The most skilful horsemen sometimes break their necks, but this is hardly adduced as an argument against learning to ride.

I suppose there is not an officer in the service, certainly not one who has reached the rank of captain, who has not seen many men drowned solely from not being able to swim; that is, because they had not learned a very simple art, of which, under his official injunctions, and aided by due encouragement, they might readily have acquired a sufficient knowledge.

My own conscience is not quite clear on this score, whatever that of my brother officers may be; and certainly, should I again take the command of a ship, I shall use every exertion, and take advantage of every opportunity, to encourage the men and officers to acquire this invaluable accomplishment.

Would it be unreasonable to refuse the rating of A.B.

(able seaman) on the ship's books to any man who could not swim?
If it be our duty to ascertain that a sailor can "hand, reef, and steer," before we place against his name these mystical letters, might we not well superadd, as a qualification, that he should also be able to keep his head above water, in the event of falling overboard, or that he should have it in his power to save another's life, if required to leap into the sea for that purpose by the orders of his superior?
At present, in such an emergency, an officer has to ask amongst a dozen persons, "Which of you can swim ?" instead of saying to the one nearest him, "Jump overboard after that man who is sinking!" This, then, seems the first material step in the establishment of an improved system in that branch of seamanship which relates to picking up men who fall overboard.