Read "A Steam Voyage down the Danube, Vol. 2 of 2" by Michael J. Quin online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Gun-room -- Mountains of Morea -- Minister of the Interior -- Quarantine -- Deck companions -- Holystone -- Mr. Dawkins -- Russian policy -- Captain Lyons -- Hospitality -- Bay of Napoli -- Bustle of the streets -- Public walks -- Count Armansperg -- Modern Greeks -- Their advantages -- Democracy -- Aristocracy -- The Senate -- The Laws -- The Sovereign -- Judicial office.
We lingered about Hydra all the morning (2d November), and it being Sunday the men all assembled on deck in their best clothes at ten o'clock, when the officers read to them, in different groups, the Act of Parliament which directs that divine service shall be performed on-board his Majesty's ships of war. I confess I think that this part of the ceremony is particularly objectionable. To summon a ship's company to prayers by virtue of an Act of Parliament, is, of all things, the most absurd, considering that a duty of that kind ought to be performed from motives of a nature altogether superior to the authority of mere temporal legislation. The men then proceeded to the lower deck, where forms were arranged, and a temporary pulpit covered with a signal flag was erected for the chaplain, who read the service and a very good sermon in an unaffected and impressive manner. I observed with great pleasure that almost all the men and all the boys had books, and that they attended to the solemn duties of the hour in a very collected and becoming manner.