Nelson & His World

I've read of the ceremony of 'Crossing the Line' to mark crossing the equator but know very little else about it. Are there any mentions of this event in diaries, biographies, etc. as opposed to fictional ones such as Hornblower?

Anna,

There are records of the ceremony, and I believe there was an instance of it as back as far as the sixteenth century. I have found a mention of it in 'The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson', Vol ll, which occurred during the chase to the West Indies in 1805:

http://books.google.se/books?id=Ay1EAAA ... ny&f=false

I am now wondering if there is a record, either by himself or another, of when Nelson went through the ceremony. I think perhaps he would have been a midshipman then.

I found this reference on the very informative sailing navies forum, particularly interesting for its mention of Pellew whose new biog. we have discussed recently on another thread.



In "Landsman Hay -- The Memoirs of Robert Hay 1789-1847" edited by M. D. Hay, Robert is aboard HMS Culloden in 1804, under the flag of Admiral Edward Pellew, when the equator is crossed. His comment: "No shaving ceremony at crossing the line was allowed." No reason is recorded by Hay. As he is a 15 year old servant to two warrant officers at the time, maybe the reason was not explained to him.

There was no indication of bad weather or sea action although this did take place during war-time.

It appears that the Admiral or Flag Captain had some discretion for this ceremony and could cancel it if desired.

Although, I imagine this may not have gone down well with the ship's company, or companies, in question.

Although a little after our period, the examples given here would have been similar, and describe the ceremony in some detail:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-crossing_ceremony

This is also interesting, and has some eyewitness accounts:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=AKFO ... &q&f=false

I had wondered if Nelson would have ever played the part of Neptune, but one of the eyewitnesses said that:



If the part must always be played by a man of good figure and manly countenance, Nelson wouldn't quite fit the bill, methinks!