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acter. This narrow pennant was to have the union part composed of thirteen white stars in a horizontal line on a blue field, one-fourth of the length of the pennant. The remaining three-fourths of its length was to be of a red and white stripe, each of the same breadth at any part of the taper, and with the red uppermost. The number of stars in the union of night and boat pennants was to be confined to

seven.

The flags of commanders of divisions, of squadrons of divisions, of a senior officer present, and the narrow pennant of other commanding officers, were not entitled to a salute; but when these officers saluted an officer of a superior rank, they were to receive, if a captain, a return salute of nine guns, and if of less rank, a return salute of seven guns.

The return salute of officers holding equal rank is always gun for gun. No vessel of the navy, mounting less than six guns, and no store-ship or transport is allowed to salute. If necessary to avoid giving offence, such vessel may fire a return salute. No surveying vessel is ever to fire, or return a salute.

In addition to these flags, distinctive of rank and command, the regulations of 1866 provided several for general purposes, viz. :—

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1. A Convoy Flag. A white, triangular flag, bordered with red, to be worn by vessels of war when convoying merchant or other vessels.

2. A Pilot Flag.-The union jack bordered with red, hoisted at the fore, to denote a pilot wanted.

3. A Compass Flag. - This was a square flag divided into four squares or cantons, blue, yellow, white, red. To be hoisted over the numeral flags of the signal code representing the points of the compass.

4. A Guard Flag.-A white flag with a red St. Andrew's cross hoisted at the fore, to indicate the vessel charged with guard duty for the day, whose duty it is to board all vessels approaching, and ascertain their character before allowing communication with them.

5. A Guide or Pivot Flag. A square flag composed of five perpendicular stripes, red and white. To designate any steam vessel of a fleet or squadron, &c., as a guide or pivot ship in the performance of any naval evolution. In 1869, this flag was dispensed with. The guard flag was made to answer the purpose of a guide flag.

6. A Despatch Flag. - A white, square flag with five blue crosses, generally known as the five of clubs; hoisted forward, this flag denoted important and urgent special service, which must not be

interfered with by any officer junior to the one by whom it was despatched.

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7. A Powder Flag. A plain red flag hoisted at the fore, denoting the vessel is taking in or discharging powder.

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8. A Quarantine Flag. — A plain yellow flag, also worn at the fore by vessels in quarantine and waiting pratique, denoting all intercourse with the vessel is forbidden.

A Church Pennant. A white pennant without swallow-tails, charged with a blue Latin cross, to be hoisted at the peak, during divine service, over the ensign. The only flag to which the national ensign shows such submission.

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10. A General Recall Flag. A blue, square flag with a white Latin cross dividing it into four equal parts. When hoisted by the commander-in-chief, or senior officer present, it is to be considered a peremptory order for all vessels or boats sent in chase, or engaged in other duty of whatever nature, to return at once to their vessels, duty, or station, unless they shall have been previously specially ordered to disregard the signal. The general recall is not hauled down until all the vessels or boats obey the signal.

11. The Cornet.-Long used in the navy, and still continued as the ordinary recall of all boats and officers, and as a signal for sailing. This is a square flag divided into four equal squares of alternate red and white, and when hoisted anywhere, without other flags, is to be considered a peremptory order for all absent boats and officers to return on board without delay. When hoisted above or over the numeral flags of the signal code, it denotes those numerals are the ship's book number, opposite to which in the navy list in the signal-book is the ship's name. The cornet hoisted at any part of a vessel, with numeral flags at a different part of the ship, indicates that those numbers are to be sought for in the telegraphic dictionary, and that the signal will be communicated word by word or letter by letter. The cornet under signal numbers indicates that they represent the private number of a ship.

In addition to these distinctive flags, the naval signal code provided pennants to designate shipping, squadron, boat recalls, meal-time, &c., also ten numeral flags and three repeating pennants, for telegraphic purposes. As a whole, this was, perhaps, the most systematic, complete, and best code of distinctive, general, and telegraphic flags the navy had known; but with a change in the administration of the bureau came a radical change in the distinctive flags. At a sacrifice of beauty and time-honored associations, the following order was pro

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*Rocket at night in place of Cornet.

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