$

0

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

AN INQUIRY

INTO

THE PRESENT STATE OF THE BRITISH
NAVY.

TOGETHER WITH

REFLECTIONS ON THE LATE WAR WITH
AMERICA;

ITS PROBABLE CONSEQUENCES,
<5 c. Sic. 3fC.

BY AN ENGLISHMAN.

It is inconsistent with common sense to deny that our naval reputation
lias been blasted in Ibis short but disastrous war : it is inconsistent with
the spirit and feelings of Englishmen not to regret, that the means of
retrieving that reputation, are cut off by a premature and inglorious
peace.— Times, Dec. 29, 18t4.

LONDON:
Printed by W. M'Dowall, Perabcrcon Row, Couch Square.
TO* C, CHAPPLE, BOOKSELLER TO THE PRINCE RECENT,
NO. 66", PALL MALL.
1815.

INTRODUCTION.

5. .••»-»

ALTHOUGH living in an age of prodigies^ the
writer of the following essay little imagined, that
when only a few short weeks ago, he sat down
to deplore the events of the American contest,
Europe was so soon destined to become once
more the theatre of anarchy and revolution.
In common with every friebd of social order
and human happiness, he vainly anticipated
those measures of necessary precaution, on the
part of the allied sovereigns, which a sense
of their own safety, no less than of what was
due to their subjects, enjoined for the re-esta
blishment of that tranquillity so long and suc
cessfully excluded from the world, by the tyrant
of France. But the tragedy of nations was

iv INTRODUCTION.
only suspended, and we are yet doomed to as
sist in the deno&ment : — grant, Heaven! that it
may be neither the prelude to new revolutions,
nor involve in its consequences th© remaining
liberties of mankind.
In the midst of his amazement, and while
brooding over the melancholy fate which seems
to await the people, of France, every one is led
to inquire  why the monster was suffered to es
cape ! ' However unavailing it may be to com
plain, man^jf important, although unfortunate
truths, irresistibly force themselves on the mind,
to embitter our regret for this fatal event. The
tyrant lived, was allowed to remain at large, and.
firmly relied on the fidelity of that execrable
party, which, with a malignant and savage joy,
has hailed his return to despotism. \-
Full as the present moment is, of " mon
strous shapes," and " horrible imaginings," it
is scarcely possible to reason calmly on any par
ticular subject, and still lessj to calculate on
probabilities which the next hour may destroy.
Ought we, however, to shut our eyes on the ap-

INTRODUCTION. Vr
proaehing storm, and suffer it to everwhelm us*,
without makwig those, efforts, which can- 'along;
mitigate its ruinous effects? Having- derived soc
little adyantage from former lessons, is the pre
sent to be throwBj away upon government and
their people ? Are we yet blindly to reject the
immutable truth, that the vengeance of an over-
ruling Providence is directed towards the injus
tice of nations, as it is against the guilt of in
dividuals ? Have we nothing b»t foreign war t$
apprehend, from this powerful appeal to the de
moralization of society?  The above is neither
the language of cant nor empiricism; truth is
the* only unerring guide of public opinion; and
theje are times when it would be criminal and
profane to conceal it: impressed with a fearful
sense of those events which there is but too
much reason to expect from such a period of
popular agitation — I will say — That if ever the
British government and nation, were called upon
to make unusual efforts of public virtue, that
time is now arrived.
At Vienna, the bright occasion of perpetuat
ing public liberty and peace, has been lost; a

Vi INTRODUCTION.
disregard of justice, by trifling with the liberties
of hitherto independent states, has been almost
instantaneously followed by the apparently mi
raculous restoration to power of a man whom
the world had long regarded as the scourge
of human nature! It is for the philosopher,
statesman, and politician, to reflect on this ex
traordinary event; together with the probable
result, if prompt and effectual measures be not
adopted, to avert the danger with which society
is menaced. That inconsiderate spirit of party, which
seems to hail the Corsican's return with indiffe
rence, and even pleasure, cannot be too deeply
lamented by every friend of liberty. It can
only be for the purpose of gratifying private re
sentment ; for, in the name of justice and com
mon sense, what possible benefit can arise from
the elevation of a wretch, who has for fifteen
years been stamped with the just execration of
his fellow creatures, whose inordinate ambition
has caused torrents of human blood to flow, and
whose military spirit has contaminated all Eu
rope ! It is indeed an alarming symptom, when

INTRODUCTION. vii
the sons of hereditary freedom can prevail on
themselves, ever so indirectly, to favour a tyranny
upon which Buonaparte's power and very exist
ence must depend. But let us hope that this
perilous contagion cannot be extended in oppo
sition to all that is honourable and virtuous iri
our nation.
The best argument in favour of opposing
the tyrant and his blood-thirsty satellites, will
be found in those admirable productions, which
came from the pen of Mr. Burke, twenty years
ago, (and after whom the political writers of the
present day are little more than commentators).
The public attention is most earnestly solicited
to the fifth and eighth volumes of that great
man's works ; for they apply with as much force
to the present state of France* as they did in
1796. Who is there amongst us, professing
any regard for the established rights of nations,
that will not subscribe to the following empha-
tical passage from his " Letters on a Regicide
Peace," which the writer has had occasion to
quote in another place —

Viii INTRODUCTION.
" If a war to prevent Loais the XIV. from
<f imposing his religion, was just; a war to pre-
" vent the murderers of Louis the XVI. from
" imposing their irreligion upon «rs is just; a
-" war to prevent the operation of a system^
" which makes life withodt dignity, and death
" without hope, is a just war; if to preserve
" political independence and civil freedom to
"nations, was a just ground of war; a war to
" preserve national independence, property, li-
*' bterty, life, and honour, from certain, univer-
" sal havock, is a war just, necessary, manly,
" jpious ; and we are bound to persevere in it by
" every principle divine and human, as long as
" the system which menaces them all, and all
" equally, has an existence in the world*.

• See his works, vol. viii. p. 166. — Although like others,
whose writings have insured immortality, this ornament of hu-
man nature requires no monumental inscription to perpetuate his
name— is it not strange, that, while tbe nitdies of Westminster
abbey are filled up by the writers of licentious plays, Mr. Burke
should be excluded !

INTRODUCTION. IX
By selecting such men as Carnot, Cambaceres,
and Caulincourt, together with every other name
distinguished for its crimes and revolutionary
spirit, to form his new government, does not the
tyrant prove, that the days of the Girbndistes,
and Brissotines, may be revived again ? With
this dreadful conviction on the mind, and pro
bably more inimical to war than many of those
who for party reasons declaim so loudly against
it at present, I am decidedly of opinion, that the
energetic declaration of the allies ought to in
fluence every power in Europe, and be followed
up till the tyrant, and those who have impiously
coalesced with him for the destruction of public
liberty are destroyed. The most scrupulous
perusal of that important document has not
enabled me to discover in it any thing to justify
assassination or crime.
In thus recommending the above measure,
let it be distinctly understood, that Buonaparte
and his followers are denounced, solely on the
ground of their being the known and declared
enemies of constitutional liberty. Far be it from
the wishes of the writer, to instigate a war with
c

X INTRODUCTION.
the view of forcing any particular family to
reign over the people of France ; and although
he can recognize no other as having a legitimate
claim to the throne of that country, but the
Bourbons, he will never be induced to sanction
a doctrine which is contrary to the imprescripti
ble rights of society. Should, however, the,
fatal principles of 1794 be again tolerated in
the centre of Europe, he entertains very little
doubt, that nothing less than a total annihilation
of its antient dynasties and institutions will sa
tisfy their advocates.
When the paramount and sacred duty of ex
tirpating the hydra is performed, and a ferocious
soldiery are convinced that they cannot, with
impunity, convert the universe into a scene of
desolation, rapine, and murder, an arduous
task will yet remain for the ministers of
this country — .one wherein the utmost exer
tion of wisdom, firmness, aud prudence, will
be required. Happily they are not called upon
to create from chaos ; the superstructure is solid,
and beautiful, a free constitution guaranteed by
time and the people's choice; laws which have

INTRODUDTION. xi
¦withstood the test of ages: and above all, a just
horror of revolutions; will render it one of com
parative facility.
That, like all measures on which private or
public happiness depends, the longer this task
is deferred, the more we shall eventually suffer ;
that every succeeding day adds to the necessity
of performing it ; and finally, that it is inevit
able, no person who reflects on the present state
of things can possibly deny. If, unhappily, as
some assert, political corruption is so universal
and deep laid, as to leave no rational hope of
salutary reform ; and a military spirit is to be suc
ceeded by a military government; then indeed are
we a lost people: but in lamenting the existence
of that luxury and vice, which has been in so
many instances the precursor of degeneracy, I
know there is still a large share of virtue a-
mongstus; to that virtue I appeal: and while
it exists, I cannot be persuaded to relinquish the
gratifying hope of yet living to see the civil and
political salvation of my country firmly esta
blished.

Xll INTRODUCTION.
Were the minds of men less occupied with
so many scenes of terrible import, they would
not fail to sympathize more generally in the un
merited sufferings of Louis XVIII. and the scat
tered members of his unfortunate family: the
most obdurate hearf cannot resist the impulse of
pity and commiseration, which the accumulated
troubles of that ill-fated house, are so well cal
culated to excite. To sovereigns and princes
their whole life affords at once an awful and tre
mendous lesson of morality.
At a period of our history, when the spirit of
party is more frequently busied in form ing schemes
of persona] aggrandizement, than consulting the
interests of the state, the writer is not vain
•enough to anticipate any immediate benefit from
the desultory hints he has submitted to the pub
lic: but he has too much reliance upon its can
dour, to apprehend that any improper motive
will be attributed to this undertaking.
If he could possibly imagine that the feel
ings of the nation were not sufficiently alive to

INTRODUCTION. Xlll
the importance of the subject on which the fol
lowing Inquiry treats, he would require no bet
ter justification of his conduct, than by calling
its attention to. Buonaparte's re-assumption of
power; the afflicting consequences of our impru
dent and ill-timed attack -upon New Orleans;
and lastly, the arrival of our treaty with Ame
rica. The first warns it of the danger to be ap
prehended from the declared enemy of our naval
power; in the second it will recognize the fata
lity which has attended nearly all the efforts of
the war; and in the last, it would seem that our
hitherto unsullied maritime rights are bartered
for a new boundary line to' the Canadas! These
melancholy memorials of humiliation and dis
grace, cannot fail to sink deep into the heart of
every lover of Nhis country.
Mr. Maddison's message delivered to the se
nate on the 1 8th of February, and inserted in
our daily papers ofthe 3d instant, is a highly im
portant document ; for while it increases our re
gret, we plainly discover in its tone and tenden
cy, that America is at length converted into a
naval and military power.

XIV INTRODUCTION'.
Even our triumphs in this disastrous war,
~(if such they can be called), have added to our
shame. When, through tbe gallantry of Capt.
Hope, his officers and crew, the Endymion suc
ceeded in disabling the President, in sight of a
large British squadron, a vessel was despatched
to England for the express purpose of commu
nicating this event; and it was formally announ
ced in the House of Commons, as if ten sail of
the line had been added to our navy!!!
A very interesting pamphlet, containing
the American state papers, &c. laid before par
liament, has been just published, and supersedes
the necessity of an appendix to this Essay,
which it was otherwise the author's intention
to subjoin. With respect to those anachronisms which
the reader may perceive in the course of the In
quiry, it should be recollected that, in considering
the Bourbons as firmly restored to the throne of
their ancestors, he only followed the general opi
nion: his remarks were put together while un
der the influence of those feelings of sorrow and

- INTRODUCTION. XV
disappointment occasioned by our numerous and
heavy losses, and while the secretary of state for
foreign affairs was congratulating parliament and
the country, on the happy issue of that congress,
which was triumphantly said to have finally seal
ed the peace of Europe! i
Ol M1SERAS HOMINUM MENTES, 01 PECTOKA
CCECA.

London, April 10, 1815.

OUTLINE OF THE CONTENTS.

INTRODU€TORY observations— Utility of inquiring after a
War of. such unexampled length — Reflections ou the loss of
our Ships of War during the American contest — Capture of the
Chesapeake — Eulogium on Sir P. Broke — Short view of
the British Navy — Its Rise and Progress — Comaprative mode
of governing the Military and Naval force of the Empire —
Constitution of the Admiralty Board, &c. — Rank of Admirals,
Captains, Lieutenants, and Midshipmen, considered — Various
evils of Naval Patronage — Suggestions for the general 1m-
provementof the Service — Character of British Seamen — State
of Discipline — Corporal Punishment — State of Religion, Edu
cation, &c. — Considerations on the question of Impressment,
&cc. — Concluding Remarks on the State of Europe — Our Re
lations with America considered, &c. &c. &c.

AN INQUIRY.

&c. &c. &c.

 : England j3 a fond which, can never be conquered whilst the kings
(hereof keep the dominion of the spa.  Sir W. Raleigh
l^-rti) j -> > ~t ....... ........ r,.... . . . 

AFTER the unexampled period of sanguinary
warfare iri which this country has been deeply
engaged, and now that we are flattered with
the prospect of continuing in a state of tran
quillity for some time, it is natural for every
man possessing the faculty of reflection, to take
a retrospective view of those extraordinary e-
vents which have raised Great Britain so high
in the scale of nations; and while he congra
tulates the government and people on the he
roism, constancy, and energy which has en
abled them to bring about the salvation of Eu
rope, a natural association of ideas dictates the
probable utility of an examination into those
B

2
departments of our civil and military institu
tions, which may be either defective in them
selves, or appear capable of further improve
ment. The popular nature of the British con
stitution, added to that inestimable source of
our greatness, a free press, imposes this duty
upon all who are interested for the public weal;
but it, frequently loses those salutary effects
the writer anticipated, by a want of discrimi
nation, as to the time chosen for the dissemi
nation of his suggestions. Impressed with a
deference for the executive, that has ever pre
vented him from making any attempt to dis
tract their attention from the more important
task of vigorously prosecuting a war to which
we arc indebted for our political existence, the
present moment, (at which it is hoped we shall
soon be at peace with the whole world), is se
lected for the purpose of offering some facts -
and observations to the public on the state ofgl nn
our navy. In doing this,- 1 owe it to myself, as |! ! I
well as the cause I have espoused, solemnly to
abjure every motive of selfishness or ambition.

In the course of such an inquiry, some bold
truths, and occasional severity of reproof, can
not well be avoided : let it however be recol
lected, that the man who wishes to serve his
country, in the midst of faction and party spi-

rit, must, from the very nature of things, find
it totally impossible to accommodate his senti
ments to the wishes of all. Unconnected and
uninfluenced either by one or the other, and
only solicitous about the glory and-happiness
of England, he will bring forward such facts'as
appear most calculated to promote that end 
If any part of the following assertions are not
strictly true, they may be easily disproved;
on the other hand, should it be found that
truth and impartiality have guided his pen, he
calls upon the patriotism and liberality of his
Majesty's ministers, to avail themselves of
these suggestions, and to permit the country
to reap the benefit of them.
In contemplating the British navy, and
marking its progress to perfection, through
a series of the most brilliant achievements and
exploits recorded in the annals of history, from
the celebrated battle of La Hogue, when our
first signal triumph over the whole maritime
power of France was gained, to the memorable
victory of Trafalgar, many will no doubt hesi
tate to believe in the existence of any abuses
connected with its internal management, of
sufficient consequence to require correction or
inquiry. We are but too apt in this world
to judge of merit by success; and however

4
laudable it may be, in estimating the claims of
individuals, experience has proved that it is
from a happy combination of wisdom and pru
dence that nations are alone enabled to acquire
greatness. To those more immediately con
nected with the profession; it is quite unne
cessary to give a previous reason for this in
quiry; and if a comparison of our uninter
rupted successes during eighteen years against
theunited navies of Europe, with the lament
able disasters of the American war just termi
nated, does not carry conviction to the minds
of others, that there must be a cause for such
unexpected and extraordinary events; the wri
ter most willingly resigns every claim , to pub
lic notice.
That the universal feeling throughout the
United Kingdom is one of the deepest regret,
for the manner in which the war has been
carried on, and finally concluded, who can
deny? In a country like ours, where the
constant succession of political novelty pre'
vents public attention from being long con
fined to the same object, it is not unlikely
that the sense of that disgrace which was
lately so manifest, has*Oren now been super
seded by a consideration of what is passing
nearer home; but nothing <rk vrth ought to

obliterate from the minds of Englishmen, that
every circumstance, however trifling, that is
in any way calculated, to diminish their naval
glory, should become matter of the utmost so
licitude; for if the cause of those evils under
which we have already suffered, are not re
moved, how are we to avoid their recurrence?
It is on this account, that the ambitious views,
and anxiety to aggrandize their territories,
which have of late characterized those sove
reigns assembled at Vienna for the avowed
purpose of perpetuating the peace of Europe,
ought to be considered of minor importance,
when compared with the occurrences in the war
with America. How singularly fatal, that the
greatest nation on earth, after having immor
talized itself, by saving Europe, and carrying
its naval and military glory beyond the high
est praise which a grateful and admiring world
could bestow, should at last yeild to an infant
State, which had so recently cast off those ties
by which it was bound to the mother country!
It is not enough to suffer under the pain
ful reflections which the unfortunate result- of
a disastrous war naturally creates, without be
ing called upon to acquiesce in the justice and
propriety of the terms ti a peace, that compro
mises the nation's best hopes. If the talents
of the ebuntr ' d not stimulate a brave

and loyal people to feel for the violated rights
of the British flag, there is not a single power
in Europe, even amongst our allies, that while
it secretly exulted in our degradation, would
not, had it been in their power, have taken
the earliest opportunity to crush the maritime
superiority of England, should that be yielded
or lost by any want of those exertions and re
sources we now possess  who would assert that
the ruin ofthe empire was not sealed?
The convulsed state of Europe, added to our
various other warlike preparations in 1812, will
perhaps be assigned as the reason of that wa
vering line of politics which prevented us
from checking the insolence of the American
government in its infancy, a measure that
would have alone insured a successful issue to
the contest, and spared the nation the many
mortifying circumstances attending its pro
gress, both by land and water. After such a
long war, during which the excessive danger
of a temporizing policy had been illustrated in
so many striking instances, as also the fatal
consequences of losing that time in tedious ne
gotiation, which should have been occupied in
destroying rather than increasing the resources
of the enemy* it is the more extraordinary that
our government should have been taken so

completely by surprise. It is usual for those
who justify the ruinous delays which preceded
our declaration of war, to assert that reasons of
state, and an infinity of other secret causes, of
which the public could have no knowledge,
rendered them not only just but necessary 
This mode of defending public measures has
been resorted to so very often, that people at
length begin to think for themselves, and form
their judgment, not from reviewing a few ca
binet secrets, but on the broad basis of national
honour and public law.
Besides, let us cast our eyes to the history
of all countries that have acquired greatness,
every page exhibits proofs of decision, and
strength of mind and action, to which they
were indebted for their pre-eminence. The
heroism which saved Greece on the field of
Mycale; Rome, after the battle of Cannse;
which insured the safety of our own country,
when threatened by the formidable power of
Philip the II. of Spain; and finally, Lord
Nelson's attack upon Copenhagen, are only
a few of the many proofs upon record, that
promptness and decision are amongst the first
of political virtues. There are, it cannot be
denied, a variety of circumstances which fre
quently preclude the possibility of a timely

8
declaration of war, or adoption of those pre
cautions most likely to promote a favourable
result when once begun. But. when the; hi*
therto unsullied honour of that flag,, Upon the
preservation of which we have been long taught
to place our principal glory, is at stake, what
earthly consideration was there that could pos
sibly justify a line of conduct calculated to
compromise all that was dear to Englishmen?
The energies of the country, and hereditary
valour of the people, were anxious to second
the wishes of government long before it deter
mined on a measure which the most superficial
politicians saw was inevitable. It would have
been a fortunate circumstance for the nation,
had ministers kept in mind the sentiments ofa
great luminary, whose prophetic soul enabled
him to see through the whole* labyrinth of po
litical science, and applied the sentiments he.
delivered on a former occasion, to the regula
tion of our conduct towards Mr. Maddison's
government. Can any thing be more apposite
than the words of. Mr. Burke, while wisely
cautioning Mr. Pitt's administration against a
regicide peace!— "But the little have triumph
ed over the great, an unnatural, not an unusual.
victory, I am sure you cannot forget with how
much uneasiness we heard in conversation, the
language of more than one gentleman, at the

9
opening ofthis contest, that he was willing to
try the war for a year or two, and if it did not
succeed,, to. vote for peace; as if you could
take it up, and lay it down, as an idle frolic!
— as if the dire, goddess that presides over it,
with her murderous spear in her hand, and her
gorgon at her breast, was a coquette to be flirted
with! — We ought with reverence to approach
that tremendous divinity, that loves 'courage,
but commands council; war never leaves a na
tion where it was found; the interval between
that and peace, is indeed  " a very hideous
dream, in which the genius and the mortal in
struments are seriously at work!"  it is never
to be entered into without mature deliberation;
not a deliberation lengthened out into a per
petual indecision, but a deliberation leading to
a sure and fixed judgment: when so taken up,
it is not to be abandoned without reasons as
valid, as fully, as extensively considered; no
thing is so rash as fear, and the councils of pu-
silanimity very rarely put off, whilst they are
always sure to aggravate the evils they would
fly from." After suffering so many indigni
ties, and at length receiving the^ enemy's de
claration of war, which closed the door of con
ciliation, the first capital error discovered on
our own part was, that a previous certainty of
war did not induce us to prepare a, proper force
G

10
to meet the enemy, knowing that the War was
principally naval, and entered into for 'the pur
pose of preserving the rights established by the
blood of our ^ancestors. Of what incalculable
importance was it not to provide ' adequate
means of conducting it to a successful 'issue!
This must occur to all those who, in lamenting
our losses, are aware of the difficulty "of re
trieving the character that is once tarnished,
• ¦. . ° ... ¦ : •¦ u ..¦ :<t .•<¦¦"¦
even in ever so limited a degree.
It is idle to attempt any extenuation of our
want of foresight, with respect to' the class of
ships required to cope with those of America;
the exact nature of their frigates and sloops
were minutely known at the admiralty; and
what is still more, suggestions were made by
several distinguished naval characters, on the
propriety of having vessels built on a similar
plan. There is no doubt, whatever,' but that
if the admiralty had entertained the most dis
tant idea of the enemy's success, they would
have taken the necessary precautions. This
ought, however, to operate as another lesson,
which cannot be too strongly impressed on the
rulers of a country for ever: and we ought al
ways to bear in mind, that no adversary is tQ
be despised. Amongst the other aggravating
causes we have to deplore in the events of thii

11
contest, as far, at least, as it regards the naval
character of the country * the very insignificant
opinion, which the conduct of the American
navy, w!hile, in a state of hostility.with France
and the Barbary states, led us to form of their
talents, is particularly conspicuous. Their dis
comfiture before Tripoli, which their united
naval force vainly eudeavoured for several years
to reduce, and the circumstance of the Con
stitution's being beat off by a, much smaller
French frigate, which afterwards fell into our
hands, were for a longtime themes of ridicule
with British officers. Notwithstanding these
disasters, which have so justly excited the
public curiosity and surprise, it is agreed by
every body, that nothing could exceed the
gallantry of the officers and men who happen
ed to be engaged. This was a just tribute to
the brave, though it has seldom been found
sufficient to sooth , the wounded spirit of a
nation. , It is, however, no trifling consolation,
in lamenting our misfortunes, to reflect on the
gallant capture of the Chesapeake; the stile
and manner of carrying that vessel, while it
reflects unfading honour on the captain, offi
cers, and crew, must be regarded as. by far the
most celebrated triumph of the war. Taken in
a national point of view, it cannot fail to renew
that feeling of pride and exultation which a

12
consciousness of superiority had heretofore in
spired us with : for it was not the mere effect
of any accidental or unexpected cause, such as
are often known to influence the result of na
val actions  the enemy's ship, .of rather more
than equal force in guns, had a larger comple
ment of men, all prime seamen; and her com
mander was flushed with his recent destruction
of the Peacock, with the most deliberate pre
parations, and a thorough knowledge of the
force he was' about to engage. He also pos
sessed the advantage of chusing his position,
an object of immense importance at sea. Yet
all these advantages were unequal to withstand
the British ship, even for half an hour! Surely
there is matter of inquiry in this singular case.
Had it been one of those enterprising attempts
which have in so many instances graced our
naval history, and insured success when the
means were apparently altogether unequal, to
the undertaking, it would probably then have
passed off with its usual share of applause:
but the whole country, in expressing their ad
miration of Sir P. Broke's triumph, were anxi
ous to discover what uncommon means had
been employed to effect the capture of an A-
merican frigate in so short a period, while so
many of our fine ships had previously fallen
a prey to them. The result of inquiry proved

13
*
to demonstration, that similar investigations
are always productive of some important bene
fits to the nation. They prove, in almost eve
ry instance, that all the labour on earth, aided
by the utmost physical strength, if unaccom
panied by talents and experience, the only true
tests of professional merit, it is in vain to hope
for success,
When the public curiosity with respect to
Captain Broke was gratified, they found, that
out of more than twenty years passed, in the
navy, he had served twelve in the capacity of
Master-and-comrnander and post Captain ; that,
in addition to good natural talents, and exten
sive knowledge of his profession, he possessed
those qualities of the heart which, while they
prompt an officer to a zealous discharge of his
duties, and enforcement ofa regular system of
strict.discipline, they are not inconsistent with
the rules of humanity and benevolence: in fact,
the Shannon's officers and crew resembled,
(what every British man of war might be ren
dered), more the members of one family, than
that distracted association which is too fre
quently met with in our ships. To the honour
of Captain B. and the. eminent advantage of
the service, corporal punishments were rarely
known in the Shannon. Those who, like him,

14
felt an interest in improving the condition Of
their fellow creatures, have had no difficulty in
repressing crimes, and punishing them without
having recourse to measures of coercion, which
degrade the species in a thousand cases^ when
they do not reform in one. Impressed also
with that wise maxim of a distinguished mo
narch — " that exercise made good soldiers," 
no opportunity was omitted to perfect the
Shannon's crew in the use of the great guns,
small arms, broad sword, &c. a highly impor
tant branch of the service, that had been sadly
neglected in most ships. This was the secret
which gave, the capture ofthe Chesapeake the
appearance of supernatural agency; and such
will ever be the success of the British navy,
when conducted intcaction under similar aus
pices. With so large a disposable naval force* as
we have possessed since the latter end of 1813,
it has excited a considerable degree of surprise,
that the admiralty did not employ flying squa
drons, composed of a few- frigates. This spe
cies of force, which contributed so much to
our success in the early part of the French
war, was particularly well calculated to pro
duce the same effects in our contention with
America; and should be well attended to in

15
the event of another war. The many advanta
ges of covering a greater extent of ground,
supporting each other, communicating with
other squadrons, conveying information, &c.
are of the utmost importance in naval opera
tions. Three detachments of fast-sailing fri
gates, commanded by officers whose enterpris
ing spirits had been ¦> tried, would have done
wonders, and probably saved many of those
disasters which we have now to lament.
Having thought it necessary, in order more
fully to shew the necessity of correcting these
errors which have crept into our naval admi
nistration, to make the foregoing remarks,' we
now come to the primary object of the present
undertaking; that of pointing out those imper
fections in the civil departments of the navy,
which are, in the opinion of our most expe
rienced officers, susceptible of an easy, and are
in want of a radical, improvement.
An infinity of essays have been compiled, il
lustrative of the elementary and practical parts
of naval architecture. The science of ship
building, various qualities of timber, extent of
our forests, &c. have been fully investigated';
but in this case, as in many others of near
ly e4ual importance, the substance has often

16
been less thought of .than the shadow- . A ship
of war, however admirably constructed, is of
little use, unless the most profound attention
is paid to the internal government, discipline,
and perfect instruction of its crew in every
thing relating, to naval warfare; in the: ab-
sense of which, the finest men of war in the
world are only useful to an enemy. France
and Spain are in many points confessedly our
superiors in the art of construction; but where
are their navies to be found !
It is not, by the above remark, intended to
diminish the necessary species of force, which,
an equally excellent system of equipment, can
alone be fit to meet the heavy class of ships
employed by the Americans; it is much to be
Tegretted, that so material a point should not
have been more attended to during the war.
Amongst the almost innumerable representa
tions which have appeared on the subject in
the daily prints, the following extract from
the Times is selected by way of illustra
tion  The system of building and equipping
British men of war, and more especially of
manning those ships, is really disgraceful. Just
now the Americans have fitted out a seventy-

17
four, called the Independence. Nothing short
ofa British second rate will dare to approach
that ship: so it is with our frigates of all
classes and descriptions; and the smaller ves
sels in the British navy are not to be named in
the same day with those of the Americans 
Let any man take the list of the navy in his
hand, and he will find some hundreds of ves
sels, denominated sloops of war, which would
be sunk by dozens if they dared to approach
the two or three sloops in the American ser
vice. But experience seems to produce no
good; there is a stupid, indifference, or jea
lousy, which prevents improvement in. our
naval architecture. It was but the other day,
that a dozen sloops of war were built on a plan to
meet the American Wasp; and it turned out
when these vessels were fitted, from some gross
ignorance in the construction, they Could not
be sent to sea, for they were actually in dan
ger of upsetting. They were taken into dock,
altered, and what is termed, doubled, that is,
had a fresh covering: the expense was enor
mous, and they sail about as fast, in conse
quence,, as the dullest heavy-laden merchant
man. If, by any chance, an American vessel
of war is captured, from jealousy of improve
ment from our enemy, it is supposed, she is in
variably rejected as unfit for the king's ser-
P

18
vice; though, perhaps, her sailing has proved
so remarkable, that she has bid defiance to half
the British navy. The Americans have an ad
vantage of which they fully avail themselves :
that is, they do take especial care that their ships
are manned, as well as properly equipped, be
fore they trust them at sea. We are indiffe
rent to both. Nothing can so well establish
this truth, as that the Nexvcastle, one of the
squadron in pursuit of the American frigates,
has not fewer than seventy-four men short of
her complement." ,
In pursuing the following inquiry, it is not
necessary to take a very extensive view of our
naval history — No person who feels an inte
rest in aU thijit is sacred to Britons, can remain
ignorant of it, while so many sources of in- '
struc-tion and gratification may be derived from
the perusal.
As individuals are to be distinguished by
various attributes of strength and capacity, so
it would seem, that different nations are en
dowed with peculiar local advantages, which
unequivocally indicate their capability of be
coming great naval or military powers. That
the insular position of the United Kingdom, its
incomparable -and numerous harbours, large fo-

19
rests, and above all, the hardy and enterprising
character of its inhabitants, have chiefly con
tributed to our maritime superiority does not
admit of an argument, although we are no
doubt greatly indebted to the inimitable fabric
of our laws and government, which, though
occasionally shaken by civil discord, has, by
the wisdom of its institutions, withstood the
rudest shocks of anarchy, while surrounding
nations were a prey to the most violent revo
lutions. Passing over the efforts of our infant navy,
which ever since the reign of Alfred the great,
seemed to promise future glory, the first grand
impulse towards naval exertion was given in
the time of Queen Elizabeth, when the cele
brated Spanish Armada was sent to invade Eng
land, unprepared by sea and land, with half the
population in a state of the utmost alarm, a fleet
of little more than forty sail, very inferior in
size and equipment to those of the enemy,
which amounted to above three hundred, des
troyed the hopes and mighty preparations of
the enemy. A victory unexpected as it was
brilliant, could not fail to excite an uncom
mon degree of emulation throughout the whole
country, while it gave a direction to the na*

20
tional character; from which we may fairly
date our actual pre-eminence on the water*.
Since the above epoch, with the exception of
those periods in which the interests ofthe state
were sacrificed at the altar of faction and re
bellion, we see the British navy advancing with
rapid strides until the battle of La Hogue, in
] 596, when the only naval power that had any
pretensions to contend with that of England,
was completely defeated. The partial success of
the Dutch arose entirely from the distracted
state of the nation; and though it is but justice
to allow them every praise for the high cha
racter they have always sustained on the ocean,
we cannot be accused of exaggeration, in as
serting that the splendid victories of the Dog
ger Bank and Camperdown, leave the palm of
naval prowess and bravery decidedly on the
part of Great Britain. The most natural con-
. elusion to be drawn from the uniform success
of our arms by sea, for more than a century ^ is

* Sir Francis Walsingham, whose penetration saw through the
views of the-Spanish king, and whose talents enabled him to
meet the threatened danger, was perhaps one of the greatest mi
nisters this country ever produced. Like another eminent states
man of modern times, he died poor. How very unlike the ge.
nerality of place-men!

SI
that personal valour, united with great nautical
skill, and strict discipline, have established our
fame, and' insured triumphs that are more than
sufficient of themselves, without any sense of,
public duty, to prevent us from degenerating.
In the early periods of our history, when the
naval force was little more than nominal, com
pared to its present gigantic extent, the ap
pointment of a Lord-high-admiral, generally se
lected from the royal family, was thought fully
equal to its management ; while a degree of re
spect was reflected on the service which it be
came the interest of the state to foster and en
courage. As our maritime power increased,
and the internal troubles of the nation had led
nearly to the total ruin of the navy, which was
the case on the accession of William III. when
the commons presented an address against the
admiralty, it became necessary to institute a
council to assist the Lord-high-admiral: this did
not, however, assume any yeiy permanent shape
until the reign of Queen Anne, during a part
of which her husband, Prince George of Den
mark, filled that high office. His council was
composed of the celebrated Sir G. Rooke, Sir
David Mitchell, George Churchill, Esq. and
Sir Richard Hill, all admirals distinguished for
their former services and professional knovv*

22
ledoe. From this time forward, during the
reigns of George I. and II. it was the invaria
ble policy- of the British/government to ap
point naval men of the first celebrity to super
intend the concerns of the admiralty board.
And although, since the accession of his pre
sent Majesty, a most unaccountable and singu
lar prejudice has operated against the appoint
ment of a first lord from amongst the list, of our
admirals, it is hoped that those who exclaim so
loudly in favour of a civilian's presiding at that
important board will be candid enough to al
low, that the navy has been formed, and brought
from a state of the greatest dilapidation, by the
wisdom and exertions of British admirals who
have presided over it. The subject upon
which I am about to enter is far from being a
popular one; it is, however, of such vital im
portance to the country, that no fear of critical
censure or individual disapprobation should
prevent it from being impartially considered,
and fairly submitted to the consideration of the
public. The latest work in which a minute
examination of this question occurs was pub
lished in 1810*. The author's arguments are
conclusive with all those naval officers whose

* The natural defence of an insular empire, &c. — By Admiral
Patton.

23
opinions have been (Collected on the subject;
he could not, however, expect to escape the
lash of criticism, and; his temerity was most se
verely reprehended*. Amongst various other
observations, the .admiral observes  " To di
rect, as the supreme power, a navy upon which
the fate of a state may depend, a person
should, as far as possible, know the condition
of the sea-force of every maritime power, with
the progress each has made in warfare on the
water; the interior management and discipline
of their ships, is material; and particularly the
numbers of practical, seamen possessed by each
of them, together with the seas they navigate,
and the danger they encounter; because it is
in proportion to these circumstances that. their
real power at sea is to be estimated, and conse
quently may require a superior, an equal, or an
inferior force, to counteract their operations."
This may be considered as an epitouie of his
general positions; and there are,, it must be
confessed, very few who prefer reason and ana
logy to declamation and prejudice that will not
perfectly coincide with him.
While our immense naval force is com-

t See the Quarterly Review, vol. iv. p. 313, et seq.

24
mitted to the direction of persons totally unac
quainted with the practical part of that ser
vice, how has it happened that a civilian was
neirer made commander-in-chief of the army?
Will any one contend that it would be moie
unnatural and absurd, than the appointment of
a landsman to regulate the concerns of a pro
fession which of all others requires technical
as well as scientific attainments, for its various
and complicated operations to be properly di*
rected? Let us for a moment suppose that it
was necessary to place two civilians at the head
of the army and navy — which of the two pro
fessions would be likely to suffer the greatest
degree of inconvenience from such an arrange
ment? There is no doubt that the latter
would suffer much more than the former. There
are few men who have received a competent
education, and improved it by extensive read
ing and observation, that could not very readily
acquire a considerable knowledge of military
affairs, together with its minor arrangements,
wrhich dependupon rules and tactics that have
been handed down by innumerable writers of
antient and modern times, and are to be found
on the shelves of every library in the kingdom.
To ^superintend the executive duties of the
army, a civil commander-in-chief would have
the benefit of an extensive staff, like the one

25
actually employed at the Horse-guards. A
military secretary would, most probably, be a
genera) officer of the highest merit, whose sin
gle talents were equal to fiilfil all the duties
with very little exertion on his part- It is well
known that the appointment of those officers
destined to command expeditions of every kind
has always been vested in the hands of the
ministry. But how does the case stand, with
regard to the navy ? Whenever a new admi
nistration is about to be formed, the first
lord of the treasury looks round amongst his
friends for a convenient person to preside at
the admiralty board, It sometimes happens
that a nobleman of great parliamentary influ
ence would be the 'best calculated to forward
his views. On other occasions, where a very
formidable opposition was not apprehended,
hereditary claims, and a talent for business, has
generally determined his ehoice. The new
candidate is consequently nominated— He com
mences his functions with a board of six, three
of whom are admirals, whose naval, exploits
are, perhaps, best known -to themselves, and
who are probably indebted to borough interest
for their seats at the board, and have no doubt
a very happy turn for business! The other
three are selected (as it may be) from the bar,
or from the treasury benches of the House of

26
Commons; and, as their fatigues of office sel
dom extend beyond the painful one of signing
press-warrants, Mediterranean passes, protec
tions for seamen, &c. they have not been in
aptly denominated signing lords! It now, only
remains to describe the secretaries— The first
is usually a member of parliament, possessing
that vigilant species of eloquence, which, if it
does net charm or convince, has at least the
merit of being very plainly heard from one end
of St. Stephen's Chapel to the other. If he be a
great poet, L. L. D. or F. R. S. he will be more
acceptable. To expect that such a person can
know any thing of the navy, which could en
able him to meet and provide for the difficult
questions that are constantly occurring, would
be the height of absurdity  the labours of his
office generally fall on the under secretary,
who, from being a kind of standing dish, is of
course perfectly equal to the excessive fatigue
of his situation.
The surprise occasioned by the singular no
mination of a certain personage to the situation
he still holds, has rather increased than dimi
nished with time : nor was it hailed with more
pleasure by his colleagues than by the public
at large. If disposed to enter into an exa
mination of his political talents, there would

27
be very little difficulty, judging, at least, from
events, in proving that public opinion with
respect to statesmen and orators, is seldom in
correct. The task is perhaps destined for a
much abler pen.
Amongst so many persons of various ranks,
and whbse social elements are not the most
accordant, it need not excite wonder, if the
harmony of the board has been occasionally in
terrupted. One of the members, remarkable
for the laconic character of his parliamentary
eloquence and repartee, has, it is said, found it
quite impossible to co-operate cordially with
the secretary, who, in addition t© his other goodt<
qualities, has, since his elevation, evinced con
siderable taste in painting halls, erecting new
stair-cases, arranging libraries, &c. In one of
the many disputes which his rage for decoration
occasioned with the gallant admiral, who being
rather- of the old school, considered too much
was sacrificed to mere show, the latter ex
claimed, loud enough to be heard by all the
porters — " Dam'me, Sir! are you going to con
vert the Admiralty into a gin shop?"—
Various remarks of this kind, however,have
not tended to lessen the honourable gentle
man's influence, and it is well known that he

£8
not ortly treats every body iri the office, from
fhe first ; lord downward, With marked kdu*
teur, but commands an ascendency in all pub
lic questions, to which no other person can
pretend. It would be idle to occupy the read
er's attention, with a detail of the numerous
instances wherein his overbearing disposition
has excited the animadversion of their Lord
ships: amongst others, the unprecedented cir
cumstance of insisting on, and receiving a sa
lute froni one of his Majesty's ships in Brighton
roads, ah honour alone due to a board, which
is constituted by three of the lords, deserves
tobe recorded. This: exertion of power, as
might be naturally expected, roused the" indig
nation of the Admiralty, which, with a jimii.
sense of its high dignity, ordered a reprimandf,
with his own signature, to be forwarded to the.
captain who had so widely departed frortt the
rules of the service, as to obey the requisi
tion; this humiliation, if report be true, has,
it must be confessed, amply expiate/l the of
fence. Every advocate for economy will join in
applauding those arrangements which have
been lately introduced to prevent an unneces
sary waste of stationary, pens, ink, Sec. in the
department, but it unfortunately happens that

29
the public associate to this praiseworthy zeal,
the less laudable ofie, of making evety one un
der his control, or who may have official busi
ness to transact, extremely dissatisfieof with
their treatment and general reception. No
thing tends to elevate the character of a pub
lic office more than an endeavour on the part
of those who preside there, to reconcile' the
interest of the service, with the feelings of in
dividuals; and one would imagine, that the a-
doption of such a. system is by no means a mat
ter of difficulty. The best and most popular
secretary ever known was unquestionably Sir
E. Nepean, who had formerly served many
years as purser in the navy: but as many per
sons of experience have often inquired.  Why
is not this very important situation given to a
post captain.
Is it , in the nature of things that a board
constituted like the above is the fittest, that
human wisdom could devise for the govern
ment of a power upon which the greatest
statesmen England ever produced have declared
our principal glory to depend ? It is indeed true,
that numberless victories have been gained
under boards of admiralty that had very little
more to. recommend them; but let it at the
same time be remembered, that our ships of war

so
and seamen had been prepared and well trained.
for action by naval men. Those who are but
superficially read in the history of their coun
try cannot easily forget the services of Rooke,
Anson, Hawke, Keppel, Howe, and St. Vincent.
It is in seasons of difficulty that the fitness and
talents of men are to be tried. How have the
just hopes and expectations ofthe country been
answered during the ill-fated contest with
America? j
It is unnecessary to enter minutely into an
examination ofthe internal management of the
admiralty, asr-hat is a mere secondary consider
ation: it may not, however, be without some
utility to offer a few remarks on the hardships
which the inferior ranks of the naval service,
having applications to make, are exposed to ;
while their superiors, whose claims so often
arise from the effects of private patronage,
have unlimited access, not only to the first
lord, but to every body else in the department
whom they may be desirous of consulting. It
is highly necessary to notice this circumstance,
as it is more conspicuous at the board of admi
ralty than in any other public department of
the state. A fundamental law of the land
affords the lowest subject in the realm the pri-,
vilege of approaching the sovereign himself—

31
a Avise law, which proves an intimate know
ledge of human nature On the part of our
ancestors, by whom it was instituted.
It may be said that the multiplicity of busi
ness which constantly occupies the first lord
and principal secretary, renders it totally im
possible for them to see every body who may
have claims to advance, or applications to
make; this is very willingly allowed, but some
exception ought to be made, where it is
thought necessary te establish a general rule,
contrary to law. For instance, it could answer
no very useful purpose to usher every common
seaman, into the presence of the first lord : it
might be equally improper to break in upon the
poetic or political reveries ofthe first secretary
by similar intrusions; but would it not be
adviseable that some member of the board
should be constantly in attendance, to receive
every applicant that presented himself, no
matter how low his condition, if he has served
in any of his majesty's ships. Two-thirds of
those who appear at the porch of the admi
ralty, whether officers or men, have probably
travelled from one to three hundred miles,
for the express purpose of showing their
scars or mutilated limbs; how very distress
ing it must be to a man so situated, if he

32
cannot lay his own case before the pro
per authority. It is true that stated periods
are appointed for the inspection of seamen's
claims, &c. but these happen only once a fort
night*. It is not likely that a man who has
walked a hundred miles by parochial aid, and
arrives in London with three half-pence in his
pocket, can wait for the inspection-day; if he
does, the chances of being starved before it
arrives are much against him. Tbe inconve-
niency complained of falls particularly heavy
on lieutenants. When any of these are desi
rous of setting forth their claims, or soliciting
remuneration, &e. they are abruptly informed,
by a gigantic porter, who generally possesses
aH'tbe attributes of a Cerberus except the ad
ditional heads, that the first lord " doesn't see
lee j 'tenants /" And as well might you send
your card in to the Lama of Tartary as the first
secretary. The hardship of this case conld be
illustrated by a variety of authentic and curious
anecdotes, well known throughout the navy;
and which, it may be readily imagined, have

• There has latterly been an office established for the express
purpose of examining seamen's claftns; but a civilian presides
' over it: however, many of those incdfiveniences which had been
' previously felt are removed.

S3
not added to the popularity of the present
board. It would be needless to describe the
feelings of an officer, who, after having de
voted twenty or thirty years of his life, to the
pursuit of such an arduous profusion, comes
home^ and while those who have atttained the
highest rank without merit or length of service
to recommend them, have the privilege of see
ing the first lord of the admiralty on his levee
day, he should be altogether excluded.
Ok a former occasion, when, by the ludi
crous distribution of public places, a general
was created first lord of the above department,
his lordship, with a delicacy not always peculiar
to men in office, very properly selected a dis
tinguished post captain to fill the place of his
private secretary: this was a proof of wisdom
as well* as an elegant compliment to the navy:
and on this officer's promotion another post
captain was selected to fill that situation.
Something more than the flippancy of a young
man just escaped from college, and whose share
of suaviter in modo might be exceeded by a
schoolboy, is surely necessary to qualify a
person for becoming the confidential servant
and counsellor of an officer who is destined to
preside over the greatest maritime power in tho
universe ! .F

34
•¦ Is it supposed that naval men are ignorant
of, or do not make comparisons between those,
impolitic forms of office, and the system pur
sued at the horse-guards, where the ensign and
the general are received alike, by a military
secretary who is himself a general officer, and
distinguished for his conciliating manners!
When it is said that the nature of military
arrangements are by no means so difficult as
those of the navy, let us take a view of the
latter. All those who have devoted their lives
to that arduous and trying pursuit, Avill agree
in asserting that it exhibits an almost constant
struggle between the elements and human in
dustry, a perfect knowledge of which is essen
tially necessary in those who direct our naval
affairs. If it be admitted that an unerring sys
tem of tactics, applicable to every situation in
which a military force can be placed, renders
the management of its mere secondary disposi
tions comparatively "easy, can we assert the,
same of naval movements, the success of, which
depends on an infinite variety of events, upon
which it is totally impossible for human fore
sight to calculate? winds, tides, astronomy,
and navigation, intricate seas, in fact, local
knowledge of every kind, is absolutely neces-,
sary, to conduct maritime force in the! hour of

35
difficulty and danger. At other times any
person could follow the- practice which the
experience of others had transmitted to him.
Some allowance ought also to be made, for the
way in which the respective talents of those
who look for advancement are to be estimated:
it would be difficult for a soldier to judge of a
seaman's merits, hut not so much so for the
latter to estimate the qualities of the former;
yet it is infinitely more difficult for a civilian to
judge of either one or the other. If the ap
pointment of commanders was regulated with
a view to the good of the service, without any
sinister influence, is it possible for a first lord,
not of the naval profession, to be acquainted
with the particular qualifications which might
be most calculated to ensure the success of his
plans? We have lost innumerable trophies by
a want of discrimination, in the appointment
of officers to situations in which they were
proved unequal to the undertaking.
It is usual for those officers who have at
tained the rank of admiral to have served from
thirty to forty years; in the course of which
they have had an opportunity of becoming
acquainted with every part of the world where
naval operations are performed: add to this,
their extensive intercourse through the various

36
gradations of midshipman, lieutenant, com*
mander, and captain, enables them personally
to know almost every officer of distinguished
merit in the service. When these and many
other advantages are coupled with another
very important one, the improbability of naval
patronage being made subservient to party
views, there is no one, uninfluenced by very
improper motives, who would not applaud a
change which should bring so vital a branch of
our strength and resources under the imme
diate direction of its natural protectors. It is
illiberal in the extreme, and far from true, that
the secluded life of a seaman renders him in
capable of forming " those broad and Compre
hensive views, which are inseparable from the
character of a great statesman." Will the
writer of the foregoing sentence be pleased to
inform the world, who, amongst all the civi*
Hans and generals which have presided at the
admiralty, is entitled to the " -character of a
great statesman?"
It may be allowed that those little jealousies
which unfortunately pervade every state of
society, might for a time render the appoint
ment of an admiral to the post of first lord,
rather irksome to the possessor. Frustra i&-
horat qui bmnilm .placere .studet. But it would

37
indeed be to form a very contemptible idea of
two hundred and twenty British admirals, if it
be thought that some are not to be found
amongst them afeove these base passions which
induce a man to gratify his private views at
the expense of public good. Let the whole of
this case be deliberately considered: it has been
truly said that " it is not in human policy to
form an institution from which no possible in
convenience shall arise." Should it appear that
the evils which would probably arise from an
admiralty purely naval are only partial, we
oaght not to reject it, when the universal good
,of the nation is at stake.
From the commencement of our contest
with America, a marked disapprobation of the
naval administration has been evinced both in
and out of parliament; it is quite impossible
that such a circumstance could take place
Without very striking reasons; and which
Would be most easily discovered on considering
the defective formation of that board. Is it
probable that if naval patronage was only in
fluenced by the merit of officers, and with an
admiral capable of appreciating that merit, at
ihe head of the department, the appointments
on the coast of America, would not have been
different to what they have? Would an admi-

38
falty composed of professional men have sent
ships in frame to the lakes of Canada, the near
est of which is above 300 miles from Quebec,
where building materials are procured for the
mere expense of labour, and the bare carriage
of which from Montreal, 100 miles nearer the
lakes, would have cost more than the construc
tion of three new ships of the same class at
Kingston: such was, however, the fact, in the
case of the Psyche and Prompt, two large fri-r
gates which have been since, as proved in the
house of commons, sold by public auction*.
Finally, would a professional board have sent
casks to supply ships intended to act on fresh
,water lakes ! '
To complete this sketch of the manner in
which the war has been conducted, it should
be added that the naval force on the lakes was
exclusively under the management of the secre
tary of state for the home department, until
many ofthe disasters had actually taken place!
Can such things be,
And overcome us like a summer's cloud,
Without our special wonder?
To enter into a minute detail of all these

See Par. Debates for Feb. 10, 1815.

39
points, in which the public hopes," with regard
to naval management have been disappointed,
would exceed the prescribed limits of this es
say, and only tend to repeat what is but too
generally known. It is however of the utmost
importance that a short extract from the peti
tions presented to H. R, H. the Prince Regent,
on the want of protection afforded to our trade,
during the late contest, should be recorded, as
a guide to future administrations : those select
ed are as follows. Copied verbatim from those
printed for the house of commons. The origi
nals were signed by a large majority of the
ship-owners and merchants in each place.
Liverpool.
" That your petitioners have observed with
regret that the lords commissioners of the ad
miralty have not before now taken decisive
measures to remedy this grievance, (want of
protection to commerce), although applications
have been made to them by other public bo
dies, to that effect." Glasgow.
" That the number, the audacity, and the
success of the American privateers, with which

40
our channels have lately been infested, have
proved injurious to commerce, are humbling
to the pride„ and discreditable to those,
who direct the great naval power of this na
tion. " That, at the time we are at, peace with all
the rest of the world, when the whole British
navy remains at our disposal, when the mainte
nance of our marine costs so large a sum to the
country* when the mercantile and shipping in
terests pay a tax for protection, under the form
of convoy duty, and when, in the plenitude of
our power, we have declared the whole Ame
rican coast under blockade, it is equally distres
sing and mortifying, that our ships cannot with
safety traverse our oxon channels; that insur
ance cannot be effected but at an excessive
premium ; and that a horde of American cruis
ers should be allowed, unmolested, to capture,
burn, or sink, our own vessels, in our own
inlets, and almost in sight of our own har
bours."

Port Glasgow and Newark.
Sheweth, that for some time past a most
unparalleled destruction of ships and trade in
the British Channels, particularly St, George's,

41
has been effected by American privateers, in
which they seem to roam at pleasure, and with
out check, as well as precedent ; which kis the
more astonishing, as the most material part of
the destruction of our commerce has taken
place since the general peace upon the conti
nent, which left a sufficient portion of the
great naval force of the empire at liberty to
protect its trade, and particularly -upon its own

coast."

Greenock.

" That the impunity with which these de
predations have been carried on (often within
sight of our own shores, and almost in our friths
and. harbours), the length of time during, which
they • have been continued, and the leisurely
and confident manner in which the enemy' have
conducted their operations, afford undeniable
proof, (if any indeed were wanting), of the in
adequacy of the force employed to guard those
important but vulnerable points, the complete
protection of which was always, till now, es
teemed an object of the first necessity.
*.' That, as a want of the means of defence
cannot, in the present situation of the country>
be alleged in extenuation of these facts, the^e

42
seems (in the judgment of the petitioners), to
remain no other ground of explanation than a
neglect not easily reconcileable, either with
a competent knowledge of maritime affairs, or a
due regard to the important commercial inte
rests thus exposed to hazard."

London.
" Alive to the honour, as well as to the in
terests of the United Kingdom, we ought not
to conceal from your Royal Highness, that we
should have been far more gratified, had the
objects of the negociations been sooner accom
plished, or had suitable means been employed
and promptly exerted for supporting" the cha
racter, and insuring the triumphs of the Bri
tish flag."

As this essay was not intended for the pur
pose of introducing a formal panegyric on any
particular class of officers, I shall not dwell on
those private or public virtues which adorn the
character of the British Admirals, a more me
ritorious association of veterans* no other coun
try in the world can boast of. If they enjoy
the liberality of the sovereign, and applauses

43
of a grateful people, it is on the other hand a
heartfelt source of gratification to them, that
their rank and emoluments have been dearly
earned. And although, like the more fortu
nate members of another profession, they can
not hope to increase their fortunes by colonel
cies of regiments* rangers of forests, govern
ments of castles, &c. yet, strange to relate,
there is not a set of men in his Majesty's do
minions more satisfied with their situation. —
Indeed, with the exception of that circum
stance to which I have already alluded, their
not being suffered to aspire to the head of the
Admiralty, I never recollect to have heard
them complain. This they feel very sensi-
hly. The consideration of the next rank- to that
of Admirals, opens a much wider field of im
portant reflection, than any other in the navy.
As, independent of the great responsibility
which Captains and Commanders possess, it
seldom happens that until either of these ranks
are attained, there is any opportunity, of de
veloping what a man is likely to be in his pro
fession. The power of a Captain in the navy,
has not been improperly compared to that of a
petty German prince. Such indeed are the
laws and regulations for the suppression and

44
punishment of delinquency in our ships of war,
that, without saying a word as to the necessity
of his having a great talent for command, the
discretionary power left in his hands by the
articles of war, and customs of the service, are
of so very extensive arid various a description,
that a temperate management of them requires
no ordinary capacity. When I assert that the
Captain has, bona fide, the means in his hands
of rendering the life of every officer and man
under his command not only irksome, but un
comfortable in the extreme, I do not exceed
the truth, while a tolerable idea of a naval life
is conveyed to the reader. The above is a
monstrous privilege, and one which, for, the
happiness of a free people, does not extend in
so great a degree in any other profession, ci
vil or military, under the British crown. If it
has been fatally exerted in a few instances, to
the great injury of the public service} and ulti
mate suffering on the part of themselves, I feel
the highest gratification in being able to assert
that,' by far the majority of our ships of war
are conducted upon a system of humanity and
justice, that must, for a long period to come,
insure our maritime ascendancy.
The whole number of post captains who com
pose the present list amounts to about 840; of

45
these I estimate about 450 to have attained
their rank from merit and long service, leaving
390, who I really believe have risen purely by
private patronage, and borough interest: in
making this statement, it is not intended to
exclude those servants of the crown from their
full share of merit and abilities; many of them
I have no doubt, have more than deserved that
promotion, which, but for the fortunate pos
session of friends, they probably never would
have attained; and it is no disgrace to the post
captains of the English navy, who have many
lords amongst thenv that there are also the
worthy - offspring of taylors, shoe-makers,
farmers, ale-house keepers, sailors, pilots, haber
dashers, drapers, milliners, and in fact of every
calling under the sun. It cannot be denied
that this part of the picture forms rather a
motley group; but to speak in the language of
a great poet, " they are doubtless ali, ali ho
nourable men !"
By a very equitable arrangement, those offi
cers who have held post rank ten years, are
appointed to line of battle ships; frigates are
given to persons under that standing: now by
the very unexampled and rapid mode of advanc
ing young and inexperienced men, since the
year 1803, (to go no further back), many of

46
our largest and finest frigates have latterly,
and are, indeed, to this moment, commanded
by officers who have not attained the age of 25,
or seen ten of actual service: of this descrip
tion was the captain of one of the first ships
taken in the early part of our disastrous contest
with America. Several other frigates on that
station, of a large class, were commanded by
officers whose claims did not equal his. It was
scarcely possible to hope for success against
ships that, like those of America, are all com
manded by the best and most experienced
seamen the country could afford. Nothing is
more natural to suppose than that the enemy
not only knew the state of our ships, but re
presented the particulars to their officers and
crews: the result would be a degree of con
tempt for us, which impelled them to those
desperate efforts that have unhappily blasted
our hopes, and tarnished our naval glory.
As I shall have a future opportunity of
touching upon the dangerous tendency of those
early appointments, it is not necessary to say
any thing more on the subject at present: any
one who thinks at all, will fill up the picture
for himself. It is not unlikely that one of the
first things which strikes his mind, will be an
idea of the very great probability there is,

47
where a ship of fifty guns, having a comple
ment of nearly 400 men, is entrusted to the
charge of young and inexperienced officers,
that matters will not go on quite so well as if
an opposite system were pursued; it must oc
cur to him that the dignity of the service, and
another necessary ingredient  confidence in a
leader, are not likely to be the characteristics
of a ship so commanded; to say nothing of a
steady and unvarying discipline, by which both
officers and crew are alone enabled respectively
to discharge their duties with correctness and
attention. It should however be always kept in mind
by those who pretend to judge of naval affairs,
that the eighteen manoeuvres by which a batta
lion is regulated, may be acquired in three
months, whereas ten years is quite little enough
to form what is called a thorough-bred sea
man. Previous to the late very liberal augmen
tation of the half-pay to officers of every rank
in the navy, the captains thought themselves
very hardly dealt with. Nothing is more com
mon amongst military and naval people, than a
comparison of their respective situations, ad
vantages, &c. this is one ofthe ruling foibles of

48
our nature; and consequently we need not be
surprised if many of those iu commands, vfhe
nature of which precludes the possibility of
making captures, should look with a jaundiced'
eye on the bat and forage, lodging-money,
allowances for coals and candles, together with
the almost innumerable other et cetera that
swell up the profits of the same rank in the
army. However, it is to be hoped that, at least
until the character of our navy is completely
retrieved, by the entire and unconditional sub
jection of an American one, no person who
loves his country, or belongs to the profession,
will call upon the government for any increase,
whatever 6f emolument.
Of masters and commanders, (poor knights
of Windsor, as they are facetiously called), and
lieutenants superannuated, with the rank of
commanders, there are 846. The situation of
this class is not very enviable, at least as far as
relates to the chance of further advancement.
With regard to those who actually compose
this list, it is generally thought, at the most
moderate calculation, that one half are indebted
to the same tutelar divinities for promotion, as
so many of their next highest in rank, viz. all-
powerful borough interest, and. private pa
tronage.

49
Some have compared the situation of master
and commander to a kind of earthly purgatory;
for to above 200 of them the door of promotion
seems quite shut ; with those it is " thus and
no further:" so that about 150 have served in
that capacity from thirty-five to forty years;
for their rank does not go on like that of the
post-captains, or captains in the army. To these
and other inconveniences there was, until late
ly, a species of equivalent in their always being
placed in the command of the larger class of
sloops : it, however, some four years ago, oc
curred to the admiralty, that owing to the
difficulty of providing for the numerous appli
cants for employment, it would be an excellent,
plan to change the old customs of the service;
this was by putting post-captains into the
command of sloops of war, and masters and
commanders into gun-brigs, ,
Innovation is at all times a dangerous ex
periment, but particularly so when it interferes
with the great passions of our nature — self-love
and rational pride: it need not therefore be
a matter of surprise, when I add, that the
measure which went only to gratify a few, at
the expense of the many, has created universal
disapprobation. I will not, however, deny,
but that it has added very considerably, to the
n

BO
patronage of the first lord. As if the man who
has merely to depend on his personal exertions
tot advancement, had not difficulties enough
of another kind to contend with, the circum
stance of his having done little more than pass
the pons asinorum, on being made a commander,
is added. For so extremely hard is it to obtain
the " other step," as we style it, that there is a
well known naval proverb arisen out of it_
*' It is better to be a lieutenant employed, than
a commander on half-pay !"
The objections which a sense of duty to the
nation induced me to make against the ad
vancement of post-captains, before they have
seen more service, and arrived at an age of
greater maturity, applies with still greater
force to commanders, for these are charged
with the same responsibility as the fOTmef,"
though not on so lafge a scale; and this is
before they can possibly have the benefit of
that experience, which the interval of com
manding a sloop gives the post captain.
Laws are sometimes said to be no longer
such, when it suits the hand of authority to
r break through them; though not always the
case, the saying is applicable to the promotion
of officers in the navy: an order in council

51
directs, that no person shall be competent to
pass his examination for a lieutenant, before he
attains the age of twenty^one years: yet there
are many in the navy under eighteen; ^nd
several post-captains and commanders who
have not reached their twenty-first! It would
have been well for England if the above stipu
lation, together with various others which it is
needless to mention at present, were more
scrupulously fulfilled. In addition to the
regulation which requires six years servitude
previous to an officer's being qualified for his
examination, another order in council provides
that it is necessary to serve two years in the
capacity of lieutenant, and one as commander,
before he can be placed on the post list. This
is the only barrier against some of the evils
already stated. It is for the impartial to judge
whether three years promiscuous experience is
sufficient to meet all the complicated variations
ofthe naval life. In closing the consideration
of this very important subject, I shall not enter
jnto an elaborate disquisition on all the evil
consequences which cannot but result from the
smallest abuse of patronage in so arduous a
profession. The example and influence of
paying so much regard to the claim of family
and private interest is exceedingly dangerous,
£nd wide spread. Were it necessary to

52
strengthen the truth qf what has been ad
vanced, the writer could with confidence appeal
to all the officers ofthe navy: by far the majority
can bear testimony, how very general the sub
ject of naval patronage has been deprecated, and
spoken of during the last ten years. It is also
submitted to those who are aware of the neces
sity of looking well to the preservation of
our navy, whether its prosperity or power be
consistent with the present mode of conduct
ing it.
So intimately connected are the different
branches of the service, in point of their rela
tive importance, that it is difficult to discovqr
which class of officers possesses the greatest
claim to public notice. In discussing the rank
of Lieutenant, many suggestions arise; but I
do not intend to render the subject very tedi
ous, by a too lengthened detail. Their actual
number is about three thousand two hun
dred and fifty, a prodigious corps of officers,
when it is considered the many years, and
rigid preparation, which has led. to their ad
vancement! ' It is by comparing the hard
ships of a naval life, with that of captain in the
army, the corresponding rank, that some idea
might be formed of the relative character of
the two professions. In addition to the gene-

53
ral calls of ship duty, the Lieutenant is re
quired, by the established rules of the service,
to keep an exact account of all the transac
tions that occur, together with ascertaining the
ship's position every day at noon, when at sea.
He has also to keep a regular watch night and
day, which usually occupies ten hours out of
the twenty-four. Everybody can form a to
lerable idea of the comforts which await a man
in the centre of the western ocean, while ex
posed to the accumulated horrors of a storm.
And by the blockading system, they are not
much improved, for it is now by no means un
usual for ships to remain at sea six or eight
months without anchoring! During the whole
of this time, I do not exaggerate in paying,
that the chief fatigue and anxiety by night and
day fall on the Lieutenants, It would be ex
tremely difficult indeed, while reflecting on the
occasional guard-mounting, foraging parties,
picquets, going the grand rounds, &c. which
comprise the duties of an army captain, to
trace any thing bearing even a distant analogy
to that of a naval Lieutenant; yet the former
is infinitely better paid, is justly regarded as a
man of some rank, which is sure of increasing
by the rules of his profession: while the latter
is not considered as possessing any whatever;

54
and depends chiefly on far different causes for
future success.
To some it may appear rather invidious to
have drawn so many comparisons between the
relative advantages enjoyed by the army and
navy, but we should never lose sight of those
first principles, which prove the necessity of
promulgating important truths^ before the im
perfection of any system becomes so extended,
as to threaten the best interests of a nation
whose boasted freedom is alone the founda
tion of its greatness. Who is there that does
not know the danger of creating the smallest
cause of jealousy between two professions
whose .claims on the country are precisely the
same? Every measure, whether for the better
regulation of discipline, internal regulation, or
pecuniary reward, adopted in the military de
partment is published regularly in all the news
papers. What can be more natural than for
the navy to be reminded on those occasions, of
the points in which their own situation is
susceptible of amelioration and improvement.
In the army, when an officer by shipwreck, or
any other accident whatever, loses his baggage,
a very liberal allowance is made to him by go
vernment, to replace it. This is proportioned

55
to his rank; that of a subaltern is seventy
pounds. There is no such remuneration made
to a naval officer, though he should be wrecked
a hundred times! Is not this enough to excite
some degree of reflection? During the time
our army was in Spain, an order from the war
office, on the Commander-in-chief's recommen
dation, provided with mechanical perspicuity,
that those officers who could prove they lost
their watches, while on the peninsula, should
be paid for them according to their value!
And within these three months, another order
has been issued, for making up to the military
who were prisoners in France during the war,
all the money which they might have been
out of pocket by the unfavourable rate of ex
change. But the navy, whose numbers at
Verdun, and Other depots, were as ten to one,
compared with the army, have as yet got no
remuneration whatever.
In the recent arrangements for the increase
of half pay, there is no class who has more
right to feel grateful to his Majesty's govern
ment, than the Lieutenants, upon the odd
coincidence of its being at present considera.-
bly greater than the whole pay, it is hardly
necessary to remark, as it is fully understood
that an increase of the whole pay is a natu-

56
ral consequence of what has already taken
place*. However, situated as they are, and
flattered by an order in council with the rank
of captains in the army, something more than
mere increase of pay is anxiously wished for
by all of them. Above two thirds of their
number have no hope whatever of promotion
through the favor of private patronage or
otherwise: and considering their numbers,
together with the many candidates for advance
ment that there are amongst them, . it is from
the liberality of government alone, that they
hope for such an arrangement, as may enable
them even to look forward to the higher walks
of their profession. A letter having lately
appeared in one of the public prints, so very
applicable to this subject, I am induced to
make an extract from it, as the exact feelings
and sentimerits which pervade this body of
men are most clearly and definitely expressed.
After some preliminary observations the writer
proceeds —

* Although the subject has not been particularly alluded to, it
is generally thought, by many experienced officers, that the rule
by which a lieutenant of forty years seniority receives no more
pay than one who may have been promoted yesterday, is neither
reconcileable with reason or justice.

57
" Grateful as the navy must feel to minis
ters for the recent arrangements relative to the
half-pay o£ lieutenants, and pensions to petty
officers and seamen, how very painful it is to
feel that, while the paternal solicitude of the
sovereign is constantly occupied in anticipating
the wants and wishes of the army, they are left
totally dependant on the precarious, and too
often prejudiced indulgence of a board, the
construction of which has been disapproved of
by the most experienced officers and statesmen
in the kingdom. , That all the members who
compose it, are under the almost unconditional
influence of the prime minister, and secretary
of state for foreign affairs, is a fact that late
events place beyond the possibility of a doubt.
Without attempting to interfere with those
points which belong to a more extended in
quiry, I beg leave to call the attention of your
readers to the promotion of post-captains and
commanders, published since the peace with
France, any one who is conversant with naval
affairs, and the services of individuals, will
readily see what description of persons are
most easily enabled to procure advancement in
the navy. Of 3200 lieutenants who compose
the present list, eleven hundred have served in
that capacity from a period of fifty-seven to
%

58
ten years. Now by a very old order in council
this highly meritorious class of officers, from
whence has sprung a Benbow, a Rodney, and
a Nelson, were allowed to rank with captains
in the army; yet the latter, who may have held
that rank only three years, are on the point of
being advanced to the situation of majors;
amongst them need I add that many will be in
cluded who have not seen six years actual ser
vice, the time required before a midshipman in
the navy can undergo the rigid examination
which enables him to aspire to the place of a
lieutenant. " Turning our eyes more immediately to the
navy, it is incontestable that the longest ser
vices, and, in various instances, which I am
prepared to adduce, the greatest merit is insuf
ficient ta procure the rank of commander, if the
candidate be not blessed with borough interest,
oi friends in office! — In order to illustrate still
further the above point, it should be under
stood that there are a number of generals,
major-generals, Sec. actually on the army list,
enjoying half-pay from ,£800 to ,£500 per
annum, who were never employed on service
beyond the rank of captains : many of these
have not served since the American war coW

59
eluded in 1783. That so manifest and glaring
a distinction is severely and universally felt in
the navy, even so as to diminish our zeal> and
cramp our energies, I take it on myself posi
tively to assert, without the least fear of being
contradicted. Why, therefore, reflecting on
the vital importance of acting with common
justice to so numerous a body of officers, is
there no remedy applied, when there is one in
the obvious power of government?
i
" There has never been any rational objec
tion made to the establishment of a naval
brevet; it would be a just and popular mea
sure, without affecting, in any manner, that
subordination and discipline so necessary to
our existence as a maritime power; it would,
on the contrary, add dignity to a profession
which, I am sorry to say, it has of late years
been more habitual to degrade than exalt —
witness the very extraordinary, and I will add,
unnecessary innovation, by which the admiralty
board appoints post-captains to sloops of war,
and commanders to gun-brigs, thereby lower
ing the character of two classes, and depriving
a third (the lieutenants) of a species of emolu
ment and command, to which they, had been
accustomed since the English navy has been in
existence.

60
" Although by no means an advocate for
too great an extension ofthe royal prerogative,,
I must observe that there are cases in this
country wherein it might be most usefully
exerted, both for the honour and interests of
the state: and let me ask, whether it would
not be infinitely more gratifying to naval men,
if, like their friends and companions in arms 
the military, their honours and rewards ema
nated directly from the sovereign, rather than
an inferior branch of the administration, evi
dently under the controul of persons who are
more anxious about- the success of their political
schemes, than the talents or claims of those
whom they are incessantly' recommending to
the protection and patronage of the First
Lord. " If ever there was a time at which this sub
ject should be thought of, it is surely when a
very general idea has gone abroad throughout
the navy, that it is regarded Avith a degree of
indifference approaching to dislike in a certain
high quarter.
" When this subject is considered in a legis
lative point of view, which inculcates the
absolute necessity1' of exciting a proper degree
of emulation by munificent and well-timed

-¦61
rewards, what must be the feelings and reflec
tions of those Who enter the navy in the hum
ble station of midshipmen, without interest,
when the evidence of past experience at once
convinces them, that they have scarcely a
chance of rising above the rank of lieutenant,
except in the event of distinguishing them
selves in a way, which, upon a moderate
calculation, does not, from the extended nature
of our service, occur to one in fifty? That
such is the case, could be proved to demon
stration. Those who may be disposed to deny
the validity of what I have advanced, will haVc
the kindness and candour to recollect, that the
above .positions might be strengthened by
examples drawn from the practice of every
other maritime state in Europe; but knowing,
as I do, that we possess the elements of im
provement within ourselves, I have no desire to
look for a line of conduct in that of other coun
tries. " It is not because long habits of obedience,
and an unshaken love of their country has im
posed a voluntary silence on the class of officers
principally alluded to, that they do not the
less acutely feel and deplore the situation of
protracted disappointment, into which a defec*

62
tive system has reduced them; and I can with
great truth assure his Majesty's ministers, that
there is not another subject connected with
our naval interests, more worthy of their mature
and deliberate consideration. , We are at
length, after a long season of triumphs, and
some disasters, entering into a period of peace
that ought to be lasting for the happiness of
mankind; unfortunately, however, circum
stances warrant a belief that it may be inter
rupted, and that at no very distant date. At
such a moment I will put it to the good sense
ofthe nation, whether the voice of patriotism
and loyalty is misapplied, when it calls the at
tention of government to an adoption of those
measures and precautions which can alone
preserve England's last and best hope invio
late*." To the above I have little to add: every
unbiassed mind cannot but acquiesce in the
truth of these remarks. It would be no more
than an act of justice to make some atoiiement
to those men who have grown grey in the ser
vice of their country : they have but a few

* See the Pilot for Jan, 14, 1815.

63
years to remain amongst us; let the generosity
of a high-minded nation gratify their last days
by an act that would obliterate the painful re
collection of having languished in comparative
obscurity for so long a period of their lives.
Ignorant of the nature and extent of those
objections which may be opposed to the idea of
a naval brevet, I cannot of course pretend to
controvert them in this'place : I may however
be permittfed to state a few of the probable
advantages that would instantly accrue to the
service from it: that discontent now so very
prevalent would immediately vanish — the
general character of the naval service must be
greatly exalted in the estimation of the whole
country  a degree of emulation hitherto unfelt
would naturally spring up in the minds of men,
when they had a prospect, no matter how dis
tant, of rising in their profession _in fact,
such a measure would not only dignify the
conduct and character of those to whom it held
out a reward, but lead to a systematic exertion
of heroism and boldness at which the service
has never arrived. Such, indeed, is the force
of self-love m) the human breast, that the idea
of returning to the bosom of one's family after
fifteen or twenty years absence, without some
thing more than the situation of a lieutenant,

64
that nine out of ten, who feel a consciousness
of having deserved promotipnifully as much as
many who had obtained it, wouldjgjadly sacrin
£ce the whole of. their pay tobe considered on
an equality. with. them. It would be quite ridi,-
culous to attempt a justification of the measure,
on account of any expense it might occasion:
tins' matter is ; very ; easily, explained. : Let iis.
for a moment Suppose, that three hundred of
the oldest lieutenants on the list were allowed
the rank of commanders,; without any addition
al pay, (for, I am convinced there is not one
amongst them who would not be most happy to
accept the step, without any further increase of
emolument), in whk,t respect would the public
suffer? Many of those officers are above sixty
years of age,, few are under forty; so that by
natural events thq whole mass of lieutenants,
provided vacancies were regularly filled up from
the top ofthe list, would enjoy the anticipated
hope of being on the list of commanders; and
this is often equal to reality itself: such is the
pliability of our feelings when excited in favor
of any personal advantage] I can hardly sup
pose it possible .that there is a man in the
country who would start an objection to the
above plan ; which though not proposed upon
a scale of sufficient liberality for this great

65
empire, would, trifling as it may appear, in a
very great degree obviate existing incon
veniences. Although there are various situations
wherein the brevet captains might be advanta
geously employed, such as transport agents,
maritime consuls, governors of hospitals, &c.
they might with singular propriety be placed
m the command of vessels hitherto given to
lieutenants, but by the new regulation appro
priated to commanders; if unincumbered with
.purser's accounts, and warrant officer^ books,
which have ruined hundreds, to the great in
jury of the public. Small vessels in the hands
of men whose services would seldom be less
than twenty years, could not fail tobe of much
more use than they now are. It is also ndt
only matter of wonder, but universally acknow
ledged as att error in our service, that first
lieutenants of large ships, who, in addition to
more responsibility than any other officer, carry
on all the executive duty, and must be in the
captain's confidence, are not allowed some rank
to place them above the subordinate officers:
the greatest inconveniences are known con
stantly to result from this defect; nor do I
think any argument whatever can be brought
in support of it, except the old one — " It was

66
so before, is so now, and shall be so to
the end of time!" It must be extremely
painful to' the feelings of a man who has per
formed the duty of first lieutenant in two or
three different ships, to find himself third or
fourth in another*; which happens very fre
quently in the present state of the Service.
Emolument is never considered as an objects
When the comfort and discipline of a ship de
pends on the exertions of one man, he naturally
feels that he ought to possess that rank which
would increase his respectability in the eyes of
all, and consequently facilitate the prompt
execution of his orders,
To enumerate the various advantages en
joyed by military over naval officers, would
require many pages; I shall, however, only
touch upon a few. ' It is scarcely necessary to
observe, that many circumstances arise in the
course of public life, which induce a man to
wish for retirement, and that species of domes
tic tranquillity which cannot be expected while
engaged in the active duties of his profession;

* This is now obviated in some degree, by a regulation just
published, which enjoins that no lieutenant under ten years
landing, can be first ofa line of battle ship;

amongst these, ill health, wounds, and length
©f service, are of course the most prevalent;
these, together with others of a less urgent
description, continue fo enable officers to retire
from the army daily — some on pensions, and
others with whole or half-pay; whereas in the
navy no such privilege exists, except in a very
limited degree. , The loss pf a leg, arm, or eye,
innutnerable scars, or fifty years service, does
not legally exempt officers from being called
Upon to serve, unless previously enabled to
make sufficient interest at the admiralty board
to obtain superannuation, the only term in use
fpr retired naval officers*: the serious inconve
niences arising ftpm this part of the system
can be easily illustrated. There are very few
instances of officers being desirous to enter
into active service from mere motives of zeal
or personal ambition, after severe wounds or
long services, which have been but ill re
quited, owing to abuse of patronage, and other
causes. On examination it will be found that
two-thirds of those who have solicited employ-

* Surgeons, boatswains, gunners, and carpenters, are, by late
regulations, entitled to claim their superannuation after a given
time; the first must haye served thirty-two years, and the other
three classes twenty one each, in their. respective capacities.

6*
ment under such circumstances, did so either
with a view of obtaining advancement, or
bettering their pecuniary concerns; and more
over, that if the rules of the service had per
mitted their being handsomely provided for at
home, they would not have again courted the
perils of a treacherous element, and what is
perhaps worse, " the" spurns which patient
merit from the unworthy takes." It is true that
with the exception of some cases, in which
private pique may have directed the views of
those appointed to direct naval affairs, a proper
share of delicacy has been observed towards
officers who had been severely wounded : some
have also had liberal pensions bestowed on
them in addition to their half-pay: but- is it
prudent to leave that which is of the highest
moment to the public interest, at the discretion
of a few individuals? Let any one, however
superficially acquainted with the subject, re
flect on this case, and he will no doubt readily
agree in the utility which would arise from
doing away with so wide a distinction between
the two professions.
It has for some years^been a constant com
plaint ait the admiralty, that the lists of
commanders and lieutenants were so large, as
to preclude the hopes of many who might

otherwise have been promoted, this would not
be the case if retirement were allowed, as in the
military profession: when inquired into it will
be seen that there are hundreds on both lists
who would gladly retire, and could easily esta
blish their claims to it.
What good can possibly result from keep
ing a number of people on the effective list of
officers, such as are required to perform the most
fatiguing duties, when it is well known they
never can serve, and are altogether unequal to
their situation, to say nothing of not providing
for them in a way which their past services and
sufferings merit, they have the additional mor
tification of being stumbling blocks, as it were,
to the younger and more active men. During
the late war it was not unusual to see officers at
signal posts, who were almost blind, others were
so mutilated that they could scarcely walk
except with the aid of crutches: and in some
instances lieutenants of thirty-five years stand
ing, with the additional comfort of six children,
have been appointed to those situations. A
fact "so disgraceful to our national character
would not be credited if told to a Frenchman
or Spaniard who had seen the battles of the'
Nile and Trafalgar.

70
Leave of absence, and sick leave, so general
throughout the army, is scarcely known in the
navy. A fortnight's leave is considered as
the greatest possible favor; if more is required,
and any officer happens to outstay that time,,
the chances are that he is superseded. It is
not meant *o be denied that the nature of the
service renders an equality with the army, in
this particular, altogether impracticable; but
will any person contend that the same pressing
circumstances which require the presence of
military men, either with their families, or at
some particular point, do not act equally strong,
if not more forcibly, on naval officers, who
have, during the whole of their professional
career, so little chance of seeing friends? In
the present state of things, the only resource
left to a person who is absolutely obliged to
remain for a few months on shore, is to apply
for a successor; by which he not only loses his
emoluments, but is understood to forfeit his
claim on the first lord for further employment.
What inconvenience could arise from granting
six months, or even longer leave to a naval
officer? Are there no candidates who would
be most happy to act in his place, during that
time. If he did not join at the expiration of
his leave, of course his situation is forfeited.

71
In the army, one two, and three years, are
common periods of leave, during which the
officers are on full pay, and are frequently
allowed a soldier from their regiment, to offi
ciate as valet. In cases of sick leave, it ia
only necessary for the person applying to pass
under the examination of a medical board, after
which he retires to his family ; and by occa
sionally procuring a certificate of his being
still indisposed, he is suffered to remain on his
full pay for years. The liberality of govern
ment to those officers who were wounded ia
Spain, has been remarkably conspicuous. In
the case of slight wounds, the sufferer had a
twelvemonths pay advanced immediately as a
gratuity*, if it did not heal up in the course of
a year he was entitled to another, and so on as
long as his wound remained open. It requires
no very great degree of medical skill to know,
that nothing is more easy than preventing a
wound of any kind from closing; and that in
some habits of body its being so is frequently
of use. It need not therefore be matter of
surprise, if many of those heroes who have
paraded the streets of the metropolis, and
" fought all their battles over again," during
the last three years, are of the above descrip
tion. Had not circumstances enabled me to
know some of them, I should not have noticed

-- 72
the fact. With the navy, whether in cases of
sickness or wounds, the patient is deposited in
the hospitals for the reception of seamen and
marines, where he remains till pronounced well
when he is discharged on his half-pay ; as to
any pecuniary allowance for his wound, it is
out of the question : and he may remain for
years witliout a pension, if he has not powerful
friends*. It is much to be regretted that the late ex
tension of the order of the Bath, evidently
intended as a proof of H. R. H. the Prince
Regent's munificence, should have excited the
dissatisfaction evinced in so many quarters,
against a measure that was certainly rendered
necessary by the brilliant exploits of the late
war with France. Every exertion of preroga
tive which tends to assimilate the government
of a free country to a military one, is justly
regarded with jealousy by the friends of public
liberty : and if, unfortunately, the honors of
the sovereign are bestowed without the utmost
discrimination, there is an additional argument

* A regular scale of pensions, adapted to every rank in the
army, where an eye or limb may have been lost, has been esta
blished for some years, on a most liberal plan,

73
placed in the hands of those who oppose what
they considered unconstitutional innovation.
In the present instance, whether from the pre
cipitation with which the arrangements are
said to be made, or a due want of previous
deliberation, it appears that besides having
wounded the feelings of many meritorious in
dividuals, the country gentlemen consider them
selves as lowered in rank by the late regula
tions. Unequivocally approving the adoption
of apian which, of all others, is best calculated
to excite the love of glory, it might perhaps have
been better had a distinct order of merit been
instituted; this would have at once prevented
any rational cause of jealousy or complaint, and
answered every purpose of honorable reward:
but I fear it is too late to remedy the evil.
In so large a body of officers, where above
two-thirds may be considered to be really
acquainted with their duty; and considering
that, unlike the situation ofa captain, the res
ponsibility" is divided amongst many, there is
less reason to apprehend those evils which, in a
higher rank, arises from misplaced patronage.
Now that the avenues even to the place of
lieutenant is crowded by more than two thou
sand candidates, who have already passed their
examination, it would be as well strictly to

74
enforce the regulation about age*. That faci
lity with which certificates have hitherto been
counterfeited may be easily overcome^ by an
attested extract from the parish register. It
is truly mortifying to give a person hopes of
early advancement, without there being a like
lihood of their being realized: such, however,
is the case with those who pass their examina
tion "contrary to the rules of the service; as,
by waiting until they had attained the pres
cribed age, they would, together with that
important advantage of knowing their profes
sion, be spared the anxiety arising from years
of " hope deferred."
A variety of circumstances in the navy has
caused the advancement of more officers , from
what is called " before the mast," than in any
other service in Europe. No one can possibly
object to the elevation of merit, particularly in
such a profession, where so very much of: its

* Numbers have been allowed to pass for lieutenants at the
early age of seventeen. The document relative to age is a certi
ficate from the minister of where the candidate was born, testify
ing that he is above twentyione years of age : this, during the last
fifteen ^ears, has been made out in general by one of the young .
gentleman's messmates!

75
success depends on absolute practical know
ledge. The Abbe Raynal, who had formed a most
correct estimate of our naval greatness, ob
serves — ." Le parti qui d£tr6na les Stuarfo
avoit peu de nobles, les vaisseaux de ligne fu-
rent donnes a de capitaines d'une naissance
commune, mais d'une habilate rare dans la navi
gation, iis perfectionnerent, iis illustrerentj . la
marine Anglois."

*»•

There is no one who is in the least ac
quainted with our naval history, that will not
readily agree to the above opinion; but in ac
knowledging the utility of a system which has
been^so very benificial to our maritime inte
rests, there can be no question as to the
necessity of observing the most scrupulous
precautions, in taking men from the lowest
walks of the service, in which they may be
destined to hold large commands. I am not
prepared to assert, that any very serious evils
have resulted to the public from a want of dis
crimination in the selections hitherto made:
but that many instances might be adduced,
wherein neither the good of the service, nor
interests of tho party were so much considered
as the gratification ofthe patron, I believe few

76
who know any thing of the navy will deny. A
man may be admirably calculated for steering
a boat, managing her crew, washing bottles,
scrubbing out the state cabin, and in fact fulfil
ling all the other duties of an upper servant
to the captain, but these are not the avocations
whieh lead to the formation of a gentleman :
something more is .surely requisite for a man
intended to teach and command others! I am
therefore fully of opinion that the admiralty
should be particularly consulted in future,
previous to the advancement of any seaman on
the quarter-deck of our men of war; it would
be a most desirable improvement in the service;
for without enumerating those whose claims to
advancement, arise from very little more than
what is mentioned above, I must be allowed
to say that there are, in the class of lieute
nants, many who are more distinguished for
swearing, and chawing tobacco, than delicacy
of sentiment, or a knowledge of their duty*:

* The above is not an ideal image: it generally happens that
this description of officers, in addition to other eccentricities of
character, limit their conversation upon every subject to those
very expressive monosyllables, yes and ho! They are rather
quaintly, but not inaptly, known by the ludicrous appellation of
sea dogs, throughout the profession.

77
it would perhaps have been better for these
gentlemen, and the service too, had their
officious stars suffered them to remain as cap
tains of the fore- top, fore-castle cockswains,
quarter-masters, gunners'-mates, &c. &c. &c.
Although not a very important point, there
is one question relative to the half-pay, which
has excited a great difference of opinion, at
least amongst the lieutenants of the navy : some
asserting that it is purely a retaining fee, and
others as strongly contending, that it can only
be viewed in the light of a reward for past
services. I understand the present secretary
considers it in the former light; and he is even
said to have expressed that opinion officially:
of this I cannot speak positively; but if trueit
is certainly a very novel, as well as dangerous
doctrine, in the science of legislation: were it
promulgated by government, it would be as
much as to say to all the officers in the army
and navy  "My lords and gentlemen, you
have deserved well of your country, it is ex
tremely obliged to you; however, it cannot
afford to offer you any more than its thanks for
your past services; but you sha.ll all have a
daily allowance of half-pay, to keep you from
starving, or entering the service of any other
country; as also to insure your return to the

78
active duties of your profession V This would,.
it must be acknowledged, be to pay but a very
meagre compliment to the patriotism and zeal
of Englishmen. The nation will have fallen
indeed, when instead of that high sense of na*
tional honour, and attachment to the soil, men
©f education, virtue, and talent, are only dis
posed to obey the sordid impulse of personal
gain. That it may operate in both points of view
is certainly not an unnatural supposition; but
whatever may be thought of people's loyalty
and patriotism, it is always the best policy of
& government to depend for support, rather on
the affections and amor patriae, of the subject,
than a mere love of pecuniary advantage, which
but too often emanates from the worst propen
sities of our nature. Amidst the conflicting
doubts and opinions to which a subject like that
of making such a material change in tbe old cus
toms of the service, will naturally enough give
rise, m a country too, Avhere the appearance of
innovation,when it proposes to improve our con
dition, is regarded by many with inexpressible
horror. Some people will doubtless exclaim
loudly against any proposal calculated to check
the improper use of patronage, prevent the ele
vation of inexperienced youths, to the highest

79
ranks of a difficult profession, and tend to the
excitement of more emulation amongst the old
servants of the public, by the introduction of a
gradual brevet. I am, however, totally at a loss
to conjecture what description of reason and ar
gument is likely to be brought forward; and
it is superfluous to anticipate them, of one truth
I feel more than a conviction; it is, that the
'prompt execution of any measure that is like
ly really to benefit the nation, is of more con
sequence than those idle prejudices which scorn
fully reject a useful hint, because it may bap-
pen to originate with an inferior, a great man
has justly said--," that, to be instructed, is not
to be degraded or enslaved." This is an axiom
that should be kept more in mind with those
who govern ; if it were, many of the errors in
to which nations have fallen, would be easily
avoided. Reiving on the almost unerring judgment
of the country, for a fair and impartial consi
deration of the case, I shall conclude this part
of the Inquiry, by observing, that it is well
worth the maturest reflection of his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent, and those who
are in his confidence, whether the true inte
rests and wishes of the nation would not be
best satisfied by rendering the road to advance^

80
ment in the navy, as similar to that of the af-=
tillery, unexceptionably one of the finest corps
in the universe, as the nature of circumstan
ces will admit. By such an arrangement, the
most distant shadow of a doubt does not exist
in my own mind, that the British navy would
not only regain all its splendour, but continue
forages unimpaired; while the present system,
jf persisted in, will inevitably precipitate its
ruin I
In venturing a hint of this kind, the writer
feel's that he is touching a very tender strings
and one which the wisest statesmen have not
hesitated to call the bane of England. The pre
sent means of perpetuating ministerial power,
however ruinous its measures may be, will be in
fringed upon by the foregoing propositions. It
is however for the sovereign to choose between a
real evil, and positive good; between a change
that will transmit the British naval power unsul
lied to posterity, and a practice as inimical to the
constitution, as it is dangerous to the safety of
the monarchy, and happiness of the people!
Of the next and . last class of naval offi
cers to be noticed, much less is known than
the subject merits. So very little has been
done to improve or dignify their situation, that

81
a Midshipman, in the English navy, is, in ma
ny instances; tantamount to a term, of reproach;
and I have often heard it made a standing joke
of in society. Yet Hawke, Rodney } and Nel
son, were midshipmen, not to mention every
hero that has graced the annals of the profes
sion ! This is a very singular fact and as dif
ficult to account for on any rational principle.
, It can indeed only be considered as one of
those contradictions, in the history of human
institutions, which usually originate either in
wilful error, or a defective organization. Both
have probably had a share in depriving this nur
sery of heroes, of that rank and consideration
to which their numbers and utility so justly
entitle them. Although one whose destiny has
reserved them for the tranquillity and comfort
of being on terra firma, are enabled to form
some conception of the many hardships and
privations attending a sea life, yet few, except
those immediately concerned, are aware of the
extent of those sacrifices that the youthful can
didate is obliged to make on his first entrance
into the service. The climate of Greenland,
succeeded in a few weeks by that of the equa*
tor; provisions which, to speak figuratively,
are frequently endowed with animation; putrid
water, andof that only one solitary pint per
M

82
diem; add to which, constant labour and watch
ing, might with great*propriety form the fore
ground of a design intended to convey an ade
quate conception of what has been ironically
called a sea life; particularly of those young
people who, from former habits, extreme youtfc,
and unformed constitutions, are but very ill
prepared to encounter hardships of any kind.
But as the apparent evils of life often prove a
source of future benefit, it is not improbable
but that the early sufferings of our Midship
men, render them better prepared for the strug
gles of maturer years. It is not, however, by
a partial view of things that their merits or de
fects can be estimated: there are always two
sides ofa question; and were the present one
very critically examined, I doubt whether more
persons are not disgusted with their profession,
from a combination of the foregoing causes,
than continue to like it with that degree of
fondness which is an almost necessary ingre
dient, to insure the successful pursuit of any
object. This being allowed, it becomes of
some consequence to inquire, whether all- the
ends of public utility could not be answered,
Without embittering the early life of those to
whom the nation has to look for her Nelsons,
her Rodneys, and her Brakes.

83
In the first place, midshipmen have no rank
whatever, and their pay, received precisely in
the same way as that of the seamen, is but a
few shillings more per month; so that when
a young man's friends cannot afford to allow
him forty or fifty pounds a year, which is the
case with at least half the whole number, he
can neither support the appearance of an
officer, or participate in a greater degree of per
sonal comfort, than the lowest person in the
ship to which he belongs : I need hardly add,
that the duties of this class are very multifa
rious; like the lieutenants, they are enjoined to
keep the ship's way — hold their regular watch
—go aloft  take charge of boats that are em
ployed on detached services, together with a
very great variety of other avocations, that
render them an absolute source of the utmost
use in all our vessels of war. When it is for
an instant considered, that these officers are
placed for the purpose of commanding and
directing others, it would only be a waste of
time were I to enter into an argument, as to
the obvious propriety of enabling them to fill
their situations in a somewhat respectable
manner; to say nothing of remunerating offi
cers for their mere labour. With what degree
of energy can they act, when the thought of

84
their degraded condition is constantly before
them ? The evils resulting to individuals and
the service, from the present state of these
gentlemen, are most numerous: amongst
others it will be as well to state one or two
more, that cannot have escaped the most super
ficial observer; in most vessels, where the,
number of midshipmen amounts to ten or fif
teen, it almost invariably happens that at least
one third belong to that very extensive tribe,
" the sons and daughters of adversity ," while all
the rest are allowed wherewithal to dress and
appear genteely on the quarter+deck.
It, is not a new idea, that app'earances in this
world are often highly prized, and even ca
ressed, where talents and merit in rags, are
regarded with neglect and contempt. Naval
officers are not exempt from the common frail
ties of our nature; hence a system of favou
ritism towards those midshipmen whose cloaths
are rather better than their neighbours ; and if
their father gives an occasional dinner, and a
good bottle of wine, it is still better! These
favourites of fortune are consequently made
the companions in the ward room, and have
free access to the officer's cabins, where thev
procure the advantage of reading, &c. I dq

85
not by any means object to this practice,
which, when defined, is merely an interchange
of those civilities which render a naval life
much more palatable than it would be other
wise; but it is both unwise and impolitic, a-
mongst young people, to promote the comfort of
one part, at the expense ofthe others feelings;
a more enlightened exertion of benevolence
would dictate the necessity of soothing the
unprotected by offices of friendship and sym
pathy*. In having noticed the subject of

* The midshipman v/hosefriends were net born before Mm, as
the phrase goes, is easily distinguished amongst his more fortu
nate companions in arms : you generally see him attired more
like the prodigal sop returning from his occupation of a swine
herd, than a British officer. His perforated worsted hose, shoes
which have a very great resemblance to sandals, thread-bare
pantaloons which were once blue, a tattered coat, and a slouched
hat, shews that " poverty and not his will consents." A mid
shipman's birth has long been proverbial for the convenience
and elegance of its comforts: a large deal table, abundantly orna
mented with hieroglyphics, a foim, and some broken chairs, two
beautiful brass candlesticks well charged with grease, lights
which seem to render darkness more visible, about ten plates and
dishes* seven knives and forks, five pewter spoons, with cups and
saucers in proportion, two odd decanters without necks, and a
very 'large stock of empty bottles, usually form the earthly stock
of its utensils : to describe the valet or attendant would indeed be
a difficult task : perhaps the reader can call to mind Le Sages

86
favouritism, a good deal might be added to
prove, that its baneful effects in the navy does
neither begin or end with the midshipmen: it
has been oftfn known to destroy not only the
harmony, but discipline, of more ships than
one: and eveiy captain who wishes to com
mand his ship with credit to himself, and
honor to the country, will banish a monster
that seldom fails to create a party, than which,
nothing is more destructive of naval disci
pline. , A sense of which is due to the high cha
racter acquired by our navy, requires that the
above description of officers should be placed
on a more respectable footing; as regulated at
present, it rests with the captain of every ship,
to appoint or rate his own midshipmen, of
whom he generally has many in his train;
these are called followers,, and are transferred
like so many vassals, from ship to ship. This
custom I hold to be rather an injury than a
benefit to the service; but it must be continued
until the situation ofa midshipman is rendered
what it is so much in want of. Most of the

description of Domingo, whose vigilance prevented Gil Bias's
-escape from the cavern; if so, it saves me the trouble of adding
any thing more on the subject^ except that the one is generally,*
counterpart of the other.

87
cases in which I have seen a captain take
many followers with him into a fresh com
mand, it has been found necessary to dispose of
the old standards, in order to give place'to the
new. It is very easy to anticipate the nume
rous inconveniences to which such a plan must
give rise ; there can be no objections whatever
to the removal of the youngsters, these are in
general under fifteen years of age, and in
fluence the duties of a ship so very slightly,
that their loss is not felt; but that ofthe old
stagers is materially so.
Should any thing be done for the midship
man of the navy, it will, I entertain a hope,
occur to those who may be appointed to im
prove their situation, that a mere addition of
pay is not all that is wanted. Some specific
rank, no matter how trifling, would add ama
zingly to their importance, both amongst
themselves and the other branches of the pro
fession; give them a consciousness of dignity,
and you cannot create a stronger impulse to the
zealous discharge of their duty. Some period,
might also be fixed for the rating of young
gentlemen, the original rules on this head being
a mere dead letter; it is an injustice done to
the service, as well as to individuals, when a
child of ten years oid is placed on a footing

88
with eight or ten men of twenty and upwards^
because he is the captain's nephew, or as some
times happens, little more than a ninety-fifth.
cousin ! . /
Considering the great number of youthful;
Candidates for entering the service, it would
be very desirable were captains limited as to
the proportion of young gentlemen, they could
receive on board: by the present mode, some
ships have often six or seven more than the,
written regulations of the navy permit.
The. character, of a British seaman is- so well
known, and has been so frequently described,!
that there. is scarcely any thing new to be ex-,
pected from a repetition of those extraordinary;
attributes which render him at once the most
daring and fearless of beings. His patience
under the most trying privations, the unshaken
intrepidity with which he ascends the mast, and,
throws himself on the yard, his heroic con-,
tempt of every danger, and finally the exstatic
joy which glistens in his eye when the sight of
an enemy is announced, would be calculated toi
impress strangers with erroneous ideas of his
general qualities: to them it might appear that
long habits of strict discipline, and an estrange^
ment from social life, was the cause of his

89
acquiring the foregoing dispositions, more from
habit than nature : a nearer examination would,
however, convince them to be purely inherent
in him : and moreover that they do not ex
clude the more amiable virtues of the heart:
they would have no difficulty in discovering,
that to those characteristics which make him
the pride of his country, and, till lately, the
terror of its enemies, no man is readier to mi
nister to the wants of a distressed fellow-
creature, more susceptible of gratitude, or
feelingly alive to ill-treatment. It cannot, in
deed, be denied, but that the impetuosity of
character given him by nature, added to the
rugged mode of life he leads, tend to create an
occasional degree of ferocity and resentment,
which have, in some instances, been very fa
tally exerted. Without wishing to justify
excesses of any kind, I believe few who have
really studied their character are not disposed
to give them credit for an uncommon degree
of forbearance in most cases: many persons
have in fact compared our seamen to those
animals of the forest who, conscious of their
own strength, are with difficulty excited to an
exertion of it. This comparison I think par
ticularly just and apposite. If we turn to
those higher qualities of our nature, which
dictate'love of country, and attachment to the
N

90
sovereign, I am satisfied they will be found to
flourish no where more conspicuously than in
the hearts of our seamen :• theirs is not a
loyalty inspired by any appeal to the passion^
or extension of those indulgences which some
princes find it necessary to confer, in order to
secure popular applause; it fiq ws from a more
unadulterated source, a conscientious sense of
duty, with a determination to perform it! It is
true that amidst those rude shocks which have
unfortunately interrupted the repose of modern
Europe, the British seamen are by no means
exempt from a large share of censure; but
some knowledge of facts, together with an
exact recollection of events, warrant me in
asserting, that the affair of 1797 originated
more in a traiterous influence from without,
than any internal feeling of dissatisfaction.1
Upon this subject it is needless to dilate:
other instances, ofa more glaring nature, over1
which history would willingly draw a veil,
might be cited: it was, however, the aphorism
of a great English statesman, that " wisdom
cannot be too dearly bought;" and it is for us to
profit by the memorable examples of the past,'
if we are desirous of avoiding future evils of a
similar description. With those who wish to
form a right judgment, either on the conduct
of individuals or whole communities, nothing

is more absurd than suffering it to be regulated
by report, or hear-say evidence : let the causes
wliich lead to any event be carefully examined,
arid the effects will never appear so extraordi
nary as was previously imagined.
The days of prophecy are happily at an end ;
but in summing up the few observations I
have felt myself called upon to make, on the
general character of our tars, I cannot resist
the impulse of adding, that if I have not totally
mistaken the nature of their composition, they
will, should such a measure ever be required,
be the very first to rally round the throne and
the government, to shield both from the ma
lignity of faction, or violence of democracy.
Happy for the nation that can boast the pos
session of so inestimable a treasure; and wise,
if it perseveres in those measures which are
most likely to insure a long continuance of its
devotion and attachment.
Before any thing is said on' the subject of
naval discipline, it is but just, though by no
means a necessary digression, that the seaman,
as well a£ his countrymen on shore, should be
reminded ofthe unlimited munificence of his go
vernment, that in so liberally contributing to aU
his wants, deprives the watery element of more

92
than half its horrors, and leaves him really
nothing to wish for in this respect. The pro
visions are excellent in their kind, of which a
most abundant daily ration is delivered to
each individual — clothes remarkable for their
warmth and convenience  wages both ample
and liberal  in short, almost every comfort is
enjoyed, when unoccupied in the more active
duties of the service, which cannot be fulfilled
without some few privations: all those advan
tages place our seamen under a weight of obli
gation to their country, that nothing but ages
of gratitude can repay. Various hints for the
improvement of their condition have been
frequently suggested: but, on the score of
personal comfort I have not been enabled to
discover any thing very material, 'except those
with which I propose to conclude this part of
the undertaking.
Owing to the amazing number of our foreign
possessions, and very extensive nature of naval
operations to which either their protection, or
the annoyance of the enemy gives rise, it has
of late years been found impossible to relieve
ships abroad in any reasonable time, so that the
crews of many vessels have been exposed to
the climate of the West Indies six and seven
years; some have remained above ten in th^-

93
Indian seas, east of the Cape of Good Hope.
However necessary it may be rendered by the
public service, the above practice cannot pos
sibly fail to create many very serious inconve
niences. There are no feelings which a legislator
sliould so sedulously encourage as those of
paternal regard, and social intercourse: from
the influence of these endearments arise pa
triotism and public virtue of every kind; it is
by a mutual interchange of good offices that
the affections are kept alive; indifference or
coldness on either side creates a corresponding
feeling on the other. Thus it is with our
seamen; who, as I before said, possess all the
feelings of men, when suffered to languish for
too long a period in the burning sun of the
torrid zone, they begin to think their country?
has forgotten them : we must not expect them,,.
when so situated, to reason on the true causes
of their remaining abroad. This idea begets
another, which is neither more nor less than thafc
the seaman forgets his country. Hence a di
minution of alacrity and zeal, which but too
often ends in discontent, desertion, and occ a-
sionally in what is worse — mutiny.
With those fleets nearest home, it was, .'du-

94
ring the latter years ofthe late war, customary
to relieve the line of battle ships as soon after
their being out three years, as the nature of
the service permitted; but the great object is
giving satisfaction to the men; so that it is not
altogether the length of time they are kept
abroad, but some fixed period for their return
to England, to be strictly observed on the part
of our commanders-in-chief, which would be
most likely to produce the desired effect.
A vert old custom also proAades, that ships
of war shall only be paid at one of those dock
yards in. England, where a resident nival com
missioner is stationed: this was, doubtless, a
\ wise regulation when our whole navy did not ex
ceed two hundred vessels of every description;
ibut now. that they amount to above twelve hun-
» Ired, and are spread from pole to pole, and east
to west, it would most unanswerably bear some
n^ lodification. It is not so much in the quantity
d|f pecuniary aid, as by its being furnished in
tine moment of exigency, when one's* self-love
is'\ apt to be wounded by being without a shil-
lin g, that it becomes a souree either of real ad-
vat itage, or personal gratification. Sophists
maj T say that these distinctions are too nice to
be a pplicable to the lower ranks of life. I do
not, however, want to convert those who set

95
out with a fixed determination to reject reason.
My position is very considerably strengthened
by calling public attention to the disgraceful
and improvident use the generality of our
seamen, who return from a long; foreign sta^
tion, make of their pay when they arrive in
England: it is usually divided among Jews,
the most depraved species of the female cha
racter, and those houses known by the just
epithet of gin shops <
Were a little money to be judiciously ad
vanced to our seamen on foreign stations, that
is to say in the British colonies, the result would
be, that independent of its circulation tending
to enrich the mbther country in some way or
other, the men would be infinitely better satis
fied with their general situation ; and instead of
selling their clothes, provisions, and even to
bacco, without which a seaman feels most
wretched*, those necessary comforts' would

* The unconquerable force of habit is probably as strongly ex
emplified in the custom of smoking and chewing tobacco, as any
other with which we are acquainted: when the stock of a seaman
is exhausted, his spirits are in a constant state of depression, till
at length he has recourse to the use of a piece of rope, well
tarred!

96
remain, so as to benefit the service, and im
prove the health of individuals, Any person
who may be anxious to know more on this
matter, has only to consult the first naval offi
cer' they happen to meet with.
The facility with which an English sailor is
made the dupe of persons who do not possess a
tenth part of his natural good sense, is well
known, though not the less singular. It is,
however, truly astonishing that until late years
government have taken no steps whatever to
check that premeditated and v/ide spread sys
tem of robbery and plunder which the. slop-
sellers at our different out-ports have so suc
cessfully, and to an incredible extent, been
allowed to practice upon these passive victims
of credulity  the seamen of the fleet. But
upon the slightest inquiry it will be found that
the measures with respect to naval agency,
which have been adopted, seem rather to in
crease than diminish those evils. It is scarcely
necessary to add that nearly all of those who
tamper with the seamen's interests and property
are jews — a set of people who, in addition to
their various other good qualities, have, in
every age evinced more ingenuity in defeating
the laws of all these countries, in which they
have been tolerated, than any other sect in

97
the world. It was well said by the prophets of
old, that the Jewish nation would become both
a scattered and persecuted race: and though
no advocate for persecution, I sometimes can
not help thinking With many others who have
written on the subject, that they have beert the
principal cause of their own misfortunes. When
the character of a people is chiefly distinguished
by a thorough contempt of all. other religious
persuasions, so as to render' any intercourse
with them an imaginary source of contagion;
and pursue a mode of life that excludes the
exercise of charity and benevolence, except to
theif own sect ; alsoa constant evasion of those
military services which the subject is bound to
fulfil — it requires no very great depth of judg
ment to prognosticate, that such a people will
for ever be the sport of fortune, andexecration
of mankind !
As it is of much more importance to exclude
these people from our men of war, and prevent
the way in which they are now allowed to
plunder the seamen, than people imagine, it is
right that I should add a general outline of
their mode of proceeding, particularly as ex
amples are. more powerful than precept, in
determining our actions. The instant a ship of
war arrives either at Plymouth, Portsmouth, or
o

98
Sheerness, her anchor is scarcely down, when
about twenty, and sometimes a greater number
of boats, with two or three Jew's in each, . sur
round her: not indeed unlike the swarms who
flocked around the ships of Captain Cook, in
the South Seas, although, it must be allowed/
with very different objects in view, the one
being actuated by a motive of simple curiosity,
and the other by the less laudable one of pil
lage. Some of -these numerous expectants,
shortly manage u>ig>eton board, where, by the
use of bowing and scfaping (at which they are
remarkably expert) to every one they meet,
from the cook's-mate to the first lieutenant,1
they very soon feel perfectly at home! When
business commences, Moses, as he is ludicrous
ly apostrophized, is discovered to deal in every
article which human invention has produced :
he can supply from the magnitude of a chest
of drawers, to the insignificance of a needle,
(and on the most reasonable terms ! ) all the
wants of his customers: besides, this most
accommodating gentleman gives a long credit.,
The latter propf of ingenuous liberality is tod;
much for Jack to resist  a bargain is instantly.
struck, and the victim of rapacity is next day
seen with an immense watch-chain, to. which
there is a chronometer appended, whose move-',.
ments were never equalled : his red waistcoat,

99
and blue jacket, covered with showy buttons,
together with , a massy pair of oval shoe
buckles, reaching to his toes, and all of dead
silver ! renders nim at once the admiration of
himself, and those around him. The whole
of the foregoing decorations, whose original
cost to the Jew, cannot have exceeded ten
pounds, are usually charged treble that sum in
i the account: it now only remains to explain
by what very honourable methods the payment
of them is guarahtee'd. Previous to any ad
vance being made, either in clothes or money,
care is taken to ascertain what arrears of pay,
prize-money, &c. are due to the party concerned,
when a full power of attorney, and uncondi
tional surrender of all the man's documents
are exacted.
When as many ofthe tribe as have succeed
ed in gulling the tars have completed their
praise-worthy vocation, they retire, doubtless
very well satisfied with themselves. In a few
days or weeks the ship is ordered to sea, per
haps to the East or West Indies: need it be
added, that the Jew and the seaman never
by any chance come across each other
again 1 __
I am prepared to prove that hundreds of

100
thousands have been wrested from the hard
earnino-s df English seamen, by the above
infamous process! It is for the legislature and
the government to say whether a final end
ought not to be immediately put to such
disgraceful proceedings. The remedies to
this abuse are so numerous and self-evident,
that it would only be a loss of time to point
any of them out.
When the Emperor Alexander of Russia,
whose conduct, in the late Avar at least, was
truly fnagnanimous, entered Paris with the
rest of the allies, in April last, it will be recol
lected that amongst other dignified passages in
his short but energetic address to the senate,
he pointed out the importance of framing a
constitution for the French people, '' applicable
to the actual state and progress of know
ledge." ' Amore philosophical sentence, or one
conveying a finer lesson to sovereigns and
nations, does not in my humble opinion grace
the page of history. This one expression is
worth half the proclamations and state papers
of the last ten years, enhanced as it is, by com
ing from a brave prince, flushed with victory
and conquest. While reflecting on the subli
mity of this sentiment, I could hardly refrain
from considering it as conveying an important

101
truth, by which all modern systems of govern*
ment might be so conducted, as to avoid many
©f the greatest evils that have latterly befallen
them. Nor am I very singular in my ideas,
Avhcn I say, that more danger and inconve-
niencearise to every civilized community, from
persevering in old customs or laws, which an
increased degree of knowledge has rendered
totally inapplicable, than it is possible to calcu
late. If this observation be true, it applies with
equal force to modes of discipline, as it does to
systems of legislation.
It required the experience of many centu
ries to conduct an infant naval power, the suc
cess of which depended on so great a variety
of circumstances, to its present high state of
advancement. Innumerable difficulties gene-*
rally thwart the progress of early institutions,
and retard their prosperity, the military or na
val power of any country seldom attaining its
highest state of perfection before the nation
-to which they belong has become distinguish
ed in all the other branches of civilization ; for
besides, a hardy race of people, men of infor
mation, gallantry, and talents, are necessary to
command; the qualities required to fulfil its
duties, can only be acquired by previous study
and tuition. In the earlier stages of society

102
also, the limited state of civilization, and* con
sequent barbarity of the lower classes, renders
measures of punishment and coercion neces
sary, which at a more advanced period of their
history would be calculated to produce an ef
fect directly contrary, to what it might, have on
former occasions. It is from considerations of
this kind that we are best enabled to attribute
the abolition of many severities practised in
the early part of our naval history; such as
keel-hawling; running the gauntlet, arming
a certain number of men in each ship with
canes, which they were allowed to use on the
backs of the seamen, with the discretion of
vulgar minds : by these rude and uncouth
practices, the navy was justly regarded with
horror; so much so, that together with the
difficulty of obtaining leave to go on shore,
and many other rational amusements wliich
ships now afford, the most extraordinary efforts
were made to avoid being obliged to serve in a
ship of war; fortunately for the nation and the
service, many of those terrors have passed
away, and given place to an infinitely milder
sway, which if not so perfect as it might
be, fairly promises to reconcile the interests of
the country with that of individuals, to a degree
unknown in any other marine, of the whole
World: like the various' descriptions of laws.

105
which are only salutary according to the mari
ners and character of the different people to
which they are administered, so are regular
systems of discipline which in order to produce
the wished-for effect, must be scrupulously
adapted to the education and habits of those
for whom they are intended: for instance the
bastinado Of the Turks, knout of Russia, or
tortures of Spain and Portugal, would be al
most sufficient of themselves, if applied in our
navy, to create a sedition; nor would the black
bread of the former, or fast-days of the latter,
be much better received with us. In fact our
great superiority over them arises as much from
the happy combination of lenity on the one
hand, and personal comfort on the other, as the
hardy and warlike qualities of our men. There
are, however, some general laws equally ap
plicable to human nature in every state of
society, from the uncultivated savage, to man
in his most civilized state; which if they are
not known to every one, may at least be made
the rule of a legislator, when forming a code of
laws for the enforcement either of naval or
military discipline.
Without entering very minutely into a
discussion of those legal quibbles which tend
more to puzzle the brains of people than lead,

104
to any definite truth, the object of those who
govern, ought, I presume, to be that of excit-
ino- a sense of duty, rather from love than fear;
and of inflicting punishment more for the sake
of an example to deter others from delinquency,
than the mere gratification of private pique or an
oppressive disposition. With these rules con
stantly before his eyes, and an adoption of some
fixed plan of command, with which his officers
are made thoroughly acquainted, it is hardly pos
sible for the captain of a ship of war, to commit
any serious error. The important' charge they
hold from their king and country, will, if pro
perly appreciated, always be a sufficient impulse
to acquire those minor qualifications and duties*
Which "constitute what is considered a well-
disciplined ship;
To those who have carefully traced, and exa
mined the progress of the navy during the last
twenty years, it seems quite astonishing to re
flect how many unnecessary exertions of seve
rity have been discontinued, or relaxed; and
that notwithstanding, the internal management,
as far as relates to cleanliness, stowage of
provisions, salubrity, and quickness of evolu
tion, has advanced with incredible rapidity 
an ample proof that there was some room for
improvement.

105
It would, however, be the very height of
injustice were the admiralty to be deprived
of that praise which many of their recent regu
lations and orders for the general improvement
of the service, so very conspicuously merit*.
Together with several others intended to re
press the mistaken ardour of some young
officers, who had very injudiciously established
modes of punishment unsanctioned by the
rules of the service; and which had no other
effect than that of degrading the manly cha
racter of our seamen, their lordships, are chiefly
entitled to public gratitude and! thanks for thatN
celebrated order which directs every captain
and commander in the service to make a quar
terly return of all the men who received corpo
ral punishment: this measure, so very loudly
called for, was dictated by zeal and benevo
lence; and if it is likely to gratify those with
whom it originated, I can very safely assure

• The arrangement by which commissaries have lately been
introduced into the establishment of our fourteen gun brigs, com
manded by masters and commanders, is justly considered as a
very great improvement: if exterided to the whole navy, an im
mense saving must accrue to the country. Before, howetejf, the
pursers are entirely done away with, it Would be 'highly advanta
geous to inquire into the comparative expenditure of the French
ships, which have always been regulated by commissaries,
P

106
them, in behalf of the great majority of the
service, that they have rendered a benefit to it,
of which no other admiralty board before them
can lay claim to. It would be quite impossible,
within my prescribed limits, to expatiate on
the many good effects this order has produced.
One of the first ideas to which it gave rise
amongst the seamen, was the very consoling
reflection, that their feelings on a most painful
subject, had attracted the attention, and ex
cited the sympathy of the power to which they
have been taught to look up for an amelioration
of their condition. They next congratulated
themselves on the prospect of corporal punish
ments, when they did take place, being pro
portioned to the nature of the crime — a rule
that has been very sadly misconceived or neg
lected. Whatever advantage a few evil-disposed
persons, such as are to be found in every pro
fession, might be disposed to take of the libe
rality of government, the whole body of
British seamen are incapable of a spontaneous
act of ingratitude ; it need not, therefore, be a
source of wonder, that neither desertions, round
robiris, or mutinies, have been half so frequent
in the service, since the appearance of this
memorable order: for it operated in a two-fold

107
direction  the men were gratified beyond
description, while the officers could not but
discover that.it was intended for the purpose
of moderating that indiscreet zeal for the use
of the cat-o'-nine-tails, which, while it wars
with all the finer feelings and sentiments of our
nature, and places the unhappy sufferer nearly
on a level with the brute creation, has been, in
almost every instance, more instrumental
in hardening to vice, than reforming to vir
tue. I could willingly . dwell on the extreme
degree of pleasure with which every friend of
humanity in my own limited circle, hailed this
triumph over the barbarous and antiquated
customs of former days. Let those to whom
the country are indebted for the measure, enjoy
the full force of the highest earthly gratifica
tion—that of promoting the happiness of
mankind ! And this satisfaction can only be
increased by reflecting on the uncommon faci
lity with which their wishes have been put into
execution. Those who exclaim so loudly a-
gainst improvement, have only to examine this
circumstance, wherein the whole character of a
service has been wonderfully improved by the
mere operation of a simple order. With less
sophism, and a" greater disposition to act the

108
part of disinterested patriotism, we might with
equal ease shortly congratulate ourselves on
benefits still more important.
AFTEBalllhave advanced on this subject, some
will probably be led to think, that I am one of
those who join in the inconsiderate priposition
of abolishing corporal punishmerjt altogether.
It has often been the misfortune of the advo
cates of reform, that instead of considering our
situation inseparable from many evils, they ima
gine to themselves another Utopia, and fancy it
immediately within their reach. We have but
too many examples before us of the dangers
which almost inevitably follow in the train of
innovations ofa certain description. Although
it would be ungenerous in the extreme not to
suppose, that those who have proposed a dis
continuance of corporal punishment in the
army and navy, were actuated by the most
philanthropic motives, yet the wisest legislators
have shown the necessity of providing a power
ful restraint on those turbulent passions which
are incessantly agitating the vulgar and unedu
cated multitude. It is an ojd maxim, that every
severe infliction, of punishment, intended to de
ter others, is not without some tincture of
injustice; but the sufferings of a guilty indivi
dual are not to be put in competition with the

109
public good. To form a correct and. dispas
sionate judgment on all the merits of do
important a matter, it would be absolutely ne
cessary for a man to enter one of the above
professions, for the purpose of marking fihose
almost innumerable1 ' cases in which an appre*
hension of the exposure, occasioned by being
brought to the gang- way, or tied up at the
halberts,- tends to suppress improprieties, or
violence of behaviour. Supposing it probabfe
that an act of the legislature did away with this
practice, I am satisfied that a blow would 'be
struck at the Very root of discipline; but let it
at the same rime be clearly understood that no
one Can regard it with more horror than myself.
There is a wide difference between the posses
sion of a power, and its improper or undue
exercise. It would be a most perilous experi
ment were the legislature to dream of interfering
with the established modes of military or naval
discipline; it has ever wisely abstained from
Such a proceeding; and the most strenuous ad
vocates for the abolition ofa practice which
cannot but shock every feeling mind, may be
assured that the admiralty, by steadily pur
suing its present system with regard to corpo
ral punishment, will fully satisfy the calls of
humanity, without endangering the safety of
England's best hope  minutely cautious in fffe

110
selection of those officers destined to be at once
the guardians of national honor, and promo
ters of its glory. It will be infinitely prefera
ble gradually to soften down the rigours of
discipline, by an occasional well-timed appeal
to the feelings, or, should it be unfortunately
necessary, a positive order, than an officious
interference in matters of which all must be in
a great degree ignorant, except those more
immediately concerned. Having brought for
ward a few of the reasons which influence my
opinion upon the subject of corporal punish
ment, it is left to the reflection of every impar
tial mind, whether the lords of the admiralty
have not gone as far into the question as they
could, with propriety, venture.

It could answer no very good purpose were
the many instances related, in which an abuse
of the .privilege of flogging has been grossly
violated: may " the recording angel drop a
tear" on the catalogue of human sufferings
which such a statement would exhibit, and,
were it possible, " blot them out for ever!"
It is for those who are more anxious to heal
than irritate, to banish their recollection in that
bright dawn ofa better day, which, thanks to*
an increase of human knowledge, has already

Ill
opened an era of increased happiness to so-
ciety, and, amongst others, the British sea
men. As a last tribute for virtuous actions cannot
be too highly praised, to those who have been
instrumental in diminishing the severity of
naval punishments, it should be added, that,
like the consequences which always flow from
,a disposition to serve our fellow creatures, the
daily proofs of those innumerable pangs they
have spared to humanity, cannot fail to in
crease their internal satisfaction, while rhey
insure the undivided approbation of the pub
lic 
To the officers who have studied the best
means of imposing a correct sense of duty,
without having recourse to the utmost extent
of the law, it has been by no means a difficult
task to devise modes of punishment, which,
in appealing to the self love and conscience of
the culprit, have almost invariably produced a
change, which the severest corporal infliction
Avould not effect. The great evil of the latter
alternative is, that it degrades a man in his
own esteem ; and, by preying on his feelings,
deprives him of that innate dignity and pride,
which are known to be the greatest and most

112
necessary stimulants to good conduct- It is,
however, quite impossible for temporary laws
or regulations for the improvement of the. ser
vice to be properly estimated, where a determi
nation exists to have recourse to the cat, for the
suppression of every little fault. They must be
fairly tried and systematically pursued, before
there be a possibility of judging of their effica
cy. To save the necessity of entering into an
elaborate detail on this part of the subject, I
should be willing to stake my existence, that,
by a careful examination of the quarterly re
turns, and weekly accounts of -the navy, the
admiralty has found, Avithout one single ex
ception, that those ships in Avhich the fewest
punishments and desertions have taken place,
are unexceptionably the best disciplined, most
expert in all the evolutions of the service, and
above all, whose officers and crews experience
the least changes. This inquiry, if proved, as
I have asserted it would be, must instantly
serve as a reply to those who maintain, that
naval discipline can alone be supported by
excessive corporal punishment. Besides the
various other means that have been substi
tuted for severe chastisement, such as Avear-
ing a disgraceful badge ; being debarred the

113
use of spirits, in cases of drunkenness; obliged
to perform different menial offices, extra du
ties, &c. it is usual for the first lieutenant of
every ship, to keep Avhat is termed a black list.
This latter, when properly managed, I con
sider the best, although each of the others al
luded to are poAverful instruments of example
and reform, when judiciously applied. The
person, if not rendered incorrigible by repeat
ed flogging, who is obliged to reflect Avhile his
punrshment is going on, seldom fails to profit
by the lesson; his example deters others in a
more deliberate way than the momentary ef
fect of the cat, Avithout producing an equal-
degree of ignominy. But if a man be unfor
tunate enough to be put into the black list!
he is immediately considered as contaminated,
and must be indeed a depraved character if a
few days do not restore him to the rank of his
messmates: but, for the list to produce that
sense of shame which leads to improved con
duct, it ought of course to be managed with a
proper degree of address and caution. The
frequency of any particular punishment in e-
very country, is well known to diminish its
efficacy as a preventive remedy, the many ar
guments adduced in our own, against the Avis-
dom and policy of such numerous executions;
has produced a surprising diminution of them;

114
but can any body say, that crimes have in
creased either in magnitude or number? The
contrary effect will be found to have been the
case throughout the united kingdom. Is it
necessary to bring a greater proof forward, in
support of any argument in favour of improv
ing the institutions ofa nation?
While venturing to offer an opinion upon
the fiature of naval punishments, it may also
be as Avell to remind those who are honoured
Avith the command of his Majesty's ships, that,
in addition to the importance of an undeviat-
ing system of discipline, regular hours of re
pose and refreshrrient, a promulgation of the
general laws, as well as those particularly re
lating to internal management, (another high
ly important precaution), is requisite for the
continuance of discipline: I allude to the ex
ample of the officers, which, if defective, ren
ders the efforts of the captain of very little
use. There is a very natural and praiseworthy
dislike entertained by all naval officers, against
the too frequent recurrence of courts martial,
arising, it is to be hoped, as much from no
tions of lenity, as an idea of the great trouble
attendant on their assemblage: but it re-

115
quires a considerable share of discrimination
to know when they ought to be resorted to,
and when to be avoided. If it be acknoAv-
ledged, that one ofthe greatest reasons for
inflicting punishment, is not so much for the
purpose of giving pain to the individual, as
deterring others from delinquency, a parity
of reasoning will lead us to conclude, that,
when the crime of a seaman is such as to me
rit five or six dozen of lashes, which all who
know the two professions allow to be equal
tQ three or four hundred at the halberts of a
regiment, it Avould be more conducive to the
ends of public justice, were he reserved for a
regular trial, by which, instead of the example
of his condemnation and punishment extend
ing only to the crew of one ship, they would
be witnessed by the whole fleet.
My principal motive for making this ob
servation, arises from recollecting to have seen
several instances, wherein the trouble and un
accountable dislike of bringing delinquents
before a court martial, has, operated strongly
against the . good of the service, particularly
in the detection of crimes that interfere with
its moral, as well as physical interests. Expe
rience would teach officers, that the very idea
ofa court martial is looked to with the great-

116
est apprehension and alarm by the men in ge
neral. It has an imposing effect, which can
not be excited before persons under whose
immediate eye the culprit lives. Many points
relative to a ship's general state of discipline
is also canvassed before the court, Avhich has
in no case tended to make it worse than it was,
although I am sure in some, it has considerably
improved it. I am by no means an advocate for
making this formidable tribunal too common,
but there are, I feel confident, very few naval of
ficers Avho will not agree with me in opinion,
that they might on some occasions be referred
to with great advantage, both to the accuser
and accused.
Being upon the subject, it may not be al
together irrelevant ifl add a few Avoids upon
a matter which has been frequently the topic
of conversation amongst naval men. The
writers who have devoted their time exclusively
to the elucidation of military and naval courts
martial, seem to think that it Avas only neces
sary to illustrate their usual practice, and those
rules by which they are regulated: it did not
occur to them, that they are susceptible of any
alteration for the better. This may be really
the fact, but if so, some explanation ought
to be given, Avhy the loAvest subalterns in the

117
army are allowed to sit at them, and a lieutenant
in the navy, Avith the military rank of captain,
all the requisite talents, and though he may
have been on the list for fifty years, is unquali
fied? Is this singular distinction because naval
men are supposed not to acquire so just a
knowledge of right and wrong as their brothers
of the army? It surely does not arise from that
arbitrary feeling which throAvs all the power of
punishing delinquents into the hands of the
captains and admirals: inconveniences, and
those by no means of a trifling nature, are
often known to result from a court like that in
the navy  entirely composed of captains, to
officers of inferior rank : there are certain
questions, particularly those having an appear
ance of infringing on privileges that are more
an assured than natural "right, upon which the
prepossession is generally so strong as to pre
clude the hope of a very great share of lenity.
It Avould be flattering, for instance, to the
whole body of lieutenants, were a few, even
one or two of their own class, to assist at their
trials. Would a lieutenant of fifteen or twenty
years standing, be more likely to betray the
secrets of a court, or form a more erroneous
judgment, than a commander whose Avhole
length of service does not exceed nine or ten
years? Viewing this subject in another, and

118
not unimportant shape, it is not in the nature of
things that our officers can form any adequate
acquaintance with the practice of a court, or
many very necessary legal points, that can only
be acquired by being a member. In the man
ner they are now constituted, the embarrassment
felt by a very young officer, who never saw
above two or three assembled, when, by his
promotion, which may have taken place yester
day, he is summoned to try, as judge, a fellow
creature for his life, can be readily imagined by
any one. When there has been a scarcity of
officers, I have seen a court composed of only
two post captains, and three very young com
manders, as, if thirteen captains cannot be sum
moned, five are considered competent to form a
court. All this is perfectly obviated in the
army by their regimental, as well as general
courts martial. Are there no means of rendering
naval officers equally perfect in a knowledge of
the laws by which they are governed, and dis
cipline enforced? Would not an arrangement
tending to promote that end be one of public
utility? Nothing, however, has, I hope, es
caped me in the course of this short paragraph,
which is calculated to reflect upon that impar
tial love of justice and mercy, which have
always characterized the courts martial of the
navy _ a fact highly honourable to the profes-

119
sion, and so well known, that it requires no
additional eulogium of mine.
So very violent Avas the clamour against Lord
St. Vincent's measures of economy, that many
have^ince been induced to scout that necessary
virtue, in the application of naval stores  such
is the aptness of men to plunge from one ex
treme into another. But time, which with
every thing else reduces truth to its proper
standard, has proved that his lordship's plans
were neither chimerical nor useless: and al
though his system was not of very long general
continuance, he has at least the merit of intro
ducing improvements and changes into the
internal management of the ships and their
stores, which have not only very materially
added to their resource^, but eminently pro
moted the seamen's health; cleanliness, venti
lation, antiscorbutic nutriment, the stowage,
added to the means he caused every ship to
possess, of supplying her own wants in equip*-
ment, repairs, &c. reflect the utmost credit on
his zeal and exertions. There was, indeed, but
too much reason for his lordship's measures;
for not only had there been a notorious want of
care in the preservation and expenditure of
¦stores, previous to his taking command of the
channel fleet in 1799, but the meditated or real

120
hostility of the northern powers, made it a»
object of the highest importance, to check
those evils which threatened the whole service.
Notwithstanding the obloquy Avhich followed
his resignation from office, nearly all his lord
ship's plans afloat have been pursued ever sincey
with increasing benefit to the nation.
Nothing could exceed the clamorous iilibe-
rality Avith which Earl St. Vincent's adminis-!,
tration was assailed; and even to this, day, his
lordship's opponents (who are all either a part,
or intimately connected with, a well known
faction in this country) bring the unpopularity
of his measures forward as a proof of the im
policy of appointing a naval officer to preside
at the admiralty. As it is of the utmost im
portance to destroy a belief so injurious to the
interests of the nation, and prove the fallacy of
relying on such inconsiderate assertions, I am
induced to subjoin the following extract, taken
from a writer who cannot be supposed to have
had any political connection Avith the ministry
of that day.
" It is as first lord of the admiralty that the
'Earl of St. Vincent is at the present moment
serving his country, how Avell, those best ac
quainted with the subject most eagerly pro-

121
claim. In the military department Of this
great office, his impartiality and his exclusive
patronage of those whose claims are vested on
public services, appear so conspicuous, that
even those whom these very virtues prevent
from obtaining employment and promotion,
bear the most unqualified testimony to the
integrity of his conduct. In saying this (and
in saying it we pass one of the highest eulo-
giums an official character can receive) we are
not using the words of vague and general pa
negyric; we say it on the authority of facts
with which we are intimately acquainted. In
the civil business of the navy, we know that
we are not on uncontested ground; but we are
not the less prepared to assert the just preten
sions of his lordship to the warmest, the most
earnest applause. That in instituting inquiries
into abuses, we should excite animosity, who is
there so little acquainted with human affairs as
to, be surprized? Who does not know that the
fear of such animosity has often prevented
weak superiors from attempting those inquiries?
That his lordship's motives are pure, no man
doubts— that his conduct is just, none but
those to whom justice is an object of aversion,
have, we believe, attempted to deny. No pro
positions can possess more irresistible truth
than these  that in every department of pub-

122
lie affairs gross abuses are continually arising,
that only a bold man will dare to attack; and
that necessity for boldness consists in this—
that the opposition, the calumny, the persecu
tion, the attacks, invariably draAvn down, are
more than sufficient to appal a mind of any
common magnitude*
"The first report of the commissioners
under the navy abuse bill has been brought for-
Avard : public reasons painfully prevent the
government from agreeing to an open investi
gation of the subject at present; but there is,
abundant reason to believe that every individual
uninterested and undeceived, anticipates, with
out danger of error, a result as honorable to the
Earl of St. Vincent and his coadjutors, as bene
ficial to the country."
Lives of Illustrious Seamen, p. 875.
Although the admiralty find it necessary
occasionally to remind officers that the strictest
economy is inseparable ' from good discipline,
and a well regulated man of Avar, at no period
of our navy Avas it more thoroughly understood,
or generally practised: there are, however,
exceptions, and these should be noticed; for
as they more often originate in a Avish of grati
fying some1 favourite scheme, or projecting

12S
mania, and not unfrequently mere caprice, it
would be most desirable if the proper authority
was at once, and by a peremptory general order,
to interdict every innovation that is not sanc
tioned by the received ordinances of the service;
if those already established are not equal to the
intended purpose, let them be augmented or
improved, as the case may require.
When a young captain (for the projecting
and alteration system is nearly altogether con
fined to them) is appointed to a ship, he visits
her all over, in company Avith.the first lieute
nant, and very carefully examines every nook
and corner — nothing is more predominant than
human vanity, of course the captain wishes to
be thought a clever man, and. first rate con
noisseur in ships, &c. the best method of prov
ing those useful qualities, is immediately to find
fault with all the arrangements and decorations
of his predecessor, who, no doubt, took every
pains in his power to improve the ship : it is
in vain for the first lieutenant, who instantly
foresees the result, to represent that the present
system had been pursued, and universally ap
proved of for five or six years : these, and
many other reasons equally strong, seem only
to confirm his determination, " It was not so

124
in the ship I was made out of; and dam'me if I
don't make something of her, or T'll know
why!" is the usual reply before he retires to
his cabin, where the book of memos is pro
duced, and a long list of the intended changes,
alterations, &c. set down: consequently next
morning, carpenters, joiners, smiths, rope-
makers, taylors, tinkers, curriers, and in fact
every mechanic in the vessel, is put into re
quisition; and while some are forging iron
bolts, screws, &c. others altering flags, and
pursuing their various callings, the crew and
officers are occupied in shifting top-masts,
unbending sails, removing ballast, clearing out
the hold, getting all the stores on deck, and in
fact turning his majesty's ship " inside out:"
this goes on for about six months, to the no
small annoyance of every one except the gen
tleman who is on his hobby ; he of course sees
every thing en couleur de rose. At the end of
the above period the ship is generally fit to be
seen! that is to say, it has cost the public two
or three thousand pounds, and an immense
proportion of unnecessary labour and fatigue,
to gratify the captain's whim, Avithout being
of the smallest real utility whatever.
I avill not positively assert but that many

125
striking, and highly useful improvements have
been made by different officers; it would be
allowing little for human ingenuity, if a naval
war of twenty years did not excite its exertion.
But in appealing to the Avhole navy, whether
the foregoing is an exaggerated picture, I
humbly submit it to those officers Avho have
been most distinguished for " chopping and
changing," whether a British man of war ought
to be Converted into a mere play-thing or toy;
and if a course of reading and mathematics
would not occupy the time thrown away upon
useless alterations, infinitely more to their
advantage, and that of the country. It is
true that the rules of the navy very formally
and explicitly prohibit any change Avhich shall
interfere Avith the original establishment of a
ship  but these, like many others, are almost
obsolete; and of the many who have violated
them, I only know of one instance in which
they have been enforced; this was in the case
of a very young man, though now an admiral*,

* The age of this officer is said not to exceed thirty-seven: he
was made a post captain in 17.91. hy his uncle, a distinguished
naval veteran, the commander-in-chief at the Cape of Good Hope ;
at which time he must have been only seventeen years old!

126
who, being anxious to make his cabin look
like one of the state rooms in Carlton-house,
cut all the windows down upon a level with the
main-deck, by which the ship's stern frame, (a
most beautiful seventy- four) was completely
ruined, as far as related to the security of her
upper works : this was certainly considered as
the neplus ultra of the alteration system. But
it is said, " and I believe the tale," that the
rear admiral has had to pay a round sum for
his pains: — if so, the navy board deserve
all possible credit for performing their duty.
Another rage for novelty Avhich interferes
very much with the economy of the service, is
the amazing anxiety many officers have, of
increasing the number of their ship's sails,
putting up new masts, &c. It is not impro
bable that some additional canvas is useful in
chasing and cruising frigates, or even a flying
squadron, when employed in southern climates,
where light winds are prevalent  but I should
like to know whether there is, any person who
would not agree to the fact of more masts
being sprung — yards carried away  and ships
strained, by the improvident use of fidded
royal masts, sliding gonters, flying jib booms,
royal studding sails, sky scrapers, ring tails,

127
water sails, jib-a-jibs, swinging booms, extra
stay-sails, &c. &c. &c. than any benefit which
the nation has derived by the consequent
sufferings of our enemies. The masts and
sails originally fixed for our different classes of
ships, are calculated Avith geometrical nicety,
as to size and proportion; and, in the opinion.
of scientific seamen, those gezv-gaws and jim-
cracks which have lately become so general,
more often impede, than accelerate their velo
city. It is quite superfluous to add, that all our old
officers, without any exception, regard such
innovations with the greatest possible con
tempt. All men of sense will look upon them
with equal disapprobation; and if they are to
be tolerated in future, it would be only right,
that instead of being left to the caprice of in
dividuals, the admiralty and navy boards should
S'ive their sanction.

o

In deprecating a continuance of such prac
tices, I could subjoin innumerable facts to
prove their general uselessness, and, in many
cases, injury, to the practical part of our pro
fession. To say nothing of the accidents to
which they are continually giving rise, the
embarrassment they create upon the sudden

128
change of bad weather, and going into, or pre
paring for action, it is then that, like* the boy
in the fable, I have often heard the captains
exclaim  " damn these flying kites, I wish
they were all at the d  1, out of the way ! — ,
But the storm is past, fine weather returns,
and the captain exclaims — ," Lieutenant, fid
the royal-mast,, and set the sky-scrapers!"
One more circumstance intimately connect
ed with the discipline and economy ofthe na
val service, remains to be noticed. It is a
A^ery old custom in the navy, and Avell' known
by every body, under the trite appellation of
Capple Bar. I have very much to regret,
my not being sufficiently versed in the " Di
versions of Purley," or philology in genera),
to gratify the learned as to the derivation of
" Capple bar;" but, as it is of much more
consequence to be made acquainted with the
meaning, than the origin of things, I shall en
deavour to make up any Avant of the latter, by
a very plain statement of the former.
Capple-bar then, means neither more nor
less than a disposition on the part of the cap
tain, and sometimes on that of the inferior of
ficers, to appropriate the labour of the crew,

129
arid public property, to their own private Use^s.
It usually consists of household furniture, ca
binet work, ttays, tea-caddies, mats, white lines,
green baize, canvass, ' packing cases, bunting,
cots, painjtj glue, &c. &c. &c.
It is to be hoped that the bare mention of
a practice so very contrary to every rule of pro
priety, would be enough to cause its entire
abolition. But old customs, however detri
mental of absurd, are not very willingly re
signed. It must be confessed, that were it
general, the injury AVould be infinitely greater
than it is: but in ever so limited a degree,
it operates as a bad example, as well as inju
riously to the interests of the nation at large:
on this account, it deserves every possible ex*
posure. To such a pitch was it carried at a
former period of our history, that it was not
uncommon to see ploughs, Avheel-barrows,
carts, Avaggotts, and gigs, prepared on board
his Majesty's ships. Now, with due submis
sion to those naval patrons of agriculture, a
ship, and of all others, a mari of Avar, is not
the fittest place in the Avorld for such a dis
play of their industry. The easy pliability
with which one irregularity is justified, and
generally folloAved by another, has long passed
into proverbial veracity. This has probably

130
led to the circumstance of some having "ex
tended the science of capple-bar to the em
ployment of artizans and seamen at their own
houses on shore. In the very pleasing avoca
tion of fitting up country houses, building
walls, making hedge-rows, pruning fruit-trees,
planting cabbages, digging potatoes, &c.
If the proper authority be disposed to in
terfere for the purpose of putting an end to
the practice iu question, it will experience
no difficulty whatever in discovering Avhere,
and in how many instances, it has taken
place. There is a Avide difference, and singular
distinction, usually made between national
and individual economy; so that many who
possess that virtue to an excessive degree on
behalf of themselves, see nothing to admire
in it when practised for the sake of the na
tion. The success with which seA'eral naval
officers of rank have reared pigs, fattened
sheep, &c. proves that the pursuit is by no
means unprofitable. The navy is replete with
anecdotes upon the subject: amongst others,..
it is related of an admiral, who has won a very
respectable share of laurels, and, by a late e-
vent, convinced the world he knows. hoAV to

131
cultivate the arts of peace, as well as those
of war, that, while once upon a cruize, some
one cried out'  " a pig overboard'."  the
awful sound soon reached the after cabin,
where the admiral was sitting in deep study:
he instantly started .from his chair, and rush
ing on the quarter deck, without his hat, ex
claimed—" back the main yard, lower the
boat, or the poor pig will be drowned." While
the astonished officer of the watch was fulfil
ling the order Avith almost breathless haste, it
Was discovered that the unfortunate animal
belonged to the ward room. The admiral
heard it  " but oh hoAV altered Avas his tone!"
— " fill the main yard, and hoist up the boat;
poor piggy must die [".^exclaimed the admiral,
and very deliberately retired again to his stu
dies ! 
To those who may be disposed to find fault
with any proceeding calculated to expose
customs so repugnant to the interests of the
public service, no apology that I am capable
of making Avould render the peccatum mortale
less heinous. In wishing, therefore, that the
evil may be diminished, my best answer to
every objection will be found in the repetition
of an old proverb — qui caput ille facit.

132
It is but too true that necessity is the mo*
ther of invention. Previous to the long war
just concluded, when very short cruizes ena-*
bled our tars to forget the cares of a sea life,
the frequency of their return to port, the re
sources of pleasure and gaiety which are noAV
so general, were comparatively very limited.
It was reserved amongst other Avonders of the
nineteenth century, for many of our line of
battle ships, and even frigates, to form asso
ciations of amateur theatricals, whose decora
tions and scenic talents would not disgrace the
generality of our most respectable provincial
houses, whether they wooed the sprightlier sal
lies of the comic muse, or essayed the more
majestic and impressive Avalks of tragedy  ,
This on board ships destined to remain six
months, and sometimes above twelve, at sea,
must prove a very great relief; and, together
Avith several other pastimes, have rendered the
naval life infinitely less irksome than it would
be under its usual barrenness of recreative
amusement. Feeling the importance of softening the ri
gours of so arduous a profession, by every ef
fort Avhich can be conveniently resorted to, I
trust those already adopted will be made still
more agreeable, by the accession of others.-^

133
But, in recommending every thing which can
in any Avay contribute to the comfort of the
British seamen, I have been repeatedly led to
imagine, that if, like the gymnasium of anti
quity, utility and amusement could be combin
ed, a very important benefit must acerue to the
service in general. There are certainly some
kinds of exercises more calculated to excite
quarrelling and contention, than any purpose
either of pleasure or usefulness ; such is
single stick and sparring, which some of those
naval officers Avho took their degrees under
Belcher, and Mr. Cribb, have attempted to in
troduce into the navy, Avhen it is explained that
those elegant sports consist in an endeavour to
break as many bones as each party can, I need
not add, what a fertile source of hatred they
soon create. It is, however, not so with
teaching the use of small arms, that of the
broad sword, firing at a mark either Avith.
the great gun or musket, handling the pike
dexterously, swimming, &c. all intimately con
nected with the perfection of the service, and
which, as already hinted, have been neglected
to a degree that no person, who had not Avit~
nessed the fact, could possibly believe a know
ledge of the last named exercises as necessary
to our maritime superiority. As they are con
ducive to muscular strength, they ought to be

134
renewed with increased ardour throughout the
whole navy. A proficiency in them, aided by
the natural bravery of our men, must enable us
to maintain the pre-eminence already acquired;
without it, the latter attribute, however impor
tant, can only be compared to the elephant,
who, ignorant of his mighty strength, becomes
the property, and is made subservient to the
cunning of a few untutored Indians.
Although recent circumstances Avould seem
to render a hint of the above description unne
cessary, yet one's anxiety to guard against fu
ture disaster, makes it very difficult to determine
what ought to be said, and what avoided, Avith
out eluding the object in view. It has happened
but too frequently, that the periods and dis-
'tribution of exercises which are at once manly
and warlike, have not been selected with a
sufficient regard to the wishes, or rather habits
of individuals, so as to Secure much inclination
on their part, to profit by the lessons given.
Amongst three or four hundred men, there will
generally be found a few Avho are better calcu
lated for the musquet than the sword  others
may prefer firing at a mark; so that parties for
each particular branch of these arts might be
prepared, without the necessity of doing any
violence to the feelings of any. Mere force is

135
unhappity too often considered as the best and,
only means of forming men to a military life:
the wisest men have, however, uniformly re
commended it as the last resource of authority*
after the milder one of persuasion and induce
ment has failed: every judge of human nature
knows how far he ought to go, in the exertion,
of these points of his official duties.
It will naturally be expected that something
should be said respecting the state of religion
on board our ships of war; and although a very
favourable picture cannot be given of it, the
subject, as influencing morality and personal
happiness, is too important to be omitted in a
work of this kind. Fortunately all those efforts
of atheism and infidelity which have disgraced ,
the last century, however they may have in
verted the political order of society, never
succeeded in depriving the community of those
consolations which emanate from a pure and
enlightened adoration of the divinity. In the
midst of danger, sorrow, and disappointment,
the voice of nature incessantly reminds us that
there is a being —
Who sees with equal eye, as God of all,
A hero perish, or a sparrow fall!
If a conviction of this heavenly truth be calcn-

136
lated to cheer the sons and daughters of pros
perity, of how much more consequence is it,
to encourage a rational exercise of practical^
devotion in our fleets; the inhabitants of which*
are continually exposed to trials and privations
that scarcely ever visit any other Class of people J
yet it is melancholy to reflect, that many of
those causes tending to effect the interests of
the established church on shore, have operated
in an equal, if not greater degree, to its preju
dice, in the navy.
This is not the place to enter into a disqui-*
sition upon religion ; nor would it be of much
use to make a digression, for the purpose of
reproaching the heads of the church, with those
evils which continue to undermine Christianity,
and sap its firmest foundations: but if it is
acknowledged, that of all the incentives to
morality and virtue, none can be equal to that
of an unwearied attention to the forms of reli
gion, and precepts of Christ, I would call upon
the admiralty to explain, why the total number
of clergymen appointed to serve in the fleet
hardly exceeds a proportion of one to five line
of battle ships — the only class to which, they
are ever appointed. Independently of its in
trinsic utility, no government can be ignorant

137
of the influence which religion has in support
ing legitimate authority.
The credulity, so often bordering on super
stition, attributed to seamen, renders them
extremely snsceptible of feeling that speciesof
persuasive appeal which the word of God is
alone calculated to produce. Admitting those
positions to be true, it Avould seem that many
considerations of policy dictate the necessity of
keeping a sense of religious duty alive, both in
the military and naval service. To do this,
care should be taken to select chaplains of
some talents and known temperance . their
general situation also admits of very considera
ble improvement. Those refined feelings
which a finished education and habits of study
usually create, are very apt to be shocked, by
much of what passes in a ward-room, where the
naval clergyman is, by the present regulation,
appointed to mess ; so that he is either obliged
to join in the ribaldry of his companions, or be
deprived of every social comfort, by retiring to
his cabin in the cockpit, which looks more like

* . " Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued,
not given to much win,e, not greedy of filthy lucre." Tim. c. iii.
v. 8. T

138
a cell than a human habitation: does not the
dignity of his calling entitle him to a seat at
the admiral's or captain's table ? and would it
not be a desirable arrangement, Avere such a
practice established ; together with those other
ameliorations, with regard to personal conve
nience, Avhich could alone raise the clerical
character in our navy?
Too much cannot be said on the importance
of unimpeachable private character in the mi
nisters of eA'ery religion: for a congregation is
invariably sure to associate his public functions
and moral habits, in forming any opinion of his
merits. In fact, precept Avithout example
seldom, if ever, produces any permanent effect
on society,
The natural consequence of neglecting the
state of religion in our men of war is, that the
sense of moral obligation is in time obliterated
from men's minds; the gradation from indiffer
ence to crime is so rapid, that many of those
perpetrated in the navy might easily be traced
to the former disposition.
Notavithstanding the barbarous outcry
Avhich some inconsiderate persons were at one
time induced to raise against a system of univer-

139
sal education, the good sense ofthe government
and country have at length, by their united
efforts, and meritorious conduct, led a sublime
example to the Avhole Avor'ld, in the establish
ment of the Lancastrian schools. Should this
grand system be persevered in, its effects will
probably extend to the remotest quarters of the
globe. That a very extended education, un-
suited to their humble condition in life, would
be highly injurious to the lower classes, cannot
be doubted; but it is totally inconsistent Avith
our moral and religious ideas, that the profound
ignorance which places two .thirds of the civi
lized world almost on a level with the brute
creation, should not be considered as an evil of
the first magnitude, I confess this is not the
place to enter into a discussion ofthe merits of
so momentous a question: it is, however, almost
impossible to avoid congratulating the British
nation on an exertion of public spirit and phi
lanthropy, which leaves all others far behind.
The establishment of a, plan to exalt human
nature, and render every one more fit for the
performance of his respective duties in life, by
an unequivocal knowledge of right and wrong,
Avas Avorthy of the nation in which it origi
nated; and cannot fail to produce effects the
most consoling and salutary: if it causes any
other, it is high time to abominate that civiliza-

140
tion to which we oAve our happiness ; and in
abjuring it, to return to our pristine state of sa
vage nature !
These short reflections are drawn from me
by some objections that have occasionally been
started against the employment of school
masters to instruct on board our ships of war;
where, Avhenever it has been applied, it has
produced the happiest consequences, by instil
ling a better, mode of thought and action, and
reforming many a dissolute character.
Several of those officers who have been
elevated to a high rank in the navy, from the
lowest, will, I am convinced, bear ample testi
mony to the great utility of encouraging the use
of letters on board our men" of war; as without
it they Avould themselves have probably been
consigned to a life of servitude and labour, in
stead of one of emolument and command. We
are in this Avorld altogether too apt to reason
either from absolute prejudice, or Avilful obsti
nacy. Some of those who have promoted sedi
tion and mutiny could write — " then writing-
must be a dangerous acquisition," say the
advocates for ignorance ; forgeting that had
the instruments of their designs been early
instructed to do the same, they would most

141
probably not have become the willing dupes of
anarchy and treason. Thus it is that causes
and effects are misconceived, and the very be
nefits of life ^converted. into sources of uneasi
ness and danger!
By a parsimony to which many departments
of the public service are indebted for their de
fects, the enormous sum of twenty pounds,
granted in the reign of Queen Anne, as a boun
ty for naval schoolmasters, has only been in
creased to fifty, while the value of money has
diminished more than a hundred per cent.
the natural consequence is, that few ships have
schoolmasters; and of those that have, they
either consist of toping pedagogues, or inef
ficient masters. Until this matter becomes an
object of solicitude at the board of admiralty,
those young officers who enter the service
before they can have derived any permanent
benefit at school, will rise to the rank of cap
tains, as they have in several cases, totally
ignorant of navigation, or Avhat is perhaps
more useful to the executive part of the pro
fession  geometry and spherics.
Should government determine on the pro
priety of extending the Lancastrian system to
our men of war, it will possess all those

142
advantages of simplicity and ease, which must
require but a Arery short period. to imbibe the
degree of instruction necessary for the pupils
to read, &c. the bustle of a ship being very
little calculated for a more formal or tedious
process of tuition.
There are some other points upon which
this part of the inquiry might.be pr6tracted;
but having been led into a detail altogether
unexpected, I shall hasten to the concluding
topic. In closing what a sense of duty to the
public has induced me to remark on the inter
nal management of the naval service, I must be
permitted to express a hope, that its own im--
portance, the situation of the country, added
to those unpleasant circumstances which have
attended us in the late contest with America,
are sufficient to cause a renewal of that perse
vering zeal, and uurelaxed discipline, Avhich
can alone 
Secure the honor of our fleets entire.
This is a point that does not require the illus
tration of any legal or military authorities to
give it strength; it is self-evident, to all who
take the trouble of reflecting: and in seriously
turning their thoughts to those measures, Avhe-
ther of discipline, evolutionary practice, or

143
lenient indulgence, calculated to secure the
affections of the men, and efficacy of their ships,
naval officers will be discharging a sacred duty,
for which they cannot have a greater reward
than the gratitude and prayers of a generous
country. In any work professing to describe the state
of our seamen, I cannot well avoid touching
upon a subject that is generally supposed
to involve more of their happiness than any
other connected with their situation; yet af
ter all that has been said and written on the
practice of impressment, it would appear that
very little new light can be thrown on so
hacknied a topic. Feeling myself, however,
called upon by the nature of the foregoing
inquiry, to offer a few remarks, those I am
about to make, will emanate rather from my
oAvn view of the matter, than that of others,
which are already before the Public, in the
shape of pamphlets, and are the subject of ge
neral conversation. It is certain that nothing
can possibly be more repugnant to the British
constitution, which is founded upon a more
extensive basis of civil liberty than any other
in the world: and the singular exertion of a
power which subjects so large a portion of the
community to forcible seizure, has in vain been

144
attempted to be accounted for upon any natu
ral or sound principle of legislative wisdom'. —
If this be admitted as a reason for arguing the
point: and it be further acknowledged, that,
Besides degrading the character of our seamen,
it strikes at the very root of patriotism and
love of country; renders their seamen less
energetic, from being forced; and finally, is
only resorted to by England, the most free
country upon earth, surely nothing ought to
excite so large a share of the attention of go
vernment? and can any period be better adapt
ed to the proposed end, than one at Avhich we
are happily at peace with the whole world ?
That impressment Avas first begun Avhile
the kingdom Avas yet subject to an arbitrary
government, cannot Avell be doubted; for it
is one of the very last means which a free or
popular one would dream of resorting to un
der any circumstances, no matter how urgent.
Force is always a dangerous experiment; and
the country that depends on it for defence,
seldom escapes the power of conquest. We
have an example of this sort, which occurred
so near England, that it may serve as a useful
warning. Those foreigners who have written
on our naval power, and amongst others the
celebrated. Ray naL in expressing his astonish-

145
ment at so glaring a contradiction in our laws
and customs, only attempted to justify the
measure upon the old ground of public utility;
and that in time of great national danger*,
there are few, if any, Avho Avill not agree per
fectly with the above doctrine. But the sub
ject assumes quite another shape, Avhen the
practice is continued both in peace and war,
and in all parts of the world, where our ships
of war meet with merchant vessels.
Entering more minutely into the mode of
conducting the impress, reflecting on the im
mense sums expended in carrying it on, not to
speak of the three or four hundred officers, and
about three thousand seamen, Avho are em
ployed in it, the system becomes still more
aggravating in a moral as well as political
point of view. But on the other hand, those
who imagine that the impress only affects the
mere seafaring man, have formed a very con*
fused idea of it consequences. The constant

* Rien n'est plus contraire en apparence a liberte nationale,
que ces coups d'autorite; qui frappe a la fois, stir les hommes et
sur le commerce; cependant, quand ces actes de violence, n'ont
lieu qu'en consequence des besoins de la republique, on ne peut Iris
regarder comme des attentats contre la liberte, parce qu'ils ont
pour objet la suret6 puhliqvie. — Raynal sw la marine.
u

146
agitation and state of alarm in which parents
and relations must naturally be kept, as to
the fate of their offspring at sea, is perhaps as
afflicting to them, if not more so, than the men
themselves, who also live in continued appre
hension. It is not, as some people think, the
ill treatment or harsh discipline of a man of
war, that operates on men's minds, but the un
ceasing anxiety between hope and fear; the
impossibility of enjoying a moment's repose,
without an expectation of being seized upon
by a press gang, is infinitely the worst part of
the system; for it is well known, that, take the
British navy throughout, above three fourths
of the seamen employed in it are under a milder
and more indulgent sway than they would ex-.
perience in nine merchant vessels out of ten.
This is an important fact, that might easily be
proved ; and ought to be impressed as much as
possible on those Avho have the means of in
fluencing the minds of our men. It may not
however be unlikely, but that the dislike to-
serve in the navy, is a natural consequence
of those compulsatory measures to Avhich Ave
have recourse for manning the fleet. Every
day's experience goes to convince mankind,
that there is a most material, and a very great
difference between choice Mid necessity: sa
much indeed, that if half the actions of our live*

147
were compelled by any positive law, we should
no longer derive the least satisfaction from their
performance : a thirst for gain, various motives of
curiosity and interest, induce men to undertake
the most dangerous voyages : life itself is sported
with, and too often made a voluntary sacrifice^
without enumerating many other events, which
are the mere offspring of inclination: yet enact
laws for their fulfilment, and its execution will
be avoided with the same efforts as those which
induce our seamen to undergo the greatest pri
vations, and frequently seek safety in expatria
tion, rather than be impressed 1
The powers delegated by the press- warrants
are not less unconstitutional than the mode of
executing them. Many of our sea-ports are well
known to be remarkable for a democratic turn —
I have never been able to discover a greater
cause for this feeling than the existence of press
gangs in them, whose power of entering houses
both public and private, in search of men, violates
that fundamental law of the land, which has led
to the noted saying, of an Englishman's house
being his castle: a less powerful appeal to the
subject's self-love, would serve to render the
whole machine of government unpopular. Be
sides, the vulgar mind does not trouble itself
•about distinctions of Jaw — totally unacquainted

148
with the exigencies which render the impress
necessary, they only feel its inconvenience ; and
so great is this, that in those towns which are
much frequented by merchant vessels, scarcely a
night passes that there is not some act or other of
open hostility, between the inhabitants, and
those who are appointed to raise men for the
service. The incessant complaints, petitions addressed
teethe admiralty, members of parliament, lords of
the treasury, and a host of others, either against
the officers and men employed, or the unjust de
tention of seam-en, apprentices, &c. exhibits such
a scene of contention, trouble, and annoyance,
that, to those concerned, it looks more like a
state of civil war than any thing else.
Nothing in the way of eloquence, could des
cribe the agitated state in which impress officers
are kept. Their place has been well denomi
nated as hateful as it is troublesome and unpro
fitable. The bare idea of there being a party of
men appointed to parade the streets of our towns
and cities every night throughout the year, for
the purpose of seizing men by main force, is
quite a paradox, when the freedom of the con
stitution, and liberty of the subject, is considered.
Leaving out a consideration of the ill effects the.

" 149
system causes at our own fire-sides, and in the
navy, what a strong, and even unconquerable
argument does it not furnish to the only power
whose maritime strength it so much behoves
England to guard against. The American go
vernment, which is as anxious to triumph over
the ruin and desolation ofthe United Kingdom,
as the tyger for his prey, or midnight assassin for
the meditated victim of his revenge, has been
but too successful in alienating the affections,
and breaking the allegiance of our subjects,
whether naval or military. That a great deal of
their late success on the water was derived from
the aid of treason, I do not entertain the most
distant doubt. Should peace continue for any
time with that country, and no decisive step be
taken to prevent emigration, the consequences to
our navy will be most disastrous. The force of
this truth is so fearfully impressed on the minds
of the naval public, that I shall not enlarge on it,
but leave it to them to stimulate the government
on so vital a subject.
The inadequacy of naval bounties is another
circumstance that has been overlooked by go
vernment to a degree that excites the greatest
possible surprise on the part of professional men.
The lowest bounty given to a raw recruit, either
for the marines, line, or cavalry, is ten guineas.

150
which often exce«ds fifteen; whereas an able
seaman, that may have been twenty years, or
even longer, at sea, gets only five pounds if he
enters the service voluntarily; when impressed,
he is not entitled to any; an ordinary seaman
only receives two pounds ten, and a landsman
thirty shillings! Is it probable that the latter
will enter a most perilous and toilsome service,
while, by offering himself to any regiment in the
kingdom, he can procure ten times more bounty,
to say nothing of the additional inducements to
follow a military life ? During the late French
war, hundreds of our best seamen were serving
in the army ; which they entered merely for the
sake ofthe pecuniary reward first held out : there
are few people in the lower classes of life that
can resist such an offer as ten or twenty pounds.
It should also be added, that for a period of thirty
years scarcely any augmentation of seamen's
bounties has taken place, it would be vain to
attempt manning our fleets by voluntary enroll
ment, till the above subject is taken into conside
ration, and properly arranged.
Until whatever plan chosen as a substitute
for the impress was in a considerable state of
practical advancement, it would be quite impos
sible for government to limit the services of our
seamen, more than has been already done by the

151
late admiralty order: but the subject is one that
deserves the utmost consideration; for as it is
now, a man who enters, or is impressed into the
navy, has no prospect whatever of being restored
to the sight of his family and friends during the
war, though it should last twenty years.
No regulations, however adapted to the wishes
of our seamen, would be of sufficient weight to
prevent a considerable number of desertions, but
that they would neither be so numerous or fre
quent if impressment was either totally abolished,
(except in cases of absolute necessity), or modi
fied, is not to be doubted.
My sentiments on the question of giving up.
impressments foE a different system,, are precisely
like those which I advanced on the subject of
corporal punishment— retain the power, but
modify its exertion, by the various means which
are evidently within your reach..
I h a v e often been told, that if a projector wishes
to prevent his favorite plan from being put into
execution, he will publish it: this is the very rea
son why I leave the arrangement of any measures
government may think proper to adopt, to its
own superior wisdom. The extreme simplicity
of an universal marine registry, and impartiality of

152
a ballot, where it is consistent with time and
conveniency, must occur to all who give the sub
ject a thought; and until either this or some
other methods are brought in to the aid, or op
posed to that of impressment, it is idle and pre
posterous to assert that there is no other alterna
tive for recruiting our navy. As well might we
say that slavery is preferable to freedom, or ne
cessity to choice, in stimulating the efforts of
patriotic virtue.
The measures of the admiralty since the peace,
and more particularly their order of the 22d of
December, for the remuneration of services, &c.
prove that they are not insensible to the impor
tance ofthe subject; and although perfection in
any thing is not attained without great exertion,
every step towards securing the affections, and
rewarding the past services of our seamen, ought
to be hailed by every friend of his country as a
substantial blessing.
It was, perhaps, rather premature, before the
American contest closed, to discharge so many of
our men; as, by a seeming contradiction, while
the discharging was going on, the press-gangs
about the metropolis, and some other places,
were kept busily employed.

153
This great country will never owe its financial
ruin to the expense of supporting its seamen.
An army will always be found at the loom, in the
fields, or behind the counters, and may be pre
pared for action in six months — it would require
at least ten years to render a man of war qf the
smallest class fit for active service !
To those who are disposed to complain of the
public burthens as far as regards the navy, I
would say — " without the navy you would have
none to pay !" a reply that does not hold quite so
good, if applied to every department of our poli-
tical strength.
Having, in the early part of this essay, alluded
to those innumerable natural advantages which
so unequivocally demonstrated, and ultimately
led the way to our existence as a great maritime
power, I am disposed to believe that the further
consideration of that subject, added to a few ob
servations of minor importance, will conclude an
attempt of this kind with peculiar propriety.
It is a very generally received opinion, that a
nation cannot dividers power between an army
and a navy, but that one of these must predomi
nate. Although, like every other general rule,
x

154
there are exceptions, yet this popular opinion
might be supported on a very rational hypothec
sis. No person would of course be so absurd as
to say, that we do not possess all the requisites
for creating a military power of the first rank in
Europe : the events of the war in Spain, without
any other authority, prove it in a way the clear
est and most satisfactory. The great question,
however, that forces itself on our attention, is,
whether the interests of England do not plainly
tell her, that the durability of her constitution,
physical strength, national wealth, and general
prosperity, will be better secured by giving the
predominance to her naval, rather than military
force. History furnishes but too many examples of
the dangers to be apprehended from a too extend
ed military power: it has in some cases subverted
the throne, in others the government, and in many
paved the way to a system of tyranny and op
pression which ended in barbarism! When, and
in what manner, has a navy ever injured the
liberties of a country, or interfered in any way
with its civil or political institutions ?
It is, indeed, true, that the continental war,
has, for the present at least, rescued Europe

155
from the grasp of another Sylla, and rendered all
the exertion of military talent and resources neces
sary ; for without them, little was to be expected
from the Other allies: but the equilibrium once
restored, it is far from being certain that either
the maintenance or continuance of a large army
on any part of the European continent, would
add to the strength or security ofthe British em
pire. However it may suit the continental nations
to solicit our occasional aid and interference in
securing the balance of power, they wan never be
indifferent to our amazing riches, unexampled
commerce, and extensive territory; all of which
are just sources of envy and apprehension. The
readiness with which those possessed of any naval
means have coalesced against what is termed —
the dominion of the seas, shews what we have to
expect when a new tyrant starts up in a neigh
bouring country.
The utmost stretch of her military prowess
•will never enable Great Britain to dream of being
placed on a level with any of the three great
rJowers, in a purely military point of view;
though by securing our insular possessions, and
maintaining a naval superiority, we can always
either defeat or counteract any attempt to reduce

156
the power of England*. It would be very nu-
likely, if not altogether impossible, to raise an
army sufficiently strong to produce such an effect.
The whole country cannot but applaud those
laudable efforts of the government, which, in the
course of so short a time contributed to the for
mation of a soldiery, who, when properly com
manded, excel that of every other power in
Europe. On the other hand, it is only fair to
confess, that every thing which human ingenuity
can devise, has been done, to meet the wishes of
both officers and men.
0
With respect to the actual state of affairs,
nothing is more natural, or excites less surprise,
than the disposition evinced by each of the allies
to magnify their sacrifices and services during the
war. Moderation is no longer a virtue which
belongs to nations ; and in a contention for terri
tory or power, the question is not so much regu
lated by justice as it is by open force; hence the
fate of Poland, of Saxony, Genoa, and indeed of

* La marine &st un nouveau genre de puissance, qui doit
changer la face du monde. Elle a fait tomber l'ancien systeme
d'equilibre. L'Allemagne, qui tenoit la balance entre les maisons
d'Autriche et de Bourbon, I'a c6d£e a I'Angleterre, c'est cette isle
qui dispose aujourd'hui du continent. — Raynal.

157
every other power unable to defend itself against
usurpation. With every possible disposition to re
kindle the flames which are scarcely extinguished,
fortunately for the world and humanity they
want the means. In such a state of things it is
obviously the policy of this country to husband,
her resources, to make every effort to protract the
peace of Europe, and to occupy the 'leisure it
affords, in the promotion of arts, manufactures,
and commerce. Take such measures in the
naval and military departments, as may be most
likely to ensure success, should it be necessary to
draw the sword on any future occasion.
Whatever the most strenuous advocates in
favor of America can say in their defence, or to
prove that we were the aggressors, in opening the
contest just terminated, there can be but one
opinion entertained throughout Europe, as to the
period chosen for declaring against us.- It
should be written in letters of blood, and depo
sited in every cabinet of Europe, that while a
tyrant unequalled in the annals of history, threat
ened, and had nearly effected its subjugation, the
descendants of Penn, Franklin, and Washington,
attacked the power which gave them birth, and
upon whose exertions the destinies of the world
were suspended ! Had not the nations of Europe
felt this flagitious .line of conduct as an attack on

158
themselves, and the rights of civilized communi
ties, they would not probably have been so very
indifferent to the progress of the war since last
April. It certainly reflects the highest praise on
their moderation and judgment.
From the decided tone adopted in comment
ing on this memorable act of the American go
vernment, it will perhaps be said, that an unna
tural degree of personal dislike has been dis
played towards that country. The writer
confesses himself incapable of affecting a mode
ration not dictated by circumstances; but in
offering those observations which the subject
seemed to demand, he has always made a wide
distinction between the government and people.
It would lead to an endless discussion were he to
enter into all the causes of complaint which led
to the late rupture; great blame attaches to both
parties, as wifi ever be the case in political dis
putes. Having exclusively glanced at the con
duct of the executive, AA'hile it formed the
unprincipled combination to destroy the power
df England, at the moment she was engaged in
rescuing Europe from tyranny, a more temperate
strain could not be easily reconciled to his feel
ings. There is probably no two nations on earth,

159
whose mutual interests so strongly dictate the
cultivationof peace and friendship : not to men
tion those natural ties which bind us to each
other, we have absolutely nothing to gain from
war, while every hour's hostility is marked by se
rious losses on both sides.
The people of England would think it strange
indeed, were the soldiers and sailors of America,
their immediate descendants, to display less en
terprise or bravery than they have lately done;
and while often deploring our own disasters, a
natural association of ideas has induced many to
feel a secret and involuntary pride in the triumphs
of our transatlantic sons and brethren. But
those who may have exulted in their success be
cause they considered the war as the struggle of
liberty against oppression, have totally mistaken
its character. The open and undeniable encou
ragement given for so many years to the desertion
of our seamen, was more than a sufficient cause
for our declaring it; although, on the other hand,
the British ministry has never exculpated itself to
the world, for the conduct attributed to those
agents said to have been employed by the go
vernor of Canada, for the ungenerous purpose of
dividing the union. At the same time let it not
be for a moment supposed, that the American

160
presidency is by any means free from that
Machiavalianism which would wrest the Cana-
das from us to morrow by similar artifices. The
whole circumstances of the war amply prove that
on /claims, to public virtue, and a regard for the
law of nations, are very nearly on a parallel.
The extraordinary fact of either country's hav
ing permitted the poor deluded Indian tribes to
engage in a war in which they neither felt, nor
could have any material interest, will for ever re
main an indelible disgrace to both. It is shocking
to humanity, and repulsive to every feeling of
civilized life. If the circumstance so perempto
rily brought forward by the American negotiators
at Ghent, of our commanders on the coast of
America having invited the slaves to revolt, and
then sent the unhappy wretches to be sold in the
West Indies, be true, those concerned in the a-
bominable act, deserve to be visited with the
severest punishment. Convinced that this is a
foul calumny, I trust, for the honour of human
nature, that no time will be lost in disproving
an assertion so ruinous to the national charac
ter. To insure a continuance of the present peace,
an unusual degree of precaution is necessary j

161
firmness and conciliation should be equally our
motto, and rule of action. If it is found that the
same system of inveigling our seamen, which led
to the late contest, is pursued, it would be dis
honorable in Great Britain not to resent a line of
conduct calculated above every other to under
mine our naval power. On the other hand, it
seems perfectly consistent with natural justice,
and public law, to abandon the assumed right of
forcibly taking seamen from the merchant vessels
of another country. The best mode of arguing
on the propriety of this delicate question is, to
consider how we should feel such a practice, if
imposed by a foreign power on ourselves.
Whenever any case shall arise, wherein the Bri
tish may have unquestionable proof of there being
deserters concealed in a ship, the subject will
certainly admit of some modification; but let it
be perfectly understood, and stipulated for on
both sides, to prevent the innumerable disputes
which a want of defined privilege always creates.
In ordinary cases, where the ship's papers, and
crew's protections are merely examined, a report
relative to those men who appear suspicious,
might be made to the admiralty, and thenoe
transmitted, through the proper channel, to our
ambassador in America. Some arrangement of
this kind, if it did not altogether allay the irri-
Y

162
tated feelings of the American government,
would at least exonerate us from those charges of
violence and injustice incurred previous to the war.
— Upon the whole, it is no doubt in the power
of the two governments to render the peace se
cure arid permanent: should they manifest a
different disposition, they will only exemplify the
melancholy truth, that the interests of nations are.
sometimes sacrificed to the caprice and ambition
of individuals!
That querulous and captious temperament
which a mistaken spirit of liberty has given to
the inhabitants of the United States, as well as
our peculiar relative situation with that country,
will make it necessary that the usual routine of
selecting a legation from the protegees of minis
ters, should, if possible, be dispensed with. To
live peaceably amongst a people who fancy they
have an inherent right to insult you with impu
nity, is no very easy task ; but when a man is
called upon to sustain the honor and interests of
a great nation, where both are so liable to be in
fringed upon, requires talents that experience has
proved, very few diplomatists possess.
It is hardly possible that the ministers of
Louis XVIII. will not, after what has happened,

163
scrupulously guard against too close a connection
with our transatlantic friends. France has had a
woeful lesson ofthe danger attending such Incon*
gruous friendships. She has nothing to fear From
the ambition of England, but the friendship and
alliance of America, may again produce similar
effects to those which followed the peace of
1783*. Even the failures of a good general are some
times converted into lessons of the greatest ntili-
ty — Empta dolore docet experientia. Should
another War take place with America, there can
be no excuse whatever for us, as the experience
of the past proves that success must depend not
on our means, which are overwhelming, but

* La revolution Americaine est la cause immediate de la revo
lution Frarxjoise. La France deserte, noy€e de sang, converte de
ruines, son roi, conduit a 1'echafaud, ses ministres proscrits, ou
assassines, prouve, que la justice eternelle, sans laquelle tout
periroit, en depit des sophismes de nos passions, a des vengeances
formidable. — Chateaubriand, Essai Historique, Morale, Sf-c. sur la
Revolutions des Empires.,
It is gratifying to perceive that the immediate republication
of this very curious and ingenious production, is announced by
Mr. Colburn, of Conduit Street.

164
their application; A formidable frontier on the
side of Canada, whose inhabitants have convinced
their British fellow subjects that they deserve an
interest in the soil which their loyalty and valour
has so bravely defended, is an object of the first
importance. If we give up the lakes, the land
possessions will be constantly in danger — the,
stipulations on this point have, I trust, been judi
ciously framed.
Minutely acquainted with the class of ships
which have opposed our frigates, it will be pru
dent on the part of ministers to keep a force fully
equal, in every respect, to that of America, in its
vicinity. This would operate as a check to
the insults our trade is likely to meet with, after
the rancour ofthe late conquest: and when it is
known that such ships as the Leander, Newcastle,
and Forth, are at hand, there is less reason to
apprehend affairs similar to that of the Little
Belt, which preceded the war.
If ever all ideas of gratifying private friends
by placing them in commands to the active and
enterprising duties of which they may not be'
equal, though in other respects excellent offi
cers— are abandoned, I' earnestly hope it will be
in the event of such a war again recurring:. —
j a - a

165
While the names of Sa'umarez, Strachan, Smith,
Keats, Hood, Cockburn, Moore, and many
others, grace the list of our admirals; and that
of the captains contains such men as Brenton,
Campbell, Hoste, Broke, Brisbane, Collier, Max
well, Staines, Hope, Napier, and a host of others,
there can be no difficulty whatever in the selec
tion of those who would either succeed in over
coming the enemy, or perish in the attempt.
During the present state of tranquility we
have a vigilant and difficult card to play. I have
frequently thought America is not the only
power who would exult in the decay of our ma
ritime strength: all must regard it with an eye
of jealousy. And of one fact we should never for
an instant lose sight: it is, that the first named
country will be ever ready to coalesce with any
or all the European powers, if there is but a pros
pect, no matter how distant, of annoying Great
Britain, and even annihilating its naval glory.
With such a prospect before our eyes, and an
experience which has embittered the feelings of
our most able politicians and statesmen. It will
indeed be mortifying if a British ministry is ever
reduced to the painful necessity Of concluding
| such another peace. t

166
Unwilling to forget the laurels wehave won,
or resign the dignity of a Briton, I should have
considered myself wanting in the first of public
duties, did I not primarily attempt to explain, in
part, the cause of our disasters ; and finally, ex
hort the whole countr}' to believe, that it is by
the most studious and persevering efforts to avoid
the repetition of past errors, we can alone hope
to secure political power or national prosperity.

the end.

H .-WUeioaU, Printer, Pemhertmi Rw,
Gough Sqtuire, London*

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POLITICAL PORTRAITS in this NEW ERA; comprehending
One hundcred and fifty Living Characters, with explanatory notes, historical and
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&c. &c. Two vols. 8vo. price LI : 4s. in boards.
This is the only work ofthe kind now extant; and will be found highly inte
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THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION, analized by a Reference to its History;
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protect the weakest ofall. LORD COKE.
Remember, 0 my Friends ! the laws, the rights.
The generous plan of power, delivered downs
nom age to age. by your renoun'd forefathers;
So dearly bought! the price of so much blood!
Olet it never perish in your hands!
But piously transmit it to your children. ADDISON'S CATO.
" Lord chief-justice Blackstone recommends in a peculiar manner to every Bri
tish subject, whose situation in life will permit him, the necessity of possessing a
knowledge ofthe constitution of his country. Montesquieu and De Loliue have
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is so much of it which consists of the chartered and corporate privileges, that it
was not to he expected that either of them could detail their advantages and pe
culiarities with the accuracy of this editor, who seems to have paid great attention
to these subjects. The manner in which he has noticed the acts of the immortal
Alfred, and their happy results, proves him to have formed a proper estimate of
the liberties of which that illustrious monarch was the founder. All the circum
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tury, the question of privilege, the case of Lord Somers, the commitment to prison
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all accurately detailed, and an. attention paid to the subjects adequate to their
importance. We are much pleased by the notice he takes of the conduct of the
Lords in the case of Ashby and White. From it he draws an instructive conclu.
sion, that it is important they sliould possess a certain influence, in order to ba
lance (one Of the greatest of our dangers) the violence and intemperance ofthe
democratic part of our constitution ; or check an ambitious spirit in its monarchical
department, thereby proving themselves a great shield for the rights ofthe peo
ple. In short, he has drawn the lines of prerogative distinctly between the three
bodies; marked out tbe duties, rights, and privileges of each, with perspicuity.
discrimination, and accuracy. We can therefore not only recommend the Work
as a valuable book for the consultation of lawyers and members of parliament.
but especially to young people, as well as country gentlemen. They will find
instruction and amusement combined ; as, without the study of a tedious and dry
law-book, they may collect in these volumes all the information that is necessary
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Books published by C. CHAPPLE, Pall Mall.
DEMOCRACY UNVEILED, addressed to Sir Francis Burdett, Bart.
M.P. By Thomas Adams, Esq. lately resident in the United States. In one
vol. thick Svo. Price 10s. 6d. in boards.
Injurioso ne pede proruas
Stantem columnam; neu .populus frequens
Ad arma cessantes, ad anna
Concitet, imperjumque frangat. Hon.
" In this work the reformer will find an ample display of a system of govern
ment, which, for thirty years has been the subject of change and experiment. —
The law of debtor and creditor, as well as the criminal jurisprudence, which have
been established in the United States, is amply detailed, and the horrid effect of
change demonstrated. A perusal ofthe presentment of a grand jury of the city
of New York, ought to convince the most visionary of those who wish to effect
a change in the criminal law of this country, that the American system, so far
from being an improvement upon ours, is, with all its alterations, not so good.— •
With respect to the execution , of the work, it becomes us to say, that the language
is plain and expressive; the arrangement is correct, the ftrguments are forcible
' and convincing, and the tout ensemble so very respectably got up, that Mr.
Adams'e " Democracy Unveiled" is as much entitled to a respectable place in
the library, as are its contents to the consideration of those who wish for useful
and interesting information upon an important point. — Review.
THE LIFE OF LORD VISCOUNT NELSON, of the NILE, &c. by Mr.
H«muso», with the assistance of original and authenticated communications,
from the dearest of his lordship's family and friends. The Public are respect
fully informed that this greatly honoured work is now completed, elegantly
printed in two Svo. vols, enriched with a beautiful portrait of the Hero, painted
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A fine edition, on large paper, hot pressed, witli proof impressions of the
portrait. Price £1 : 6s. extra boards.
" This Life of Nelson deserves the attention of Europe. Private particulars
have been furnished by his Lordship's family, to the authur. Public papers
have been communicated to him from the offices in which they were preserved.
It is likely to remain the prominent, acknowledged, and standard biography ofa
Hero who has carried British Naval Glory to its highest pitch, and who has
contributed to awaken, in the remotest corners of the world, a belief in the vin-
cibility of Frenchmen. The work is drawn up with becoming courage. The
most curious particulars of the court, of the ministry, and of the army of Naples,
are evulgated with the indifference of posthumous history. It were useless to
make a regular analysis of a work which will soon be in general circulation. —
We think highly of its literary execution: the due proportion and detail is ob
served : there is little of declamation, and much of document." — Annual Review.
Mr. Harrison humbly presumes, that the prodigious number of original letters,
written by Lord Nelson, with which he has been honoured from all quarters, and
the vast, fund of interesting anecdotes, communicated by his late Lordship's
family and friends, manifest on the slightest inspection, will sufficiently demon
strate the authenticity of this genuine work, which has indeed already obtained
the approbation, and very flattering recommendation, of almpst every individual
of Lord Nelson's family and principal friends. j^
For the accommodation of the public, (who are all interested in this valuable
life), an edition is published in 22 weekly parts, at la. and the large paper edition
at 2s. each part; and those subscribers who have taken this work in parts, are
earnestly requested lo complete their «ft.«, tint thry may not hereafter regret
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