marching orders

I need my golden crown of sorrow, my bloody sword to swing, My empty halls to echo with grand self-mythology. I am no mother, I am no bride, I am King.

Hornblower had never seen such an expression on Bush's countenance. He staggered through the door into Hornblower's room like a man drunk, and Hornblower rose from the bed in time to catch him and sit him down.

"You have spoken to the lady, I take it?" asked Hornblower, and Bush nodded.

"Miss Mason explained her proposal to me, sir, and though I cannot claim to like the notion of marrying for anything but love, I do see the sense in it," he said slowly.

“Shall I shave?” William asked. “Some men like the feel of it; some do not.”

Words fled as desire and nerves tied a knot in Horatio’s belly. He was beset by memories of kissing William the night before, and overset by the attempt to imagine those kisses both smooth-shaven and rough.

William smiled. “Perhaps a demonstration?”

William’s kiss was as good as Horatio remembered it: warm and inviting, and while his lip scratched there was an illicit thrill to that scratch, one that shivered in the pit of Horatio’s stomach. If Horatio had been able to forget that he was kissing a man – forget the breadth of William’s shoulders or the strength of his arms – the feel of his rough lip made it undeniable. William pulled away from the kiss to deliberately scrape his cheek across Horatio’s, and Horatio shuddered at the grating rasp of it. He set his coffee aside, blindly twisting the mug’s base into the sand, and took William’s face in both his hands, William’s cheeks rough beneath his palms, so he might kiss him more thoroughly.

Horatio was breathing heavily when William finally pulled back, grinning. “Well, that’s clear enough. Unless you’d like me to shave for comparison?”

To progress up the career ladder a Midshipman had to pass an examination. This could be taken after he had spent 6 years in sea service, had submitted a detailed journal and his certificates of service and was at least 19 years old.

The exam itself could be taken in London at the Admiralty on a specific day that was openly advertised. It was only later, at the end of the 18th century, that the opportunity was offered on the first Wednesday of every month at every Home port in the Naval Bases. On the day of the examination itself, the midshipman had to present his journal and certificates to three senior captains who were specially summoned for the examination.

Examination for Lieutenant - Horatio Hornblower

They would first examine his papers and then ask questions about seamanship and navigation. It was not a question of “What is the name of the front of a ship”. It was about knowing exactly which sails to use under certain conditions in an emergency, the length of the anchor cable of the ship he was serving on, and others.

Letters and papers of Charles, Lord Barham : Admiral of the Red squadron, 1758-1813, Examination Questions (x)

However, the exam was not equally difficult for everyone; if one of the captains knew the examinee, it could also end quickly. After all, the captain could already answer whether the examinee knew his trade or not. Then the rest was just a matter of form and he could leave the hall as passed. But the opposite was also true: once a midshipman had fallen out with one of the present captains he could fail him for no significant reason, simply because he didn’t like him.

I apologize to everyone who has to look at this (and perhaps very most sincerely to @clove-pinks​, who first brought this fashion trend to my attention.)

But I spy a fashion trend among these Georgian military gentlemen.