches(1) The day was divided into seven watches as follows
Afternoon watch: 12:00-16:00
First dog watch: 16:00-18:00
Second dog watch; 18:00 – 20:00
First Watch (sometimes Evening Watch) 20:00-24:00
Middle Watch: 0:00-4:00
Morning Watch: 4:00-8:00
Forenoon Watch 8:00- 12:00
(2) The crew was divided into two watches, arbitrarily called the Starboard and Larboard Watches who alternated the times they were on duty. The dog watches meant that on alternating days they alternated which watches they stood (were on duty.
Wear (referring to a ship)The opposite of tack where the maneuver of changing which side of a ship the wind is coming from is accomplished by turning away from the wind.
WherryA long, light rowboat used for carrying passengers.
Wedding portionA dowry, so called because it was regarded as the portion of her father’s estate that an unmarried daughter might expect to have.
WritThe document authorizing the holding of a by election. It’s being issued had to be moved and passed in by the House of Commons first.