Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, Accidents, Government, Politics

Institutions mentioned:

Royal Navy

    Describes the shadowy figures—the 'ghosts'—who constitute the lords of the Admiralty. They attempt to abrogate responsibility for such naval disasters as a 'ship ill-found, or fleet ill-led', and make such poor decisions as to work troop ships until they grow rotten and to allow the 'squalls that blow about Reid and Co.' to send 'Captains' to the bottom.