The sail-drill in the _Marlborough_ was a miracle of smartness and speed. The spirit of emulation in the Fleet was furious. The fact that a certain number of men used to be killed, seemed to quicken the rivalry. Poor Inman, a midshipman in the _Marlborough_, a great friend of mine, his foot slipping as he was running down from aloft, lost his life. His death was a great shock to me. The men would run aloft so quickly that their bare feet were nearly indistinguishable. Topmasts and lower yard were sent down and sent up at a pace which to-day is inconceivable. I once saw the captain of the maintop hurl himself bodily down from the cap upon a hand in the top who was slow in {22} obeying orders. That reckless topman was Martin Schultz, a magnificent seaman, who was entered by the captain direct from the Norwegian merchant service, in which he had been a mate. Mr. George Lewis, an old topmate of mine, who was one of the smartest seamen on board H.M.S. _Marlborough_, has kindly sent to me the following interesting details with regard to the times of sail-drill and the risks incidental to the evolutions. Time allowed Time in by Admiral. _Marlborough_. Min. Sec. Min. Sec. Cross topgallant and royal yards 1 0 0 30 Down topgallant yards with royal yards across 2 0 1 13 Up topgallant mast, cross upper yards and loose sails 2 30 1 27 Shift topgallant masts from royal yards across 7 0 5 40 Up topgallant mast and make all plain sail 4 0 2 40 Up topgallant mast and make all possible sail 6 0 3 0 Shift topsails from plainsail 6 0 4 50 In all boom boats from away aloft 7 0 6 0 Out all boom boats 7 0 5 40 Away lifeboat's crew 0 30 0 20 What Mr. Lewis means by "admiral's time," let him explain in his own words. "When our admiral" (Sir William Martin) "was captain of the _Prince Regent_, which was considered the smartest ship in the Navy, he brought all her times of all her drills to the grand old _Marlborough_ along with him; and you know, my lord, that he allowed us six months to get our good old ship in trim before we drilled along with the Fleet; but we started to drill along with the Fleet after three months, and were able to beat them all."