commanding officer of a ship, galley, fire-ship, or the like. This officer ranks with a colonel in the land-service.

Captain of a merchant ship, he who has the direction of the ship, her crew, and lading, &c. In small ships and short voyages, he is more ordinarily called the master. In the Mediterranean, he is called the patron.

The proprietor of the vessel appoints the captain or master, and he is to form the crew, and chuse and hire the pilots, mates, and seamen; though, when the proprietor and master reside on the same spot, they generally act in concert together.

Captain Bashaw, or Capondan Bashaw, in the polity of the Turks, signifies the Turkish high admiral. He possesses the third office of the empire, and is invested with the same power at sea that the vizir has on shore. Soliman II. instituted this office in favour of the famous Barbarossa, with absolute authority over the officers of the marine and arsenal, whom he may punish, cashier, or put to death, as soon as he is without the Dardanelles. He commands in chief in all the maritime countries, cities, castles, &c., and, at Constantinople, is the first magistrate of police in the villages on the side of the Porte, and the canal of the Black-sea. The mark of his authority is a large Indian cane, which he carries in his hand, both in the arsenal and with the army.

The captain-bashaw enjoys two sorts of revenues; the one fixed, the other casual. The first arise from a capitulation of the islands in the Archipelago, and certain governments in Natolia and Galipoli. The latter consist in the pay of the men who die during a campaign; in a fifth of all prizes made by the begs; in the profits accruing from the labour of the slaves, whom he hires as rowers to the grand signior; and in the contributions he exacts in all places where he passes.