The Pipe to Dinner and the Noon Ration of GROG

"Pipe to dinner"

These words, followed by a glorious burst of shrill sounds, "long drawn out," are hailed with a murmur of delight by many a hungry tar and jolly marine.  The merry notes are nearly drowned next instant in  the rattle of tubs and kettles, the voice of the ship's cook and his mates calling out the numbers of the messes, the sound of  feet trampling along the decks and down the ladders, with the ample store of steaming provisions; such a set up and braces seaman's frame and give it vigour for any amount of physical action.

Then comes the joyous grog!  That nautical nectar, so dear to the lips of every blue-jacket, with which he washes down his Majesty's junk, as he roughly, but good humouredly styles the government allowance of beef; and while he quaffs off his portion, or his whack, as he calls it, he envies no man alive, and laughs to scorn those party philanthropists who describe his life as one of unhappy servitude.

Up to the year 1824 every man on board was allowed, each day, no less a quantity and half-a-pint of ardent spirits, mixed with three half-pints of water; but, even when thus diluted, the allowance formed a quart of extremely strong drink.  It was divided into two portions, one-half being served out soon after noon, the other between four and five o'clock.  This quantity was undoubtedly a great deal more than the average strength of a man's head could bear; and, in the opinion of the most observant officers in the navy, a large portion of all punishments were consequent upon offenses caused by the inebriating effect. The captain was not allowed to diminish the allowance, while among the man it would've been a reproach and anyone not to have drunk the whole, whatever his own taste might be.