The other digression ought to show why the sergeants and officers (apart from the distinctions which the superiority of those creatures demands) mess an-hour-and-a-half later than the men. Each unit must appoint, as ashore, an orderly-officer and orderly-sergeant for the day, and part of their duty is to supervise the issue and distribution of rations. Each sergeant is given, beside, the supervision of the quarters of a section of the unit, and this includes overlooking the complete setting-in-order after messing. Each unit in rotation supplies a ship's orderly-officer and ship's troop-deck sergeant, whose duties are general and at the dictation of the ship's commandant. After breakfast we massage ourselves internally and open up our chests with an hour's exercise, much as ashore; but we must drill in small sections, for want of space. Most parades, apart from this last, which is universal, are for lectures; in which the officers endeavour to put the theoretical side--appropriately enough, for the practice must precede the theory in any matter whatsoever, but especially in the game of war. We were men before we became philosophers; we digested our food before we thought of physiological research; and we can put a bullet through a vulnerable part before we know much about the chemical combustion preceding the discharge. Lectures are, naturally, more or less directly on the topic of mechanical-transport, in some aspect of it, but some are on topics of generally military importance. Curious is the variety in the method of receiving lecture; the rank and file do not readily adjust themselves to the academic outlook. "Another b----y lecture, Bill!" "That's all right; 'e'll take a tumble----" (_The Censor did not pass the rest of this conversation._) But these are extreme comments, and rather a form of playfulness than serious utterances. Of the rest, some sit it through in a bovine complacency, some take the risks of dozing, some crack furtive jokes; most listen attentively enough. There are many intelligent, well-trained men who prick up their ears here and there and carry on a muffled discussion, in a sort of unauthorised _semina_. There is, on an average, one hour's lecture in the day. Perhaps half the day is the men's own--clear. It is spent largely in lounging and smoking, partly in sleeping, a little in reading. There are well-worn magazines--such as Mr. Ruskin would disapprove--and little else, except sixpenny editions of the limelight authors. But in reading and such effeminate arts what good soldier will languish long? There are sports, of a sort--very sporadic and very confined. They commonly take the form of passing-the-ball and leap-frog. The Censor has an _ipse dixit_ way, and is his own court of appeal. These notes could otherwise be made a little less inconsecutive.