size. Or it may decrease; and the decrease being | There could not then, as there may be now, an in the ratio of the increase, the last of the next increase of the Navy, without the consent of Conthree Presidents may leave the Navy where Mr. gress. Congress would first have to pass approMonroe found it in 1817. To go on building and priations, and authorize the building of more ships, launching men-of-war, when guns could not be before any increase could take place among the ofprocured to compose a battery for them, would, ficers. Thus, the Legislative Department would every one will admit, be an extreme of national exercise a more wholesome and direct control over folly and improvidence. Officers are quite as im- the Navy than it now does. The building of more portant and necessary as guns, to our men-of-war. ships, would by consequence involve the appointEqually unwise and injudicious is it then, to go on ment of more young officers, and the promotion of building ships without regard to the one, as to the old ones. The expenses, incident to such appointother. Nay, more unwise is it to neglect the of- ment and promotion, would of course constitute an ficer, than the gun; for there is this difference be-item in the estimates submitted for new ships; tween them—the latter may be cast and bored and as a part of the costs involved in an approin a day; whereas, under the present system, years priation, they would have to be authorized by both of previous training are required to make the for- houses of Congress, before the President could apmer. If we suppose, that a law were passed to pear before the Senate with a new batch of nomifix in each grade the number of officers at their nations, asking the consent of that body to increase present rate having no regard to the number of promotions in the Navy. It is admitted, that under ships in the Navy-and that the country were to the regulations of such a law, there would be more find itself involved in war at any time thereafter, officers in the Navy than are requisite merely to many of the best ships that we now have would perform the service required of them in times of be laid up for the want of officers. Nor could the peace. But is not this the case with regard to the number of Passed Midshipmen, of Lieutenants, Army? Is it not the case with regard to the ships Commanders or Captains, be increased with prop- themselves? And does not the precept, 'in peace erly trained officers in a shorter period than six prepare for war,' necessarily involve the expense of years; for six years, as you have seen, is the time making ready? In order that the Navy may have required properly to train and prepare a Midship-in all its parts, those proportions which will ensure man for the duties of a Lieutenant.

to it strength and efficiency, we must either make There is but one rule by which the proper num- officers to suit the number of ships, or destroy the ber of officers for the Navy can be determined, and ships to suit the number of officers-officers withthat rule is afforded by the number and size of the out ships being as useless as ships without officers. ships. There are sixty-odd of these in the Navy, Common sense alone teaches that they are the which require so many guns, so many men, and so true standards of each other. Our Commercial many officers. There is nothing arbitrary in the Marine keeps in constant training seamen more proportions of these. The number and size of the than enough to man all the ships that this nation vessels to be equipped being known, the ratio of will ever build. Not so of officers. They must officers is as determinate as the ratio of guns or undergo a peculiar system of previous training, of men. If there be but three ships in the Navy, it that involves no inconsiderable expense, and rewould be a mark of folly and extravagance to quires a period of several years to complete the maintain more officers in the employ of the gov-course. The largest ship may be built in a few ernment, than are required to perform the service months-a crew may be obtained for her in a day. connected with these three ships. But if, instead But a complement of well-trained and skilful offiof three, there be a hundred vessels, equally short-cers for her, cannot be created by a stroke of the sighted and reprehensible would be the policy of pen, or the driving of a bolt. Unless these be maintaining a corps of officers, barely sufficient to prepared beforehand, the ship must lie idle for perform the duties connected with one half such years, waiting the tedious process of a nautical number of ships. According to the Register of education. How these officers, in times of peace, 1840, there are in the Navy sixty-five vessels of when the services of this ship are not required, all classes, and seven Navy-Yards, besides Hos- may be employed, profitably to themselves and pitals, Shipping Rendezvous, and other stations. advantageously to their country, has been shown The number and grades of the officers required to in a former number. perform the duties of each ship, yard and station, are fixed by regulation;—and it should be enjoined upon the Executive as a duty, to regulate, conformably with this rule, the number of officers of each grade in the service.

Independent of giving to the Navy its proper proportions, the advantages of an arrangement to such an effect would be manifold and obvious.

When looking into the present condition of the Navy, the difficulty to be experienced in procuring officers for our ships, in case of war, cannot fail to present itself to every reflecting mind. That such a difficulty should exist; that the blun

*In the French war, crews for our frigates were sometimes entered in the course of a few hours.- Cooper's Naval History.

der should be committed of building ships, when, hope deferred.' Entering the Navy with an implied if they were put in commission to-morrow, the agreement, that, for six years of service faithfully requisite number of well-trained officers could not performed on their part, they shall be rewarded be procured for them, is but one of the many apt, with an epaulette-they are tantalized with mere pointed and practical illustrations, Mr. Editor, that tinsel, until another term, longer and more tedious may be given, of the present mal-organization of than the first, be dragged out in restless servitude. the Navy. In any emergency which may call for A spirit of discontent has thereby been engendered the sudden equipment of all the vessels of the Na- in the Navy. In a Military corps, such a spirit is vy, the list of Passed Midshipmen affords the only contagious; once abroad, its effects upon the general source from which a supply of properly drilled prosperity of the service, are not less deplorable— officers can be obtained. And this list would not and far more blighting, than the ravages of pestibe large enough to supply the demands in such a lence. Though much of the discontent which at Fully to comprehend the impracticabilities this time prevails in the Navy may be traced to this double-term of servitude as its origin, the evils of the plan have not been fully developed, nor as keenly felt as they will be; for hitherto, its victims have been somewhat buoyed with the hope that, during their term, they should see the Navy placed upon a firmer and a better footing. But the evil is not yet stayed.

case.

in the way of resolving the grade of Passed Midshipmen into a perpetual corps of reserve, you must bear in mind that "this is a class of officers to whom❞ Rules and Regulations can assign "no particular duty." The plan of maintaining at public cost a large and numerous body of young officers, who have "no particular duty to perform," is in direct violation of the first principles of po- Ask any officer for the result of his experience litical economy, and cannot be too strongly repro- during his last cruise, and he will tell you, that of bated. Independently of creating an expenditure late years there has been a wonderful falling off that is worse than useless, the policy itself of such among Midshipmen. That they are jejune to a a measure is full of evil, and highly injurious both degree; and, as a class, by no means as efficient, to the service and its officers. These young offi- or as active in the performance of duty, as they cers, after having proved themselves to be well-were some years ago. That these things are so, qualified for the duties of Lieutenants, are, in the is but the natural result of a very obvious cause, prime of life, put upon half the pay of that grade. and may be set down as another of the evil effects Thus, untimely forced upon a retired list, they fret of maintaining in the service a class of officers, to out all the ardor of their youth, and fritter away the whom, no particular duty can be assigned.' Forearly vigor of manhood, waiting until misfortune merly, all the important duties and responsible and disgust, or until the more certain but tedious trusts, which, on board a man-of-war, it often beprocess of disease and death, shall make room for comes necessary to assign to young officers, were them in the ranks above. The number that is assigned to Midshipmen-now, they are performed yearly added to this list, greatly exceeds the num- by Passed Midshipmen. In these duties, there ber that is yearly taken from it to supply promo- was oftentimes enough of official compliment, or tion. Thus the chrysalis state of those who enter responsibility, to beget a noble spirit of emulation upon it, has been increased from immediate transi- among the younger officers, and both to excite tion to a period of seven years duration, and is still and to gratify, on their part, a high-toned feeling of on the increase. And here set it down as a rule- professional pride. But now, all such duties and and mark its operation as a necessary evil of the stations are monopolized by others, and nothing is present system that so long as the supply exceeds left for the mere Midshipman to do, but the drudthe demand for officers, so long will there be an gery of his former duties-the tame routine of expensive accumulation of them, in some one grade tailing on after-guard and mizen-top-men to the or another, swelling its numbers out far beyond the just and efficient proportions. It is the practical operation of this rule, which, in less than twelve years, has increased the list of Passed Midshipmen from zero to two hundred and more—and, in less time than that, has created in the medical therefore, of the mere Midshipman feeling that corps a similar grade, and made it equal in numbers to about one sixth of the whole medical staff of the Navy.

main brace; and conveying messages from the quarter-deck. The consequence is, that, when by default of Passed Midshipmen, the younger officers are called to perform the more important duties, they are at fault from inexperience. Instead,

he is of some consequence and importance on board ship, and that the services rendered by him are useful to the Navy, he finds that, under the Under such a state of things, is it surprising that present system, he is without the consciousness of young officers should become tired of their position any such incentive to spur him on. One great in the Navy; and at times evince a feeling of disgust, source of cheerfulness (and cheerfulness is no or manifest a disaffected spirit, towards a service in where to be more desired than in a man-of-war) is which they are thus dealt by? There is not one of useful occupation, with the consciousness that one them, whose heart has not been made sick with is advancing towards the object in view. Under the

present arrangement, Midshipmen are deprived of tion. And with the young Naval aspirant, a 'commany such incentives which they formerly enjoyed. And, is it not natural that, under such circumstances, many of them should become listless of duty, and contract habits of idleness and mental dissipation, which are so little to be desired for youth?

mission' has charms, that, in his eyes, make it more earnestly to be desired than the object of his first love. But at the very time when his ardor is most fervent, and his notions of chivalry are tuned to the highest pitch, his time-serving 'Uncle'-into The human disposition is everywhere the same. whose service he has entered-gives him a Leah When young men come out of our law-schools and for a Rachel. Like Laban, he changes his wamedical colleges, with diplomas in hand, we find ges, but more faithless, requires him to drag out them ever eager to be engaged in the duties of another weary term of servitude before he is pertheir profession. We consider their impatience to mitted to enjoy the object of his first ambition. enter upon the new calling, as an earnest of suc- But as war is the great end for which the Navy cess; and we look upon their zeal, as a pledge of is designed, it should be regulated in all things future usefulness and distinction. Should we ex-with a view to war. In times of peace, the proper pect a Midshipman, or the young Surgeon in the consideration is, by what means may it be held in Navy, after having devoted six or eight years, a state of the greatest readiness and efficiency, at instead of two or three, to the acquirement of the least expense? Let us then suppose a state of his profession, to be less impatient than they, to war, that we may see how the Navy, with regard enter upon his new field of duties? Are the al- to officers alone, is prepared to meet it. With lurements of promotion-the insignia of office, commissioned officers in service for but little more with all the pomp and circumstance of Naval than half of our ships, all the ships in the Navy life-less tempting to the young aspirant for mili- would be immediately launched and put in commistary renown, than briefs and prescriptions are to sion;-others, for which materials are already preraw surgeons and green barristers? Suppose that pared, would be built and got ready for sea; and the law should forbid your doctors and lawyers to many of the fine packets and traders of our mertake out a license until six years after they had chants might be bought, equipped and armed been graduates; think you, that under such a regu- straightway, as corvettes, sloops-of-war, brigs, &c. lation, your physicians would be more skilful, or your Indeed, availing herself of the finest commercial jurists more profound, than they are? And yet, as marine in the world, the United States has the mapreposterous and as absurd as such a law would teriel-the ships and sailors-for fitting out a Navy, be in the civil code, one similar to it in all respects which would prove more destructive than that is, at this moment, in force among the Midshipmen which any other nation could send out against the and Assistant Surgeons of the Navy. And its ef- commerce of an enemy;-many of her merchantfects are obvious and most ruinous upon the ser- ships are swifter than the fleetest men-of-war. vice. Can it be expected that a body of young But of what avail are all these resources-this officers, ambitious as they should be of advance- multitude of ships and men-without officers? Her ment by all honorable means, would be content to list of two hundred Passed Midshipmen, if prostop short in mid-career, and patiently endure, as moted to-morrow, would not afford a due quota of Midshipmen are required to do, a professional syn- officers for all the ships that are now in the Navy; cope for years? After a Midshipman has under- nor could the number of regular officers that are gone examination, and been found qualified for pro- yearly trained for the Navy, be increased in a motion, he is then put upon this retired list, without shorter period than six years. Where then, in an incentive to call forth his energies, and with such an event, are officers to be procured for our scarcely an object or an aim to give them direc-ships? The only resource, at present, would be tion. No exertion, however great or noble on among the mates and skippers of merchant-crafthis part, will push him forward, or hasten, for a single moment, the long-sought and yet distant promotion. He is sent back to the steerage, and is required to resume the boyish duties of Midshipman for seven years longer, and until ca-net. sualties shall thin for him the ranks of his supe- Possessing then a Navy so abundant in all the rior officers; then, and not till then, is he honored resources of materiel, does it not become a nawith promotion. Had an enemy designed to break tional desideratum of the first importance, to endown the spirit of the Navy, could any system dow it with commensurate resources with regard have been devised which would prove more effec- to officers? Its powers of expansion should be the tual than this is likely to do-this, which requires same in every department. If ships and men may officers to spend the prime of their life, with no be increased almost ad libitum, government should particular duty' before them, except that of wait-possess the means of creating officers pari passu. ing for dead men's shoes? A commission in the These means are to be derived from the schoolNavy confers honor, and opens the way to distinc-ship, in the manner proposed for creating a body of

a class of recruits less to be desired for the Navy, and far more inefficient, than would be a reinforcement to an army of raw militia, commanded by officers who had never fired a musket or fixed a bayo

well-trained officers to constitute a corps of reserve out of the Navy be opened to the surplus officers, for the Navy. Supposing this plan immediately to we should in a few years find them, even under be put into operation, its first fruits would not be this supposed arrangement, again accumulatinggiven to the world till after the lapse of six years. becoming in a short time sufficiently numerous to Millions are yearly spent on the Navy-the object create a peculiar interest, and to command influof which is to give security to American com- ence in the lobbies of our legislative halls. And merce and millions of that commerce are yearly thus we should again have the service burthened, lost from improper management and bad navigation as we now have it, with a non-descript class of ofon the part of those who conduct it; and surely no ficers (with this difference however, the last would measure could be more national in its objects, or be worse and more injurious than the first) sowing philanthropic in its results, than one which should broadcast its seeds of discord and insubordination have for its aim the creating of a corps of well- among all grades. One discontented spirit at sea trained and skilful officers, who should serve the is enough to destroy the peace and harmony of a double purpose of conducting that commerce safely whole ship's crew, and sometimes even to threaten in peace, and of protecting and defending it va- the safety of the ship herself. What then, among liantly in war. If it be admitted that Midshipmen a corps of little more than a thousand officers, are during their apprenticeship, (and many whose opi- two hundred and twenty discontented spirits-nearly nions are entitled to weight maintain that they do,) one-fourth of the whole Navy proper-impatient for render a quid pro quo, independent of their prospec-promotion-tired and disgusted, even to loathing, of tive value as commissioned officers, then this corps the tameness of a situation in which they have "no of reserve may be created and maintained ever particular duties" to perform? This list is the afterwards in training for the Navy, without the growth of only a few years, and is rapidly increascost of a single dollar to the public treasury. The ing. If the system which nourishes it be persenumber of "young gentlemen" necessary to the vered in, who so blind that he cannot foresee some proper performance of duty on board any ship-of- of the national evils which will arise from the corwar, is far greater than that which is required rupting influences of masses of such spirits, conmerely to fill up the vacancies that may occur tinually accumulating and festering on their corps, within any reasonable time, among the commissioned with all the indiscretion and ardor of youth upon officers of that ship. Thus, the complement of com- them? Who has set bounds to their numbers? Or missioned officers for a frigate, is a Captain and four where is the law that has fixed a limit to their or five Lieutenants-the complement of Midship-growth? Like the gourd of the prophet, this body men, fifteen or twenty. When I entered the ser- of officers has sprung up in the night; and, like that vice, the usual quota of the last was between thirty gourd, it cherishes a worm that is preparing to and forty. Now, supposing the number of officers smite and wither the strong right arm' of this in each grade to be fixed by law, so as to allow good people. Let those describe who may, the every ship in the Navy her war-complement of of- dangerous and ruinous tendency of the policy ficers--supposing also the ratio which at present which created and would maintain such grades of exists between the Midshipmen and Lieutenants of officers in the Navy. Suffice it to say, that its maa frigate, to be the true proportion which ought to lign influences may be neutralized-nay, more— be maintained between these two grades in the ser-individual grievances and a public evil may be convice-then every Midshipmen would, under such verted into personal benefits and national advantaan arrangement, have to outlive the Naval exis-ges, by opening from the school-ship a safety valve, tence of at least three Lieutenants before he could by which all the young officers, who are not immeexpect promotion, a period, the average duration of which would far exceed that wholesome term of apprenticeship, which, in the opinion of military men, is necessary and proper to the profession of

arms.

diately required for the Naval, might escape into the merchant, service of their country-there to acquire, in their peaceful pursuits, all the experience of the most skilful seamen. Trading to every part To be qualified for this profession, is clearly of the world, their military education in the schoolthe object of the indenture by which our youth first ship would enable them to acquire a fund of inforbecome bound, as Midshipmen, in the service of mation, not accessible to regular Navy officers, their country. And when they are so qualified, concerning the ports, harbors, and resources of all good faith and true policy require that they should nations, that in war would prove invaluable. Should be allowed to doff the badge of apprenticeship, to the practice of warring (not privateering) upon put on the insignia of a higher order, and be regu- commerce be continued among maritime nations at larly advanced to the next degree in their craft; war, this 'corps of reserve,' with the well-estabfor it is as little to be expected as it is to be de-lished reputation of American merchantmen for sired, that the apprentice to so noble a calling as fast sailing, would place it in the power of the that of arms, would be content to remain in the United States to sweep from the ocean the comhumble capacity of Midshipman during the average merce of an enemy; and therefore tend to secure period of three Naval lives. Unless, therefore, a field 'the continuance of peace by making her so formi

dable an enemy. For the destruction of commerce, | "We learn from the monuments of antiquity," a small vessel is as efficient as a large one. Strength some one has said, "that the first laws had scarcely to overcome merchantmen, with fleetness to come any other origin than custom; which is often a up with them, and to escape from larger men-of-wretched master." The practice of privateering, war, are the requisites to be sought in vessels for and many of the usages connected with it in mothis purpose; and the merchant service affords many dern warfare, are relics of the barbarous ages, such, which, with such a corps of officers to draft when piracy was a boast, and robbery on the high from, the United States could arm, man, and send seas was considered a most honorable occupation. to sea by scores. At the cessation of hostilities, Among the Greeks it was an honor to be successthese vessels could be again sold as merchantmen; fully engaged in robberies at sea. As late as the and these officers, if not from choice, could readily be induced again to enter the merchant service: and thus the Navy would at once, and without difficulty, fall back upon its former economical peace establishment.

ninth century, Boucher says-"All mariners were a set of robbers." Dr. Franklin described privateering in war, as "a remnant of the ancient piracy;" and, in a letter to Mr. Oswald, thus alludes to it, and the evils of it. "If rapine is abolished, Not the least recommendation in favor of such one of the encouragements to war is taken away, an arrangement in the school-ship, nor the least and peace, therefore, more likely to continue, and important among the national advantages to be be lasting. The practice of robbing merchants on thence derived, would be the bold and noble stand the high seas, a remnant of the ancient piracy, which that arrangement would enable this country though it may be accidentally beneficial to particuto take against that most ancient and barbarous lar persons, is far from being profitable to all enpractice of privateering, in war. In the early in-gaged in it, or to the nation that authorizes it. In fancy of the Republic, it was the opinion of Dr. the beginning of a war, some rich ships, not on Franklin, and American statesmen generally, that their guard, are surprized and taken. This en"the United States are better situated than any courages the first adventurers to fit out more armed other nation to profit by privateering." And though vessels, and many others to do the same. But the that great and good man was in favor of its imme- enemy, at the same time, become more careful, diate abolition at that time, and actually made ef- arm their merchant ships better, and render them forts, in all the treaties at which he assisted, to not so easy to be taken: they go also more under have a clause inserted to that effect; yet legisla- the protection of convoys. Thus, while the privators, the scope of whose benevolence is less like teers to take them are multiplied, the vessels subthe light of Heaven, have generally, on the grounds ject to be taken, and the chances of profit are diof expediency, refrained from pursuing the noble minished, so that many cruises are made wherein policy thus early set on foot. But these grounds can the expenses average the gains; and, as is the case no longer be urged. We were then weak-now we in other lotteries, though particulars have got are strong. American commerce was then making prizes, the mass of adventurers are losers-the its first venture abroad on feeble wings-now it is whole expense of fitting out all the privateers, dufull-fledged, sailing before every breeze that rip-ring war, being much greater than the whole ples on the ocean. And the United States now, amount of goods taken. Then, there is the naso far from being in a condition to profit, have tional loss of all the labor of so many men during more to lose, and less to gain, than any other the time they have been employed in robbingnation, by privateering. With more tonnage than who, besides spending what they get, in riot, any other nation, (one excepted,) and, in propor- drunkenness and debauchery, lose their habits of tion to resources, with fewer fortified harbors, and industry, are rarely fit for any sober business after a smaller Navy to give convoy and protection to peace, and serve only to increase the number of its vessels, the commerce of the United States, highwaymen and housebreakers. Even the underboth at home and abroad, would now be peculiarly takers, who have been fortunate, are, by sudden obnoxious to this species of warfare. Its rich car-wealth, led into expensive living, the habit of goes and defenceless state would not fail to excite which continues when the means of supporting it foreign cupidity; and, in themselves, these two conditions would draw forth swarms of private armed cruisers seeking to plunder it. In a maritime war with any other country, except England, the odds against the United States would be fearful: for the commerce of the enemy being limited, and ours extensive, he would have little, and we much," to lose by privateering.

cease, and finally ruins them-a just punishment for their having wantonly and unfeelingly ruined many honest, innocent traders and families, whose subsistence was obtained in serving the common interests of mankind."

"It is cowardly," observes a French writer, for its object is to attack the unarmed. It is odious, for it has no other principle than a base The 23d article of the treaty of 1785 with Prussia, self-interest. It is barbarous, for the flying merstipulates, that, in case of war, "neither of the contracting chantman is compelled to submit, by murderous powers shall grant or issue any commission to any private]

armed vessel," &c.

broadsides."

VOL. VII-2