_Reef-lines_, are only used to reef the main-sail and fore-sail. _Shrouds_, so called from the Saxon _scrud_, consist of a range of thick ropes stretching downwards from the mast heads, to the right and left sides of a ship, in order to support the masts, and enable them to carry sail; they are also used as rope ladders, by which seamen ascend or descend to execute whatever is wanting to be done about the sails and rigging. _Reef-band_, consists of a piece of canvass sewed across the sail, to strengthen it in the place where the eyelet-holes of the reefs are formed. The _outer turns_ of the earing serve to extend the sail along its yard; the _inner turns_ are employed to confine its head-rope close to its surface. PAGE 75, l. 21. _A Sea, up-surging with stupendous roll._ A sea is the general term given by sailors to an enormous wave; and hence, when such a wave bursts over the deck, the vessel is said to have _shipped a sea_. PAGE 77, l. 3, 4. _Too late to weather now Morea’s land,_ _And drifting fast on Athen’s rocky strand._ To weather a shore is to pass to windward of it, which at this time was prevented by the violence of the gale. _Drift_ is that motion and direction, by which a vessel is forced to leeward sideways, when she is unable any longer to carry sail; or, at least, is restrained to such a portion of sail, as may be necessary to keep her sufficiently inclined to one side, that she may not be dismasted by her violent labouring produced by the turbulence of the sea. PAGE 77, l. 10. _And try beneath it the sidelong in the sea._ To _try_, is to lay the ship with her side nearly in the direction of the wind and sea, with her head somewhat inclined to windward; the helm being fastened close to the lee-side, or in the sea language, _hard a-lee_, to retain her in that position. See a further illustration in the last note of this Canto. PAGE 77, l. 12. _Topping lift, knittle, throt._ A tackle, or assemblage of pullies, which tops the upper end of the mizen-yard. This line, and the six following, describe the operation of reefing and balancing the mizen. The _knittle_ is a short line used to reef the sails by the bottom. The _throt_ is that part of the mizen-yard which is close to the mast. PAGE 80, l. 13. _Companion, binacle._ The _companion_ is a wooden porch placed over the ladder that leads down to the cabins of the officers. The _binacle_ is a case, which is placed on deck before the helm, containing three divisions; the middle one for a lamp, or candle, and the two others for mariners’ compasses. There are always two binacles on the deck of a ship of war, one of which is placed before the master, at his appointed station. In all the old sea books it was called _bittacle_. PAGE 80, l. 19. _They sound the well._