Chapter 48

PURSER, PURSER'S STEWARD, AND POSTMASTER IN A MAN-OF-WAR.

As the Purser's steward so conspicuously figured at the unsuccessful
auction of my jacket, it reminds me of how important a personage that
official is on board of all men-of-war. He is the right-hand man and
confidential deputy and clerk of the Purser, who intrusts to him all
his accounts with the crew, while, in most cases, he himself, snug and
comfortable in his state-room, glances over a file of newspapers
instead of overhauling his ledgers.

Of all the non-combatants of a man-of-war, the Purser, perhaps, stands
foremost in importance. Though he is but a member of the gun-room mess,
yet usage seems to assign him a conventional station somewhat above
that of his equals in navy rank--the Chaplain, Surgeon, and Professor.
Moreover, he is frequently to be seen in close conversation with the
Commodore, who, in the Neversink, was more than once known to be
slightly jocular with our Purser. Upon several occasions, also, he was
called into the Commodore's cabin, and remained closeted there for
several minutes together. Nor do I remember that there ever happened a
cabinet meeting of the ward-room barons, the Lieutenants, in the
Commodore's cabin, but the Purser made one of the party. Doubtless
the important fact of the Purser having under his charge all the
financial affairs of a man-of-war, imparts to him the great importance
he enjoys. Indeed, we find in every government--monarchies and
republics alike--that the personage at the head of the finances
invariably occupies a commanding position. Thus, in point of station,
the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States is deemed superior
to the other heads of departments. Also, in England, the real office
held by the great Premier himself is--as every one knows--that of
First Lord of the Treasury.

Now, under this high functionary of state, the official known as
the Purser's Steward was head clerk of the frigate's fiscal
affairs. Upon the berth-deck he had a regular counting-room, full
of ledgers, journals, and day-books. His desk was as much
littered with papers as any Pearl Street merchant's, and much
time was devoted to his accounts. For hours together you would
see him, through the window of his subterranean office, writing
by the light of his perpetual lamp.

_Ex-officio_, the Purser's Steward of most ships is a sort of
postmaster, and his office the post-office. When the letter-bags
for the squadron--almost as large as those of the United States
mail--arrived on board the Neversink, it was the Purser's Steward
that sat at his little window on the berth-deck and handed you
your letter or paper--if any there were to your address. Some
disappointed applicants among the sailors