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E^RL OF CHATHAM, FIRST LORD COMMISSIONER OP TH€ ADMIRALTY, PR.SFACEO BT AN ADDJIESS TO THE CAPTAINS OF THE ROYAL NAVYj AND CONCLUDING WITH AN APPJ AL TO THE PEOPLE OF GREAT iRITAI>rb ■Mt Tempt not the Brave mi neidj to det/atW-^JwEVAL. aa& L O N I> O >l5 *>tlNTED FOR J. RID^WAV, NO, f, YORK-aTRBBT, 8T. James's «qj7ARB« C^aSrfiJi^ t 790* -. ' M / ' m 1 * 1 ■ -'^'t^rl^'g,. < - « ■Br X i # ' \ \ ■"'-• 'illlllllBllilllll %, PREFATORY ADDRESS TO THE CAPTAINS OF THE BRITl^ NAVY. GENTLEMEN, npHE veneration I feel for the navy of this 1 kingdom, occafions me to obferve, particu- larly, every thing which occurs relative to it. I have long regretted the negleift, ingratitude, and indignity, with which its officers have been treated. On viewing an advertifement from ):he Admiralty to the lieutenants of the navy, (in my opinion, as difgraceful to the Board fijora^ whence it iffued, as infulting to the valuable men to whom it is addrefled) and a letter,- inferted in fe- veral of the daily papers as an anfwer thereto, iigned '' Hundreds of Half Pay Lieutenants;* both of which I (hall herein infert, I was induced to ptiblifh my fentiments on the fubjed. To whom could I fo properly addrefs myfelf, on fuch an occafion, as the Firjl Lord of the Admiralty ; the nian, who from his official fituation, and the obligations his family are under to the navy, is, of all others, at this time, the propereft perfon to B (land "^*'""'''' ' ! '■'• h i nm ti l l Uj PR EFATORY "AftJSftlld. -t Rand forward their advocate, and to procure them that relief they have hitherto pleaded for in vain ? The Letters, which I have addrefled to that noble Lord, in one of the public prints, having been feen and approved of by feveral officers ia the feryice, of different ranks, with whom I have the honour to be acquainted, they have requeued I would republifh them coUedtedly, in order that the fadts, ftated in them, being thus brought to- gether, they might be better known and under- ilood by the public at large. In complying with their requeft, I have thought it neceiTary, Gei^- tlemen, to preface them with this addrefs to you. ' Had it not been the intention of your corps to make a ftmilar application with the lieutenants, yet, conlidcring them as brother officers, in a fta- tion through which you mufl all have pafled to your prefent rank, in which the majority of you mud have experienced fimilar difficulties, and have known the. neceffity that exifted for relief, I am firmly of opinion the bufinefs ought to be a common caufe. The truly brave are truly generous ; humanity is the charadteriilic of the hero, and draws the diHinguiihing line between the rational courage of the man, and the fenfelefs ferocity of the brute. The diftrefles of one clafs, and the injuries donis PRSFATORY ADDRRESS. 9 done to it, ought therefore to be felt by the other ; it fhould become a mutual intereft, and all ihould unite in obtaining relief and redrefs. If principle did not, general intereft, if rightly con- sidered, would produce that unanimity j which, if difplayed, I will venture to affert, there is nothing that you could afk, which it would not be in your power to obtain. You have the heart of the na- tion with you; it is the public wiih that you fhould all enjoy the due reward of your merits and great fervices. Your happinefs is a public good; and be aflured, whatever you «»4«/w(7«^ requefted, no minifter dared refufe. It is dif- union alone, and the petty confideration of private interefts, that fubjed:^ the navy to the infults it has received. The wound fo recently inflided on your ho- nour, by the proud predeceflbr of the prefent Firft Lord, abetted by the man who is nosvfac mum to the latter, cannot yet be cicatrized. You muft ftill fmart under the 'ndignity, and refledt on the authors with deteftation. Had unanimity prevailed throughout the navy, would the one have ruled at the Admiralty Board, and the other have been honoured with the command of the fineft fleet, this or any other country ever be* held; though unbl^fled with that warm af- fection, that coofidence, efteem, and refped, Bz which Ml » 1>R£FAT0RY ADDRBSS.' which creates vigor and energy in the execution i)f the orders of a commander in chief. ^ il In writing to you. Gentlemen, I confider my- Telf addreding you as a body, not individually, 1 do not exped: individuals, who have immediate expectancies, to fly in the face of authority, and forfeit thofe rewards, which are indeed diftributed M^ith fo partial and fparing an .hand; but thefe are few, compared with the whole ; yet I trufl that, promotion will not deftroy thofe fine feel- iiigs, thofe generous principles, thofe liberal ideas, which do more honour to the officer, than the lace with which he is adorned. Though fubordination and refpedb to rank is the fpirit of military life, in adual fervice, yet, at other times, it fhould fubfide into urbanity and poiitenefs; the pride of the fuperior fhould be fiyik in the manners of the gentleman ; and a friendly attention in private life, fuperfede the diftant demeanour on public duty. I am forry that truth obliges me to add, I have, in my inter- courfe with iiaval men of various ranks, too often perceived the fuperior (to ufc a common fca phrafc) " top the officer y" and the inferior difplay that kind of inferiority not due firom one gentlc- ■man to another. The condud: of the former has fccmed to demand this kind of diftant refped, as j£, dtmngthe ffleffmity of his oath,' he h^d fwal- iowed an oblivious potation, and loft the remem- brance I t i :4 / I .m ,y aX and be ^ d a ,' the )rry > ter- ften ■., to ■ ■■'',- >lay "*r tlc- i haa ,as ral- ;in- ' M ice PREFATORY ADDRESS. g brance )f thofe gradations, which then led him to the Admiralty altar. I am certain. Gentlemen, there is not a man amongft you, but from your own knowledge and experience, will admit the propriety andjuftice of the reafons alledged in the following paper, iigned ** Hutfdreds of Half Fay Lieutenant s^** and confefs, that the hazard they run of being plunged into diftrefs, by the late ftate of incer- tainty, was a well grounded reafon for not offer- ing their fervices, until* fome provifion is-made for preventing fuch diftreffing confequences re- fulting from them. That their alarms were juft, the convention has confirmed, and many mull now return in the fituation they reprefent. The infult I have mentioned, as offered to your corps, is, in another way, repeated to theirs; me- naces, impotent as they are fliameful, are pub- licly held out, that they fhall be *' fcratched off the ** UfiJ* But for my fcntiments of fuch condu-ft, I beg leave to refer you to the fubfequent letters. Although the fubjeA of the following letters immediately relates only to the corps of lieute- nants, I hope. Gentlemen, you will view it in a proper light, and affociate for the general good of the navy. Let difunion no longer weaken your efforts, to obtain what is due to you all. Recoiled, Gentlemen, that it muft be the de- fire of thofe men, wlTo would dread an union of the 6 PREFATORY Ar>DRESS, the two corps, to endeavour to promote feparate interefts, to create invidious dillindtions, and pre- vent, by the flattering bait promotion, that una- nimity, fo highly neceflary to your general inter- mits, from taking place. Might not the degrading menace be with as much propriety addrefled to admirals and cap- tains, as lieutenants ? But to have made fuch an infult general, would have been too great a rifque, and certainly have produced that adtive unani- mity I fo ftrongly recommend. The conduft of his Lordfliip's brother, relative to the excife, may poflibly be a pattern for his own. The attempt of Sir Robert Walpole to eftablifb a general excife, had nearly proved fatal to him. Warned by his example, the more cautious minifter of the prefcnt day proceeds by gradations, and impofes it upon one branch of trade only at one time. This occafions a trifling drilurbance for the moment, but it foons blows over ; tliofe not immediately affedted by it, hear of it as a m£ln does of a fire at a diftance from his dwelling ; he exprelTes his concern, but becomes not adively aflifting to extinguifli the flames. When thofe who have experienced a misfortune, view others that have been unaflifting, during their difficulties, fallen into fimilar circujnflances, they generally feel a kind of malicious confola- tion^ and do not think themfelves under any obligation PREFATORY ADDRESS, obligation to be aiding In the prevention of the confequences. Thus, from a want of a mutual fupport to each other, this dreaded monfter may gradually extend its deftrudtive powers over every branch of trade. A difunion of the naval corps may, in like manner, render that eafy, which would prove im- pra6ticat)le, if unanimity prevailed. The infuU ofTered to that body which is the weakeft, has lefs intered, and lefs power of refinance, if quietly fubmitted to, will, in all likelihood, be hereafter pradiifed on your corps. That union of intereft cannot then be expefted from thofe, who have been unfupported by you; yet fuch an union might be found as requifite. The only confola- tion that I conceive to be left for you, is fimiiar to that which the giant Polyphemus gave Uly iTes, —that he ihould be the laft to be devoured. I am well informed, the Lieutenants mean to come forward again, and folicit the new parlia- cfieat for relief to their hardfhips. Had your endeavours been united to theirs fome time back, I have not a doubt you would have fucceeded. The prefent is the time ; the nation have with at- tention and furprife beheld the naval exertions; the hearts of the public glow with gratitude, and they know, that if the mimjier*s vaunts have any foundation, it is eflabliflied on thofe exertions; that it is alone the vigor SLtidJpirit of the British Navy, 8 2>Il£FAT0RY ADDRESS* Pi I I? NavY) that has humbled the haughty Spamiard^ to make a temporizing conceflion^ and accede to what, I fear, will eventually prove a cavilling *^ Convention." With a iirm hope that I Ihall fee a general ex* crtton for the mutual benefit of each corps, I beg leave to fubfcribe myfelf, with every fentiment of efteem and refpedt. Your very obedient humble fervant, AN OLD SEAMAN, i ' INTRODUCTION. INTRODUCTION. I N the month of Odtober laft'the following advertisement appeared in the public papers : 4DMlRALrr^QFFICE, ' OBober 26, 1790- MT Lords Commtffioners of the Admiralty ^ do here-* hy give notice to the Lieutenants of his Majefifi Navy^ who are ^aw unemployed, that they are forth'' %vith to tranfmit to this ojice, the names of the places of their reffeBive abode ^ with their reafotfs for not offering to ferve at this time ; and theft fkfh oftheM as do not comply therewith, on, or before the ^oth of next month, will be sxnircK o? the List* fHlLlf STfiPHENS* The former part of the advertifementi refped:*- ing their places of abod^ is in the «fual courfe* but the menacing mandate which follows, Very na- turally and juilly exciting the iodignacion of fome C of ii.. xo INTRODUCTION. of the officers it was addreffed to, fenfible aa they were that unnumbered applications for em-» ployment had been unattended to, and that it was ftili a time of peace ; the following letter appeared in feveral of the public papers, as ai^ anfwer to the foregoing advertifement ; ^^othe Right Hon. the Lords Commissioners of /^^ Admiralty, My Lords: OUR fcanty pittance not allowing us to enjoy the luxury of a newfpaper either at home or abroad 5 chance alone has prevented us from incurring a penalty for an unknown crime. The advertise- ment from the Admiralty, direfting us to tranf- mit to the office our places of abode, with our ** reafons for not offering fo/erve at this time" un^ der the penalty of being /r«c^ off the lift, might have pafled without our feeing or knowing it. We beg leave, however, thus jointly, to obey your commands ; though we think the penalty, did we not comply, would be an arbitrary ftretch of authority, which the laws of this country would not fandion. Our reafons for this affer- tion are — ?that we deem feratching an officer off the lifty to be the fame as breaking him ; which can- not be done without a court-martial : — That un- til we are adually in full pay and employed, we are I introduction; II ''j$ 4 ff un- ,S ght '■] : it. i bey m Ity, 1 Itch m itry i Ter. 1 'the 1 :an- 1 un- ,1 ■,,'v wc are J Hre not fubjedt to military law : — That if it is meant to threaten uS with a deprivation of our half pay; it cannot be done. The law has de- clared that the half pay is not given as a retainer^ but as a reward for pajl fervices. But^ my Lords, not to employ too much of your time, which at this period muft be preci- ous, we proceed to give you fome of our rea- fons. / - We do not apply for employment—* Because we remember the contemptuous in* dignity with which the minifter thought fit to treat our *^ modefi** application (as Mr. Sheridan juftly termed it) to have our grievances and dif- trefles heard by Parliament ; Because we are, at a certainty, if employed, bf being put to a very heavy expence, for which, if war ihould not take place^ no reflitution will be made us ; Because, if a war does take place, we muft leave our wives and families to poverty and dis- trefs. The expences we muft incur, at leaft equal to half a year's pay, will ever be a dead weight about our necks, unlefs we may be fortu- nate enough to take prizes, which is a great ca- fualty-; Because owe full pay is (except in three-deck (hips) only one JhilUng per day more than our fcanty half pay ; for which we are at the expence C2 . of H INTftODUCTIotf- of a table, that colls nearly double that fum, ei!^ cluiive of all othfer unavoidable extra expences ; Because many of us muft travel fcftne hun- dreds of miles to take up our commiffions and joiii our ihips, without being allowed one ikillmg for our expences ; whereas, when ordered on the ira- prefs, or other fervice,^ the old eftablilhment of ninepeneeper nlile is allawcd ; Because, whilft we view fo rhany thoufands lavifhed on the Quixote fchemes of a Richmond, in building a palace for hia relative, and in granting penfions; we muft be convinced that no neCcffity of the country can be juftly )leaded for preventing our diilreifes being alle- viated ; Because th<^ obligatk>iis m civH focSety ar^ mutual, and we da not think We are iii juftice or honour bound to rifque our lives, and refign thofe domeftic comforts we have a natural ri^ht to en- joy in common with our feMow-fubjeds, in de- fence of a Hate which does not reward us as fuch facrtfices merit ; or in the pl>ote(^ion of that wealth, which is wantonly lavifiied on the ignomi* nious flaves of power; Because we fee the governments of all mari^ time kingdoms^ but Great Britain, giving ev«ry encouragement to their naval officers, rewarding their fervices and merits, and preventing their Qptrits being diamped by the chill hand of penury; * and tNtRObl^CTldSr* H ahd becaufe we are fenlible that no nation, upoii earth, has equal reafon to preferve that ardor and energy of mind in her officers; as there is no na- tion which requires fbch a deperidance to be placed on the ftrength and vigor of her navy ; We humbly hope, my Lords, the foregoing *' reafonsfor not offering to ferve,*' will prove fa- tisfafflory frosri Your Lordlhips' mod obedient fervants, HUNDREDS Op HalJ" Pay Lieutenants* * I'he fadts contained in the foregoing anfwer are fo generally known, the reafons given are lb obviousi and the arguments contained in it fo well founded, that, upon the perufal of them, I was inftindively led to aflume the charadter of an advocate for that truly deferving body of men. I am foiry a more able pen has not un- dertaken the talk; but the nature of the caufe I efpoufe is fuch, and the arguments > I make ufe of, having the folid foundation of Truth for their fupport ; powerful abilities, will not, I truft, be found necefTary to enforce them. The fenti- ments of a plain feaman are thus fubmitted for public obfervation on a fubjed, interefting to every wellwilher to the fafety and glory of the nation. If the end he has in view, the relief of diilrefled merit, is efFeded, he is indifferent eithei: i ' i] m & INTRODtrCTlOH* to apt>Iaufe or cenfure, except as to his motive* That end obtained would be, indeed, a gratifi- eation, if he could flacter himfelf that his en- deavours have in the lead tended to its accom* {>U(hnient. •fc ' . I LETTERS *Qs LETTERS TO THE niGHT HON. EARL OF CHATHAM, FIRJ5T LORD COMMISSIONER OF JHE, ADMIRALTY, LETTER I, 'I -'I . I MY LORD, HAVING feen a letter in feveral of the papers, signed, * ■ Hundreds of half pay Lieutenants ;" and many of the fads which it contains having been repeatedly ftated to me by feveral naval Lieutenants, with whom I have the fatisfadion to be intimately acquainted, I cannot help taking up my pen to make fome obfervations in confe- quence of them, not, I truft, wholly unworthy your Lordihip's attention. Being bred to the fea, my Lord, and having formerly fpent fome part of my time in his Ma- jefty's fervice, I ftill refpedt it ; I revere the navy as the bulwark of the nation : and I honour thofe brave gn &■ :*•) 5 i ) 1 ,. y \ ( i6 ) brave men, who arc the fprings to put the great machine in motion. Your Lordfhip's fituation is a peculiar one—* You are brother to the minifler; and no other reafon can be adigned why you are placed at the head of that Board, which regulates and di- reds this chief engine of defence to the king? dom. Educated in the army, and not confpicuous cither in the field, or in the fenate, men have wondered at the temerity of your brother, in placing you in a flation which ought to be filled by talents of a very fuperior kind. The knowledge which a firft Lord of the Ad- miralty ought to pofTefs, is of a very compli- cated nature. It Ihould comprehend, at leafl, a general knowledge of politics, feamanfhip, naval architedure, and every thing, in ihort, which 19 involved in naval concerns : with a fund of in-? formation of the nature and difcipline of the na? val power of other maritime ftates. Though it seldom happens that fuch knowledge is combined in any individual, yet a total ignorance mud cer- tainly difqualify ^ny peirfon for fo eminent and arduous an ofEce. A man ought, at aqy rate, to poifefs fuch a portion of knowledge, as woul4 enable him to form a judgment of the advice and opinions of thofe profcffional men who are placed in a fubordinate cfapacity, merely to give him af-*^ fiftance ; ( t7 ) fiftance ; fctf fufficiency, a defcft in profeffional knowledge, and private intereft, may otherwifc mifleadji and produce a prejudice to the national fervice. When a man is .not poflefied of thefe requilite qualifications, and is placed by adventitious cir- cumibinces infuch a'fituation, he (hould conduct himfolf with the niceft circumfpedion. As fome compenfation for fuch deficiency, he (hould, by every means in his power, evince that the good of the fervice fuperfedes every private confider* ation; he ihould promote each circumftance which cAti tend to the general benefit of the navy; he ihould be perfectly impartial in his promotion of officers ; and let merit take place of particular intere(ls< Such a condu^, and fuch only, caa counteradt the prejudices, which will naturally arife, where there is a defe^ of official know « ledge. The general opinion has been, hitherto, rather favourable towards your Lordlhip, and that fen- timent ha^ arifen from your not having done any thing aftually reproachable ; but, my Lord, it i$ not certain that this kind of negative official vir- tue will cherilh that favourable difpofition, or in- deed fuffer it long to exift. ,Your ftation re- quires adivity ; you muft give pofitive proofs to the world of your care and attention to the wel- fare of the navy and its component parts. D The I' l I 11 I I I) ( i8 ) The late promotion of officers has been puffed off by your panegyrifts rather to your difadvan- tage. There were fome inftances, in which me- rit met its reward^ without much folicitation ; but the minifterial writers would have perfuaded us, that fuch an attention vf&s general Promo- tion makes men confpicuous ; their profefilonal condud: becomes a topic of converfation ; it is fcrutinized into, and weighed againfl its rewards. If it be found not to merit Angular attention, pro- motion mult be placed to the account of private intereft. Unlefs thofe, who undertake to efta- blifh your impartiality, could have fixed it on a found bafis, they Ihould not have attempted it ; the fuperftrudture not being alike firm in every point, naturally fell, and expofed the weaknefs of the particular parts^ Had they been filent, no Ihades would have dimmed the light which might have refleded on your condudt in that inftance. In my next, I Ihall attend more clofely to the fubjedt which caufed me to take up my pen. I am. My Lord, With due refped:. Your Lordlhip*s obedient fervant, . AN OLD SEAMAN- ( LETTER ( t9 ) LETTER 11. MY LORD, ^ TN my firft letter I took the liberty of retnark- :*■ ing to your Lordfliip, the neceffity that exifts for an official man, not poflTefled of a knowledge of the duties of his office, to be particularly atten- tive to his conduct, and, by his adtions, evinc- ing fgch an integrity of the •heart, as may, in fome degree, compenfate for the deficiencies of the head. I hope and truft that the conduct: of the Earl of Chatham will, in the fuUeft extent, be guided by this indifpenfable line of redtitudey and let the virtues of the man caft a veil over tht partiality which appointed him a minifter.— Your noble father, my Lord, well knew the con- fequence and value of the Britiih navy. With- out the leaft refledtion towards the army, I will be bold to fay, he was principally indebted to the navy for that celebrity, to which, alone, your brother owes his elevation, and, through him, your Lordfliip your prefent high and lucrative appointment. The' navy, my Lord, for the above reafon, juftly demands your care, your veneration. It has peculiar claims upon you. It has a claim of P 2 (efpedt pi [< ( < a* ) refpefl: upon you, from the recolledion of yoi^r noble father ; it has a claim of gratitude upon you^ as a man ; it has a claim of juflice upon you, as a flatefman and a minifter. Aifert your dignity, my Lord ; difplay your independency j follow the ej^ample of your glorious predecefTor ; be not the abjedt inflrument of a younger bro- ther ; fland forth, publicly, the champion of the navy, and popularity (that idol of your patron) will follow. I would, however, wiih to make the diftindion between his popularity, and that which you would acquire. He poifefTes it, prin- cipally, in the mouths of a credu^lous rabble: your Lordihip Ihould poifefs it in the hearts of the nation at large. Every man of underfta^d* ing and public virtue; ^ay^ every mai^ whole private int^refta are conne&ed with the public fafety and welfare^ would applaud your condud: in fupport of the true and only re^ defence of the kingdom ; they would bellow their benedicr tions on this natural offspring of real patriotifm^, , as laviihly as they have rented their execrations againlt the interefled abortions, teeming from the brain of, an engineering lunatic. The prefent moment, my Lord, affords you , the fairelt opportunity for purfuing the only road, to real greatnefs; to fignaliee ypurfelf by une- quivocal proofs of the lincerity of your attach- ment to that bulwark of thekingdomj over which your ( ai ) your Lordihip prcfwiea. The minlfterial hirer lings have lately taken tnqch pains to (hew (he inefficacy of the French navy at prcfent, by telU ing the public, what in fad every one already knew; that a number of ihips alonet were no ways formidable. This trqifm, my Lord, I fhal) only make ufe of to point out, that no great me- rit can be afcribed to the Admiralty, merely for ifluing orders to fit out a number of (hips. Such orders are foon prepared and ilTued, It is no inore than a tnanufadurer diredling buildings to be ereQed for carrying on his worl^. It is in the interna) bufinefs his knowledge is difplayed ; the perfection to which he brings the component parts, that are to give adtion to his machines, is the criterion which difcovers his judgment and (lis induftry. So^ my Lord, with refped to the navy. It is not the building and preparing the mere hulls, but a due attention to preferve that ardor and energy which are to give life and mo- tion to the operations of our fleets. Though every part of the navy requires a pnK per attention, and there are very numerous cir- cumftances which demand inveiligation and amendment, I (hall at prefent only advert to what (I have previoufly informed your Lordfhip) oc» cafioned me to take up my pen ; the anfwer to the Admiralty advertifement, which lately ap« peared I' r 8:. ( 2* )• I' I pcared in feveral of the papers, figned " Hundredi ^^ of Half ? ay Lieutenants:' I wi(h thofe brave men had a better adva-» cate. It is a fevere farcafm on every naval man in the late Houfe cf Commons, that not one had the virtue, or the feeling, to ftand up and fe- cond the motion of Mr* Sheridan for relief to « their brother officers. My Lord, I beg leave to obferve that, had your brother liftened to the didates of huma- jiiiy, good policy, or juftice, when a petition^ figned by more than feven hundred of thofe moft nfeful men, to have their diftrefles heard, was prefentcd to Parliament by Mr. Baflard, and af- terwards by Mr. Sheridan ; had he not treated them with a Ihameful negled: and contumely, no BecefSty- would have exifted for fo degrading an advertifement in the public papers. Had they been treated with that refpedtful attention which their great merits and the facrifices they make to the national honor and fecurity demand, you would not have wanted (what you now have done) Lieutenants t. fupply your (hips; com^ miffions would not have lain idle at the Admi- ralty, to the mortification of thofe who participate in the fcandalous tax impofed on the officer, when he receives it ; and what is of more importance, there would not have been fuch delay of the pub- lic < »3 ) lie fervice. I fliall fpeedily refume the fubjed/ my Lord, and am. Your Lordihip's mofl obedient fervant. h.ll i.i -^wtuwjjm**' AN OLD SEAMAN. ? ' LETTER { H ) LETTER lih MY LORD, li yfEN, in high office j may affeft to defpife the "^ ' '*• aniraadverfions contained in the daily pub- lications t but the pubHc well know it is merely affedtation. They judge from their owti feeli igs, and confider the effedt it would have upon them- felves. The very idea of real infeniibility would be a perfe^ condemnation. The minifter, whofe mind is fteeled againfl advice, whofe btjeaft is cal- lous *o juft reproof, and impervious to convic- tion, muft be ill fuited to the important trufts re- pofed in him. It is undoubtedly true, my Lord, that the ma- levolence of party may frequently mifreprefent dnd exaggerate ; yet, in general, there is fome pofitive fadt or truth whereon to ground the at- tack. On the other hand, is there not equal mif- reprefentation and exaggeration from the panegy- rizing partizans of miniflers ? In Ihort, it may be compared to viewing a portrait, drawn by dif- ferent artifts, employed on different fubjedls ; the features of the perfon are difcoverable in both, to the eyes of men of judgment; though in one, they \ \ ( *5 ) they are foftened wkh the benignity of an angel ; in the other, they are diftorted with the fury of a fiend. It is an unfortunate circumflance, attending thofe in po\yer, that they can alone feek for truths amidft the thorny paths of reprobation ; but there is much more danger lurking in the fmooth walks of flattery and difUmulation in which they daily tread. Do not, therefore, my Lord, let this error of aflfedtation lead you to be inattentive to the voice of Truth, though conveyed (if I may be allowed a nautical metaphor) through the /peaking trumpet of the prefs. I herd not with courtly men, but I mix with the public, and can aiTure your Lordfhip, that the fads ftated in the pointed anfwer to the Admiralty advertifement, have been the fubjed of general converfation, amongfl thofe men, to whom, my Lord, the mod attention Ihould be paid ; fince they are thofe who give the greateft fupport to the exigencies of the date ; I mean the commercial part of the world. This clafs of the public feverely reprobate thofe in power, whofe duty it was to have prevented the jud complaints contained in the anfwer. It wouldj indeed, have been extraordinary, if mer- cantile people, whofe particular intereds are fo much concerned in the welfare of the navy, had not peculiarly felt for the didrefsful iituation of men who are the protedors of thofe intereds, to E whom > 4 ( 26 ) whom this country owes fo much, who arc fo hardly treated, fo fcandaloufly pegleAed. As the naval minifler, my Lord, you ought not to be ignorant of what has pafled, relative to that clafs of oiEcers, the Lieutenants of the Navy; nay, I can aflsrt it as a faA, that, if you have not been guilty of unpardonable inattention and ne- gle^, you ihould be a perfed matter of the fub-p jed ; fince I know that, at your firft coming into, office, the moft iiiiinute infori^iation was conveyed to you. You have, my Lord, what, in the navy, i« termed a nur/e; when young. boys of high intereft are preferred to command, and a grey headed ve- teran appointed their ftrft officer. You have the alTiftance of a man, who, profejOEionaUy, is capable of giving you every intelligence* and piloting you through the dark mifts of ignoraoee* This navai lord, who, in his election ciui^e, indeed, dif^ covered hin[if^lf tO be n bad political pilot and ran himjfelf a ground on the qwiftkfa^^ds of popu- lar refentment^ h neverthelefs thotoughly qualified to adminifter knowledge and advice to your Lord-» Ihip. It i.^ to Uq hoped that L-prd ha» been con- vinced, by experience, how much the navy is the idol of the people. His bafe ingratitude in the Houfe towards ^hat clafs of mea, who had afi- filled in elevating him to his prefent dignities (by the fupport he gave to the execrated mcafures of U' < ^7 ) of that hated naval minifter, your immediate predeceflbr) was then remembered ; to his con- duct refpefting thofe brave and injured men, the rejedted captains, did he owe the lofs of his elec- tion, more than to' the popularity of the man whofe intereft oppofed him. I truft it will be an tifeful leffon to him, and that he will, from a re- membrance of what he once was himfelf, and from a fenfe of contrition for his paft mifcondud^, make fome retribution, by future attention to the good of the fervice, and the encouragement of thofe, whofe defervings, in their fituation, will, if fcrutinized into, be found, at leafl, equal to his own. His Lordihip fhould remember (though titles and power are too apt to caft an oblivious (hade over former infignificancej that high honours did not always prefent him with even zjhadow of re- pen command, it is the lieutenant who is the adtive inflrument of execu- tion. To the lieutenants, my Lord, to their exer- tion?, are we principa^y indebted, for the extra- ordinary difpatch, which at the commencement of the prefent armament, equipped fo powerful a fleet, in fuch a iliort period, as mufl have created alloniihment in furrounding nations ; yet are thefe men degradingly advertifed for, like runa- way apprentices, that are forced from home by ill ufage, and threatened with punilhment if they do not return. The public papers inform us, that a promotion of young men is to take place, and that there will be an addition of two hundred to the lift of lieute- nants. I rejoice, my Lord, that fuch attention is to be paid to a clafs of meritorious young men, whofe fervices have ever been fo much unattended to; but I muft, notwithftanding, obferve, that there is more neceffity' for making an adequate provifion for thofe already upon the lift (a num- ber fufficient to fupply the whole navy, according 10 the prefent regulation) than to make fo large an addition. The additional expences hereby created, would go a great way towards that which would Wi ( 29 ) WQiiId b^ nec€ffary to give relief to many old officers. I do not mean to hint a wiih that the promotion ihould not take place; far from it; but I think the fervices of an old fervant require equal attention with that of a new one. I am, my Lord, Your Lordlhip*? obedient fervant, AN pLP 5PAMAN. I'i r SI r ''I ^ ■ I LETTER < JO ) Ij LETTER IV. , MY LORD, T\7HEN your Lordihij>, your brother, and ^ ^ the reft of your relatives and connedlions, who, through his power and influence, enjoy fo maay thoufands, relinquifli thofe emoluments, and labour through the vafi fatigues of office, without remuneration ; we may be led to fuppofe, that a love for your country, or what is termed fatrlotifm, is the fole motive which animates your fereafts. On the other hand, fhould we perceive but little attention paid to the true interefls of ihe country, the real bufinefs of the various depart- ments negligently attended to, and the time, which ought to be employed in difpatching it, facrificed to felf-confideration, and the fupport of individual interefts, amidft the flrife of contend- ing parties ; it muft prove impoflible to conclude otherwife, than that the amor pecunia fuperfedes the amor patrUy 2nd influences all your adtions. In fliort, my Lord, that antiquated virtue, fo much boafled of in Rome, and other flates, was, I fear, knbwn to as few, in thofe periods, as I believe it may be in modern times. However pleaiipg the pidure ( 3« ) pidure in imagination, it is a rara avis in nature Many boafl of an acquaintance with this difintcr- efted virtue, but few claim an Intimacy with it. Inyeftigate the actions of mankind from the mo- narch to the peafant, we Ihall find that felf-lme is the predominant principle. If this prevailing paffion did not counteract that heavenly mandate, whieh ** bad f elf- love and foetal be the famey*- why has mankind feea the grafping hand of royalty hoarding millions, whilft the tools of aggran- dizing power have Ihut the doors of commifera* tion againil the complaints of poverty and injured merit ? Why do we fee the purfe-proud digni* taries, who (hould give us living examples of apoilolic purity, meeknefs, and charity, labouring to engroCs the good things of this life, and live in luxurious indolence ; whilft their flavilh hire- lings enforce, by their wan appearance, the doc- trines of abftinence, which they preach to a neg- le^ed flock > Why does the treacherous iena<* tor betray thofe rights he is chofen to proteft ;-^ the fbldier *^ fe£k the bubble reputation^ even in th ** cannon's mouth ?*' Why does the glib-tongued lawyer fupport the caufe his confcience muft con- demn ; the grave phyfician quit his downy bed, to vifit the manfions of loathfome difeafe ? Why docs the wily trader humbly crouch to infolence and pride ; the peafant fweat beneath the toils of ' induilry, to gratify the appetites of pomp and luxury »...»i &=ij i«i ♦■'^l '\4 it tii ( ) h ' n II luxury ?— —The love of /elf, my Lord ;— ^thw intuitive principle is proved in all. With fuch invariable conviction, eternally pre*- fentcd to us, what are we to conclude? — That unbiaifed patriotifm is the mere phantom of ima- gination, a meteor of pretence, that frequently £aihes to the fancy, but does not warm the heart. It was common intereH, and mutual wants, that firA formed communities, and Hill bind fociety together. All men are, by nature, equal ; necef- , fity created> and power fupports diftindions. Still, however, from the greateft to the leall, we are, in fadt, hirelings to each other* In uncivil- ized focieties, uncommon merit, and fuperior abi« lities, in contracted fpheres of adion, acquire Tank and confequence; in civilized dates, this juit feledtion gives place to the influence of wealth and power, to the too frequent exclufion ofthofe claims. Look in the private walks of life, we fee the individual receives a due and equable exchange of good offices, according to his rank. In the public paths, it is otherwife ; the returns from the ftate to its immediate fer- vants, are not diftributed in fair proportion, with refpeCt to their fituation, their merit, and the nature of their fervices. Who, for inftance, that beholds the puifne Lords of the Admiralty (for I exclude t\i^^ fevere duty of your Lordfhip) roll- ing 1 ( 33 ) iiig in their chariots to the Board, to undergc the vaft fatigue of j merely, giving their fignatuics : —fattening on a Thousamd Pounds a year, whilft the diftnembered veteran, after a hard fer- vite of thirty or forty years, expofed to every clime and every danger, is in vain folibiting at« tention, and continues (larving on a paltry pittance of Fifty ? Who, my Lord, that beholds this, can refrain from allowing th^ juftice of my qbfer* vation, and exclaiming againfl: the ingratitude, cruelty, and injudice, which admit of the difpro« portion. If good refults from any adlion^ it is, perhaps, iinneceffary to fearch too minutely into the mo- tive which gave birth to it ; yet I cannot help, on this occafion, avowing, I am firmly perfuaded^ that what influences men, in a military life, is in- tereil and ambition united. Take away advan* tage and fame, and I fear Patriotifm would be left in the lurch. I do not mean this as a reflection, becaufe I really do not conceive any folid reafon can be affigned, why a man fliould feel an extra- ordinary prediledion for a peculiar fpot, merely, becaufe he cafually drew his firft breath upon it ; or fliould feel attachment to a particular fociety, for no other reafon than that he happens to make one of the number, when he is deprived of a fair participation of the advantages ariflng from his efforts to produce a general benefit. F This I ,■■1 r '1 I t ( 84 ) I 'i ! ' Tbut it is the duty of every man to Cufiport the intereft and welfare of the ftate of which he is m fiibjcAy I willingly allow ; but I muft alfo infi^, that there is a reciprocal duty due from the ftat» 10 fupport thatfubjeA. This duty, inftindkively^ leads the individual tot encounter a public enemy,, and to pQrfue to death a fellow-creature whom he never faw before, and who never, individually, of" fended hin;^ Except a very few individuals, he is naturally as much related to thole he attempts to «leftroy, as thofe he endeavours to proteA. This^ duty which impels him, proceeds from a kind of ficial compact, a general contra^, which, if brokea on one parr, releafes the other. However the ar*^ dor of enterprizs, or the heat of battk, may ex^^ cite men, during the moment of aftion ; retire* ment and cool reflef^ion will produce arguments ill the imnd, fuch as I have ^ted, and which I doubt not have given rife to that reluctance %o ferve, whence, I verily believe, the idea has ori- ' gtnatcd of the promotion of fuch a number of hitherto negleAed young men to be licut^nants.^ This idea was probably nouriihed by an expe&a* tion that popularity would refult to your Lord«> fliip from fuch a meafure. But, though the cir- cumftancemay be approved of; your Lordfhip- may not gain the full credit, you would wiih,* for the motive. To convince the public of your gno4 iotentiODS towards the navy, there muit be a con* Mency ( 35 ) fiftcncy of condu^ ; no partial attention, or what carries with it the appearance of courtly policy, will ever procure your Lordfhip that eftimation from thofe over whdm yoo have the honour to prefide, which that you may, by your condudt, obtain, is the iincere wi(h of. My Lord, Y.ip's obedient fervant, ANOLDSEAMANi r 1 \ 4 ■ } te J i Ea LETTER ( 36 ) hi LETTER V, MY LORD, . ; J •''■ ■m FROM what I have written in the preceding letters, if my arguments are well founded, this conclulion muft evidently be drawn ; that a reciprocity of interefts being the links which hold fociety together, it is a duty incumbent on thofe who prefide over it, to take efpecial care that the chain be not broken. If the interefts of the indir viduals are negledted, if they are curtailed of their equitable and due proportion of advantages, the compact is diffolved, and they are freed from that obligation, they were previoufly under, to render fervices in fupport of thofe advantages. The Lieutenants of the Navy, confidered as members of the fociety in which we live, ftand exadlly in this predicament ; their interefts are unattended to— their claims on that fociety are withholden — an4 confequently their fecial obligation is void. The benefits they fliould receive, ought to be propor- tionate to the benefits they confer ; but is that the cafe, my Lord ? No : the difproportion is great. As circumftances change, as the value of money diminiihes, and that of the neceflaries of life en- creafes in a regular ratio ; fo ftiould the ftipends or ( 37 ) 9f thofe. who ferve the public be encreafed in due proportion. The income of alpioft all other part? of fociety regularly inereafes, from the landholder to the labourer. Rank and fubordination are ner ceffary for the fupport of government ; but every gradation of rank (hould have its due maintenance. The peer and the peafant are by nature the fame j yet the former would be miferable on the luxuries of the latter. The queftion therefore is, not what thofe men, who make fuch facrifices for the public benefit, can merely exiji upon ; but what will fup- port them in that rank and (ituation which they bold in the (late ? Will you, my Lord, pretend to fay, th^t the poor pittance, of which they fo juftly complain, is adequate to the fupport of that rank they hold ? Their King has thought their fervices and their merit entitled them to rank with the captains of his army. Upon fervice, on ihore, if the dates of their commiffions are older, they precede them in command, and ever fo on board the fhips. The captain of the army, or marines, paffes his time without fatigue or trouble — his reft unbroken by a weary watch — his perfon unexpofed tp the impetuous wintry blaft; yet he pofleifes Uhjhillings a day, and an equal fhare of prizes. — The Lieutenant of the Navy experiencing every toil of duty, amidft the howling tempeft and in* dement feafon, has only four allotted him, ex- , cept I J ( y c«pt in firft and feco»d rates^ where he has dnef fliilling in addition. ^hen a deputation from the body of Lieute*' ijanW Avaited upon your brother^ my Lord, he^ with all \i\sfang firoidy cQuld not aroid feeling the force oi their complaints ; but he had not virtue (enough to (land forward their advocate, though he j^bfolutely acknowledged thejufticc of their claims^ Aw excufc, for declining what the dictates of cxqoity and humanity would have enforced, he thought ncceffary ; but the infufficieney and ab-' fordity of that which he gave, was, from him^ who has fuch a facility of •* walking tht worfe ap»' ^ pear the better reafon^^ the ftrongeft conyidtton^ fhat he ought to have complied. He was feaTfuI|. \i he complied with their requifition, it woruhf create a fimilar application from the army. My Lord, if the complaints of the army were as wefl founded, they ought equally to be attended to; bur it is clear they could not have a like foundation *^ and therefore it was not probable. The ofiicer^^ of the army well know (I bluih for the degrade dignity of the country whilft I write it, to think that honours fliould be made a trade) they weff know that their entrance into bis Majefty's fer- vice, and the attainment to the rapk they hold, i^ by bargain andfale. They come to a public mar- ket ; they treat as they would with a broker ; and' they purch^e an annuity at a particular price, and under 1:1 AND FIFTY. During this time it was necelTary I fhould be fupported as a gentleman. The addi- tion to my pay, when a midfliipman, only ftx JhilUngs per month, being in a frigate, it muft be evident 5 ) evident to your Lordfhip, could not CcJVer thd neceflary expence. During my continuance irt the fervice as a midfhipman, it coft me, communi'* bus annisy exclufive of my pay, from thirty to fifty pounds per annum. No rank (for a midlhipman has none) can be obtained in the navy without interefl ; and tL man whofe intereft is not greats may be in the navy many years, before he attains that fituation which will entitle him to the full pay offourjhillings, and to the half-pay of thre^ Jbillings per day. He cannot, if he poiTefles the means, remove himfelf higher by purchafe, and may continue, if he has not friends, in this dear* bought (ituatioh, to the lateft period of his exift- •cnce, provided he behaves well, and does not, by a negledl of " giving his reafonsfor not offering his *' fervice" m time of peace, procure himfelf to be " Jlruck off the lifi" I will venture to aflert, that there is no officer in the navy who would not, if he had employed a fum of money equal to that which, during his fervice, he has neceffarily expended, in the purchafe of a proportionate annuity, have found himfelf, in a pecuniary point of view, in- finitely better fituated than he is at prefent. The juftice of their claim to attention and re- lief is as evident, as that your Lordlhip is in a fituation to which, in the opinion of fome, your pretenfions are far from being unequivocal ; and the abfurdity of your brother's plea, at that pe-^ riod. ( 41 ) ^ riod, could only be equalled by his arrogant re- jedlion of their petition, when it was prefented, by Mr. Sheridan, to the Houfe of Commons. I am, my Lord, Your very obedient fervant, AN OLD SEAMAN. ■^ LEtTEIl ( 4» ) ' LETTER VI. r, ' i m MY LORD, 'TpHE paragraph I alluded to in my laft lettcfy -*• was one which I that day perceived in the ** Oracle'* of Adminiftration, and was headed *' Lieutenants of the Navy." Whether the paragraph was inferted by permiiiion of the Board, I cannot afccrtain, but it feemingly came forward from authority. After defcribing the nature of the PEREMPTORY Order, it adds; ** this day the time allowed for due obedience expires. It isy we learn, the firm intention of the Admiralty to execute their threats ; by which means thofe ^* Lieutenants who have kept back, will be depriv' ed of their commiJIions. Our information dates, that the Lords of the Admiralty intend to fill the vacancies on the Lieutenants' lift, thus made, by the promotion of Midfhipmen, wha have ferved their time, and have pafled for *' Lieutenants. There are of this defcription *' upwards of 200 on Lord Chatham's lift." My Lord ; the anfwer to the Ihameful Admi- ralty advertifement, which firft occafioned me thus to addrefs your Lordlhip, figned ** Hundreds \\ of Half fay Lieutenants " stfftits what is a fadt— that (< t< t€ a «c €6 <( €t .:». i .• ( 43 ) that you have not power to put fuch threats in force, nor to deprive them of their pay or their rank ; for ** commijions,** let the ignorant hireling of authority be informed, they have not. I cannot help remarking in this place, that what are called commiffions in the navy, are de- rogatory to the rank of an officer and a gentle- man. The officers in the army are honored with the King's fign manual, and the language that of truft and confidence ; the officers of the navy have their commiffions, or rather warrants 9 iigned hy fubjeBs commiffioned to fill the office of a fubjeEl, The army is diredted by the fVar Office^ though the commiffions are figned by the King ; why, therefore. Could not the navy offi- cers derive their authority from the fame honor- able fource. At prefent their authority more re- fembles that given by a flieriffto his officers.— If old eftablifhed forms are pleaded, why the in- novation of an uniform ? Thefe have have not been worn many years ; and if one is thought ne- ceflary to create refpedtability, why n6t the other ? But to proceed. Impotent threats only reflect ridicule and contempt on thofe who utter them. , Probably fuch threats were didlated by the fame advifer, who counfelled a refufal to the applica- tion of the city of London for the liberation of impreifed freemen. You would, my Lord, were G2 fuch ■All ,h\ i ( 44 ) Aich threats enforced, be convinced by an Eng' lijh Jury^ as you will be in the latter cafe, that Admiralty power mud dwindle into infignificance before the aweful authority oi the laws of the land. But even, if not thus protected, can your .Lordfhip imagine fuch indignity would be tamely fubmitted to— As the anfwer juftly obfervesj; ** fcratching off the lijly* is the fame as breaking an officer ; and breaking him implicates difgracf • The aAs of the Admiralty Board, my Lord, are, in general, efteemed the afts of the Firft Lord; the reft, it is well known, are looked upon as mere ^«/^/«^/(?«j, placed therefor the purpofe of tracing the characters of their names on papers, to give them a formal validity. The implica- tion of fuch difgrace would therefore be placed to your Lordfhip*s account. The injury would be done to men of high fpirity though perhaps unmerited penury and diftrcfs may have lulled it into a temporary lethargy ; it would be done to jnen, many of whom have often drawn their fwords *nd (bed their blood to avenge the wrongs of their country, and to fupport the juftice of its claims. I ihould not be furprifed to hear, on lome future occasion, that individuals amongft them, who felt themfelves galled by the barb of ingratitude and injudice, Ihould, on finding public and general applicitions ineffe^ual, vin- dicate iheir own honor^ fmd perfonally require redrcfs. < 45 ) redrefs, where they imagined refponfibility ought to reft. Few men, and efpecially thofe in official em- ployments can bear the acknowledgement of er- ror. What Minifter has been more frequently obliged to retradt than your brother, and who has done it with fo ill a grace ? I am informed, my Lord, however you may attempt to difguife it, that your Lordlhip and your co-adjutors are really aftiaiped of the adver- tifement, although you continued it till the laft day. I am not furprifed at it ; for there cer- tainly never was a more ihameful, a more infult- ing, a more derogatory notice addrefled from a public board to a body of gentlemen, who arc an honour to their country. The Admiralty dependants have endeavoured to foften it, by caufing it to be reported, that the meafure was adopted, in order to afcertain the number of effe^ive officers in the fervice. If it had originated from this proper motive, might it not have been efFedted, as well, by reqjjiring all tbofe officer Sy who were incapable of fervice ^ to fend notice to the Admiralty ^ with the reafons for their incapacity P This would, there is no doubt, have been readily complied with. No impotent, de- drading threats would have been neceifary . to enforce compliance. The reafon, which is thus promulged, does not, however, appear to have been ^1 ^1 ( 46 ) been in your idea at the time. The fadt waf> that numbers of the commiffions were found to be ufelefs pieces of parchment, and your notices of their being iffued were of no avail. Many would not take them up for the well-founded rea- fons affigned in the anfwer. Their fears are ve- rified, and your brother's condemned Convention has plunged them into the difficulties which the anfwer points out. Many, however, did not take up commiffions for a worfe reafon ; they could not do it ; they were prevented from doing it, by being immured within the walls ofaprifon. It is a fnelancholy fadl, my Lord, that a very great number of thefe gallant, deferving men are thus unfortunately fituated, and the country, had a war taken place, would have been deprived of their fervices. Let your emiifaries fearch thofe repofitories of diflrefs, they will find my afiertion to be true. An honourable naval commander, who is a courtier, can inform you, that (much to the credit of his philanthropy) he relieved mofl of his Lieutenants in a fecond rate Ihip of war, from the horrors of confinement. Sonie of your hireling fcribblers will probably aflert, that this fituatlon was brought upon them by extravagance; but, my Lord, fuch an aflcr- tion would, excepting, perhaps, a very few in- fiances, be a falfehood. It has been, in general, produced by abfolute necelfity, arifing from their p^try ( 47 ) paltry pay, and the confequence of the former armament. If prevention is not ufed, the num- bers now confined, and who cannot appear for the dread of it, will be increafed, by the expen- ces incurred during the prefent armament, I beg> leave to afk your Lordihip, whether a Lieutenant in the navy ought not, for the credit of the kingdom, and the dignity of the fervice, to have the appearance, and to live as a gentleman ? What would be the confequence of an officer in the army appearing fhabby and dirty, and not fupporting his mefs ? He would be defpifed, and thought a difgrace to his regiment. The expen- ces of equipment for a naval officer are much heavier; he, from the nature of the fervice, is obliged to have a larger ftock of every thing. There was a time, during the American war, when the neceffity of calculation might have been more evident to your Lordihip, than at prefent, and your obfervation, I doubt not, then convinced you, that the difficulty of an officer's raifing the necejfary fuppliesy was as perplexing a bufinefs, as your brother now experiences it to be in his miniflerial character. My Lord, let gratitude to Providence, who has placed you in power and affluence, induce you to exert yourfelf in behalf of men for whom you ought to have a Jympathetic fenfation. Let me remind you, my Lord, that a large number of that ( 48 ) that body^ to whom you have ifTued fuch an imperious^ peremptory mandate, have expended forty ox fifty pounds^ or \ipwards, in confequence of being commiiTioned. In what manner can this be done by men^ who are emerging from a folitary retirement of years, on three shillings per day ? It mud be by contrading debts, which, if they are not hurried into a goal for, the ftridteft ceconomy of years cannot folve. They have been called from their wives and famlies to rifque their lives, and hazard the happinefs of all that is dear to man, to plunge themfelves into infolvency and diftrefs ; for what — for the addi- tional fum of oneflnlling per day, except a few in fird and fecond rates. It is evident that this addition will not difcharge even the cods of the outfit, in lefs than three years. Fadls, my Lord are dubborn things, .which will not bend to fophidry. This is a fadt, as incontrovertible as that your Lordfliip receives 3000I. per annum of the national money, befides the tt cateras of office, for doing — what Lord Hood has loool. per annum more for inftruBing you to do. I am. My Lord, Your Lordfliip's mod obedient fervant, AN OLD SEAMAN, •0 LETTER ( 49 ) LETTER VII. ) MT LORD, THREE caufes may be afligncd for that fear- city of Lieutenants^ which induced thethreat- ning mandate from the Admiralty. The firft is, that numbers are pent up in prifons^ or dare not appear for the dread of them. The next is, that many have been driven by neceffity, by cruel and impolitic negledt, into the fervice of merchants ; and, what is worfe, into the fervice of Foreign States, In the one (ituation they are ufeful to the country ; in the other, they are unintentionally doing eflential injury. The third caufe is the dread of being plunged into the fame fituation with the firfl, by the heavy expence attending their unavoidable equipment. With refpedt to the firft clafs, could it create furprife if our prifons were crouded with them ; when the infufficiency of the fum, allowed them for exiftence is coniidered, and the fcandalous protraction in the payment of even that fcanty provifion? To the Ihamc of thofe in power, who have the management of it, there is, at this moment, eleven months pay due to thofe in- H jured ^:l I ' ( 50 ) jurcd men*. The officers in commiflion have been borrowing money, at intereft, to purchafe the neceflaries which cannot be difpenfed with ; and thofe not in commiflion, under circumftanccs ofdiftrefs, whilfl the fources of their fupport arc dammed up by inattention and negledt. It is a fadt, my Lord, that an officer, on en- quiry at the Admiralty, for the caufe of this fcan- dalous detention, was informed that the clerk, whofe bulinefs it is, had not had time to make out the lift. Gracious Heaven ! — ihall the conveniency of a clerk in office, my Lord, whofe fituation, compared with that of the neglefted officers, is eafe, grandeur, and opulence, be admitted as a rcafon for accumulating diftrefs on our brave pro- tedtors ? If the late hurry of bufinefs employed more of his time than ufual, is making out the lift a bufinefs of fuch intricacy, that it could not be done by others? Cannot extra clerks be had in cafes of emergency ? Should any bufinefs in- deed fuperfede that important one ? Juftice and humanity Ihould dired: the payment to be made irfimediately on its becoming due. I muft here, my Lord, take notice of what fell from your Lordlhip's brother, when he fo fhame- fully rejected the Lieutenant's petition, two years * The half pay \^a8 not advertiied for payment^ when this liCtter was pabliihed> the ^b of Deamhn ago ( 51 ) igp. His words, in the Houfe of Commons, YicrCy " If there were any tnconveniencies which might ** refult to the ojficers^ and which executive govern^ * -* went could remedy ^ it fiould be done" — How well ht has fulfilled his promife, the prefent detention of the pay fufficiently evidences. But perhaps, my Lord, the procraflnation was a paltry proportion of punifhment, recommended as a means of forcing them into fervice. If fo, the puniihment fell alike on all. Thofe, in fer- vice, wanted the pay towards their equipment ; thofe out of fervice, for the exiftence of them- felves and families, or for relief under the mife- rics of confinement. The fecond caufe I have affigned for a fcarcity of Lieutenants, from fo long a lilt, is, in the lat- ter part of it, of a very ferious nature, and claims the ftriifted attention of government to prevent it. This can be only done by encouragement at home \ for what is the forfeiture of a Lieutenant's pay and rank in the Britilh fervice, to the encou- ragement which nautical fkill artd merit meet with in that of foreign ftates. Leave will not be afked for, when difappointment and negleft have ftung the foul. When, on one hand, the prof- peA is clouded by adverfity, and on the other brightened by the expedancy of profit and ho- nour, can we doubt which path the adtive mind will purfue ? Ha ^ The ( 5» ) The laft caufe is particularly pointed out in the anfwer to the Admiralty advertifement, namely, the fear and certainty of incurring a heavy ex- pence. I borrow from a morning paper the ac* count which an officer gives of his expenditure^ as it contains the articles, which every bfiicer muft have ; though it is certain every offiter cannot have them, however nece^ary it may be, on fo ezteniive a fcale. From hence your Lordihip may at ieaft form an eflimate. r* thi EDITOR ofth^ MORNING CHRONICLE. THE following are the exa£l expences of a Lieutenant of his Majefty*s Navy, who lived three hundred miks North of London, and received orders to join his (hip at Plymouth. From his own houfe to London, being out of the great road to London — — 13 «7 1 ^/om London to Plymouth — — 4 4 6 At Plymouth — — — xo 6 To Dock — — — I 6 Two weeks lodging and board at Dock — 2 To take up his commidion -^ , — I I To a new fuit of uniform -— . -i- 7 «S To fourteen new (hirts «— — '5 To a great coat •— «— -» 3 3 • 1 T# t ( 53 ) £• 2 -2 2 3 2 O O To a goldJaced hat — • -^ Twelve pair of cotton ftockingf — Six pair of (hoes, and one pair of boots One Ijpy-glafs — — One fword and belt — — One fpeaking-trumpet — Six pound of hair powder — Stationary, pens, iidc, paper, &c. — To three infide waiftcoats, and three pair of breeches tofuit the Weft-Indies, with two pair of naufkito trowfers — — 4 One round white hat — — — o Caih to buy furniture for the ward-room — 6 Ditto to purchafe fca ftock — — lo Tafli to take in his pocket — — 5 o 1. ^ 14 o 13 o ^3 2 5 6 U 17 -9 18 6 18 o 10 « S ^ Total jf 90 17 io|^ 4/. o o Oneyear*£ Lieutenant's pay, at 43. per day — — 7^ The good officers, when he hath ferved one wfade year in defence of his King and country, his clothes worn out, and ftock ex- haufted, finds himfelf in debt iS 17 10 ( £90 17 iot There are fome articles in the foregoing ac« couQC, which^ though to a geDtleman^ pofleffing ability * ( 54 ) dbility, cannot be deemed extravagant; yet, as nc- ccflity compels the generality of the officers to retradt as much as poffible, if we take one third of the amount for the foregoing inventory, I be- lieve the remainder will be allowed to be a very moderate fupply ; ftill however it is fuch as but very few can accomplifh. This extra expence a- mounts, then, to about fixty pounds. Reducing it, however, to one half, which will come much nearer to the compafs of the general ability, what is the cafe of the numbers now difcharging? His Majefty has been gracioufly pleafed to order that they Ihall receive three months extra pay. This amounts to about ftxteen pounds , which being dedudted, will leave them about thirty pounds in debt ; a debt equal at leaft to one-half of the year's income they are now to retire upon, and which income 'they will, probably, not receive, without anticipation, by means of paying ah agent, for ten or eleven months afterwards, as is the cafe at this very period. I am, my Lord, Your Lordlhip's moft obedient fcrvant, AN OLD SEAMAN. LETTER ( 55 ) LETTER VIII. 9 MY LORD, 'T HE paragraphift, whofe obfervations I have •*" noticed in a preceding letter, after inform- ing us, that your Lordlhip's lift contained two hundred names of mid/hipmerty which were to fup- ply the vacancies made in the Lieutenant's lift, by fuppofed or expedted difobedience to the Ad- miralty mandate, proceeds thus : — " the policy of " this meafure is obvious— many valuable young ** ojfficers, who, as midftiipmen, would, by get-* ** ting into other fervices, be loft to the Britijh ** navy^ will thus be kept in readinefs to officer ^* the fleet upon any occafion." L.et me a(k this intelligent Admiralty Advocate, where is the policy of abandoning officers of tried knowledge and experience, and of long fervice, and thereby forcing them to adopt the very paths which he tells us the mipjhipmen will purfue ; and then fupplying our navy with young men of lefs experience, who, in their turn, will meet the fame tardfliips, and be driven by fimilar diftrefs to fimilar means of redrefs ? When the eyes of thefe men / Hi > ii :. 4 i C 5 t ! ■/ r'.'vT men arc no longer dazzled by the meteor of pro* motion, when they too have tafted the embittered cup which poverty lifts to the mouth of rank ; when they have alfo experienced negled and de- gradation, the fling of infuli added to diftrefsj can it be imagined thofe men will difplay more leadinefs than the prefent to *^ officer the feet ^*^ Will they not, in tlieir turn, be difgufted, and, if they can, i^^ that relief in foreign fervice they cannot find at home ? His conclusion, my Lord, is too contemptible iro merit any animadvei'fion, where he afferts, the Lieutenants " cannot juflly complain of a meafwre * which has only for its objeft the public good,^^ — After what I have written, I fubmit to public ©pinion, whether fuch a meafure is calculated for i&i^^^ puUk good,*^ In a fubfequent paper, devoted vo admkiiflra- tion, an aftempt is made to meliorate the menace, by informing us, that thefe mjured men " will ^ not be deprived of their pay, but arc to be ^ put on the HoirsE List, as retired from fer» vice, and excluded from promotion ; while an equal number of Lieutenants will be made in ** their room.** - I have not a doubt, my Lord, but there are Bumei'ous lifts at the Admiralty, — as the Court LiJ, the Borough Llfty the Admirals' Lift, the Black Lijiy and many others ; but, I am led to believe, that ct tc i f < SI ) ttiat the " House List," (the very mention of which gives the paragraph an air of o^<:/ it is faid, are intended to be made*. Time, my Lord, will ihew us, whether ,r * They had not taken place, when this Letter was origi* «*llXpoW» nUfkis promotion, fo much the theme of panegyric for its extent, amongd the Admiralty runners, and in the minifterial pirints, is intended as a com*^ pltmentary encouragement^ to the navy at large, or a partial promotion by particular interefls. The mode, and not the magnitude, will be the crite- rion, from which the public judgment will be formed of your intentions. If meant as an en* couragemcnt to the navy, the f^ledion fhould be made from long fervice, and confpicuous merit only; but, if regularly confined to thofe who have the good fortune to have flag officers their friends, the promotion will, then,juftly be deemed partial, that it was niade merely to compliment the flag officers, and ferve particular perfons. Government can derive no credit from fuch a promotion, nor can the navy at large be fenfible of any obligation or encouragement from the at- tention paid to individuals, who are more for* tunately circumflanced than the generality. That the promotion is to take place, I am re- j(Mced to hear, as I will believe the majority have merit to deferve promotion ; but ftill it does not alter my pofition, that partiality didates the choice. If it was impartial, the officers employed ihould be called upon to give in their claims, and the preference fhould be given to feniority, fupe- f ior abilities, and eminent fervice* I could point l« 'out \M ■!' , .1 ( 6o ) out many inftances where thefe have been negled^- ed ; and though the parties have folicited to ferve, are unemployed. This very circumftance, if application was made, would probably be given as a reafon for not preferring them. A particular inflance at this moment flrikes my recollection, and is well worthy your Lordlhip*s attention. There is a matter and commander in the fervice, who I believe has not been employed, though from his activity I doubt not he has applied. This officer, whofe hiftory I had related to me fome time ago, has been near forty years in the fervice, was at the fieges of Louifbourg, Bellifle, and the Havannah ; in the general adtions with De la Clue and Conflans ; and hias been at the the taking of near forty fail of men of war. He was wounded at the Havannah ; and at the com- mencement of the late war, by the veflel he com- manded being detained, was a prifoner for two years. This officer, after fervices, which probably fcarce two in the navy can equal, has been, I per- ceive by the lift, eight years mqfter and com^ mander, and will probably continue fo during life. Numerous proofs of great fervice, though not equal perhaps to this, might be adduced to fliew how little attention is paid to it. When fuch men are promoted, independent of an Ad- xniral's^ or any Dther intereft, the public will then believe effedling it) from the declaration lately made in Parliament by Admiral Sir John jfervis, gave me the higheft fatisfa^ion. The univerfal favoura? \)\c fentiments \yhich are> fo juftly, entertained of the honourable Admiral's integrity, profeffional Knowledge, and in4ependent principles, mufl: give weight to whatever he aiTerts, ftamp convic-r pon on the minds of his auditors, and guide the ppinion of the nation at large. That gallant an4 good officer, more calculated for other wars thai^ f hat of words, in a fpeech, like his attSy and flimulate them tp what> I conceive, is a profeffional and parliamentary duty. For. what purpofe ought paval men to be eled:ed as Reprefentatives in Parliament, if not to give profeffional information, and, by promoting the real interefts of the navy, to promote the in- terefls of the nation^ which are as infeparable as life and heat. The honourable Admiral very properly oh" ferved, that the Admirals, from their elevated fituation, could not receive that compenfation for the extraordinary expence they had necefTarily been ( 65 ) hech put to, and their great exertions, which he thought the other officers entitled to; but that they might, and were to be remunerated by be- ing allowed the recommendation of particular officers for preferment. My fentiments are en- tirely coincident, refpefting the propriety of the meafure, as it particularly relates to the Admirals ; cfp6cially as, I truft, the Admirals, as the ho- nourable fpeaker added, would feledt only thofe who are> from their merit, proper claimants for lattention and promotion. What I have obfcrvedj my Lord> in the prece- ding Letter, alluding to the intended promotion^ is in no way affedfced by the above declaration ; for however I may agree as to the propriety and juftice, indeed, of ihewing fuch a mark of refpedt* ful attention to the fervices of the flag officers ; yet my affertion dills holds good> that it is by no means a circumftance of general encouragement to the navy ; it is a compliment paid to indivi- duals. Men of infinite merit, and very long fer* vice, that have not fortunately had the patronage of Admirals who have been employed, can feel no ftimulus to future a^ivity, from fuch preferment. On the contrary, muft not the veteran, of twenty or thirty years Handing, View, with jealoufy and difguft, the you.ig man of yefterday, though pof- feffing acknowledged merit, but wanting the re- commendation of years and experience^ lifted K over ...^ . . ; J»' Il ' M 'i : i if ;if SB I If ( 66 ) over his head; becaufe he happens to have th^ Countenance of an Admiral. I (hall confine myfelf, my Lord^ to the promo- tion of the corps^ which is the particular fubje^b of my Letters. Whilft I am writing, I have be- fore me a paper^ containing the names of thofe Lieutenants, who are, it averts, to be made Mafiers and Commanders, I have reafon to imagine the lift is authentic, as^ excepting two, the names of the ihips they belong to, with their Nations, are an- nexed, and are thofe of the flag officers of the fleet both at home and on the foreign flations. I again repeat, my Lord, that I mod: heartily coincide with the idea of attending to the Admiral's recom-^ emendations, and doubt not of the propriety of them in general ; yet, in fupport of my argument^ I mufl make fome obfervations, without meaning the lead invidious refledion to any individual^ contained in the. lift; I fincerely congratulate them on their profpedt, and take a pleafure in viewing it. . . . . > This account, my Lord, contains the names of menty-feven Lieutenants. I have examined their £tuation on the navy lift, and, to my furprize, have only found four of the officers, who have? not about five hundred above them upon the lift; and thofe have near four hundred; that there are only six who have not upwards of £iGUT uuNDRfiD before them^ and that there are SEVENS ( 67 ) SEVENTEEN, who havc from one thousand ta FIFTEEN HUNDRED preceding them. Of thefc laft, five have been only nine years Lieutenants ; four about aght years ; one is oifeven years (land- ing; one dhoutfive; two o^ three years; and five from TWO years to a few months ; and nearly the whole in a time of peace. Is it poflible, my Lord, that the thoufand Lieii- tenants, who view this promotion oiyouthsy whom they have remembered infants, whilft they were officers, can confider it as a compliment to the naval fervice — as an encouragement to merit, and an incitement to the renewal of thofe exertions, now fo much applauded, on any future emer- gency } It would be folly in the extreme to fup- pofe it. My opinion is, my Lord, that exclufive of this complimentary promotion to the Admirals, there ihould be a liberal offering made on the al- tar of merit and hard fervice. It would, in fome meafure, be a peace-offering — an atonement for the injurious treatment that corps have received-^ the navy would rejoice, and the voice of the na- jtion would applaud. I have the honour to be. Your Lordihip's mod obedient fervant, AN OLD SEAMAN. Yi% LETTER Mi ( 6« ) LETTER X, il f:i ! !^' ill 'if MY LORD, GOOD and evil are fo blended in human afi fairs, that no iituation in life can exempt us from a participation of each. If your Lord- ihip enjoys the honours and emoluments of high office, your refponfibility renders your condudk open to animadverfion, and the difagreeable fen- fations which may arife, if truths bring convicr ^ion to your mind. It is an unfavourable circum« ftance for you, my Lord, that from your well- known inexperience in your prefent official bu- linefs, though you are in appearance the principal diredor, yet you cannot poffibly be any other, in fadt, than the ofteniible agent of another man, poffeding that information and knowledge of which you are deficient. Although this is a mat- ter well underilood, it unfortunately happens, that if your Lordlhip does any thing, from whence you ought to claim approbation, you are deprived of it, from the fuppoiition that the idea is fug-? gefted by your Lordfhip's naval afliftant. On the contrary, Ihould any thing occur which re- fle(^s cenfiirc;^ thp^igh he may be the advifer^ yowr X t I'- ll n ( 6^ ) your refponiibility, as the Firft Lord, render^ you liable to the obloquy which follows. For (he above reafon it is, that I am juftified in ad- dreffing my Letters to you, my Lord, in your ofHcial capacity. The difgraceful paper, which produced the anfwer, that has occalioned my animadverfions, muft, publicly, be fuppofed to proceed from you ; although, privately, I readily acquit your L^rdlhip of being the author of fuch ^n unworthy idea ; and can, without regret, place it to the account of a man, who has fo no- torioufly proved himfelf inimical to the navy, by his condudt refpedting the Captains. Refledion, my Lord, if amidft the cabals of courtiers, the prefervation of places, and the intrigues of intereil, you are allowed a moment pf re^edtion ; if it can occur, reflexion will pre- fent to your Lordfliip the injury your fame muft fuHdin from being fuppofed the author of fuch an idea ; it would convince you how de- rogatory the thought muft be, to the dignity of a reprefentative of the illujirious Chatham. Though many more arguments might bead' vanced to fupport and confirm the fadts and reafoning contained in the anfwer to the Admiraly Advertifcment, I hope, and truft they are not peceffary; that your Lordihip's underftanding will be convinced, and your feelings affedted. Nothing can be inore evident than that this clafs '4 m h m 1?l m m I .! il il ■ U P : I ! ( 70 ) jof ufeful officers have been contumelioufly treat?- ltd, their fervices negledted, their diftrefles unat- tended to. Humanity calls aloud on your fenii- bility, and juftice and good policy point out the aeceiHity for affording them relief. " Wht) can all fenfe of other's il)s efcapt *' I9 but a brute, at beil, in human ihape. tf I will not harbour the moft diftant idea, that the words of the pointed fatirift, which I have above quoted, are in the lead applicable to your Lordihip ; I give your full credit for the poflcf'* iion of fentiments of humanity. The bed minds may, however, be affedted by ill-advice, efpe- cially, where neceffity creates a reliance; and Judging of the prefent from what has previoufly occurred, we cannot form the moft flat;tering Opinion of that advice, which is communicated to your Lordihip. That an official ftigma, in con* fequence of the advertifement, now refts upon your Lordihip, is moft certain; no man has read It, but what condemns it. By ading from yourfelf, without a blind fub- miffion to the advice of thofe whofe principles may, even candidly, be confidered as lefs unful- lied than your own, you will not barely efcape re- preheniion, but acquire the approbation of all good men. If it was not in your inclination, ^which I will not believe) it is your intereft at tliis C 71 > t- 1- ne this period to Hand forth the friend of the naval officers in queflion. It would not only be a vir* tue to anticipate their intended application ; but it would, as refpedting yourfelf, my Lord, be good policy to prevent th» neceij^. . No application having 6een made, iince your Lordihip has held a ihare in the Adminiftration^ your fentiments cannot therefore be known. You have now as fair an occafion as could poffibly pre* fent itfelf, to eflabliih what your panegyrics ad* vance, that *' the navy has not for many years had ** fuch a friend*h Believe me, my Lx>rd, there muft be fomcthmg more folid than a few partial promotions, or the frothy flattery of minifterial fcribes, to eftablilh fo high a charadter as that of 3 true friend to the navy. Words alone will never create a favourable opinion ; it is adtion that mud damp convidion on the mind* My fentiments on this fubjedt are perfectly Hudibrajiic, and I believe the general fentiment concurs with them, that t <)i '■^1 ** No argument like matter of fa£t h i " And we are« beftof all, led to ** Mcn8*/W«c(^/«,—- by what thy dtJ »» There never was a moment, my Lord, in whick the fentiments of the public could more heartily concur in approving a generous attention to the jiavy. No propofition which your moft liberal ideas h ■ 1 1 ( 72 ) idc^i could give birth to, would, at this peHod of grateful recolledtion, meet with cenfure or difap- probation. On the contrary, it is the wi(h of th0 country, that fome plan of general relief ihould be adopted. ilitlrfUfd^U^ A publication ,yiwnich appeared about two years ago, entitled, " An Addrefs to the Sovereign *^ on the MiniJ}er*s condtS, in rejeHing the petition ^* of the Lieutenants of the Royal Navy,** was, I am certain, from my knowledge of the author, at the time your Lordfhip came into office, con« veyed to you* From its contaliiing animadver* fions oit the condud of fo near *& relative^ and a fubjedt fo immediately connected with your of- ficial iituation, I doubt not it was honoured with your LiOrdftiip's attention ; if not, I moft lincercly recommend the perufal, as it contains much ufe* ful information refpedling the fituation of the Lieu* tenants of the Navy. The author has not only entered very minutely into every circuniftance relating to the corps, forcibly pointing out their diftrefles, the hard neglefl of them, and the ne- ceflity for an alleviation ; but has alfo flated a mode of relief, and means to eftabliih it, that entirely correfpond with my opinion. For thefe reafons, I (hall only trouble your Lordfliip with tti very fummary ftatement of what, I conclude, ought to be done for fo refpeftablc a body of tnen. In few word s> my Lord, 1 would hum- bly ( 73 ) biy propdfe for yoUr Lordlhip's confideratidn thd following particulars : An enlargement of the Superannuated Lifih When there were only about 300 Lieutenants on the naval lifl^ the former contained a tenth part, now the latter is increafed nearly to i50o> it con- tains only 2i fiftieth part. A fimilar extention of the fiicond Lifty called the I'hree andjixpenny Lift ; but the pay of which ihould be, I think, enlarged to five Jhillings, and in this ihould be included all thofe whofe age ot infirmities render them unfit for future fervice, but whofe Handing in the navy would not other* wife entitle them. A general encreafe of the whole and half pay^ in fome proportion to the rank they poflefs. All ihips laid up, to be commanded by Lieutenants, to be appointed for three years , with an undeviat* ing attention to fair rotation of fervice, but Hill left optional on the part of the next Lieutenant in fuccefiion. The Lieutenants commanding to have only the encreafed half pay, and to be allowed a fer« vant. All veffels in the revenue fervice to be alfo commanded by Lieutenants in rotation. King'i ihips and veffels are employed on a iirnilar fervice, and therefore no good reafon can be affigned why the revenue Ihould not be entirely protected by L King's ^ r1 q ■il i el' I J I: . It / Wi iiij C 74 ) King's officers. It might, andecJ, in fome rnttP* fure, affcdt borough intereft ; but it would pre* v^nt many fraudulent abufes. ' Sufc^h re^'laitions, as I have mentioned, would ftt once fet the corps of lieutenants above the readi of want and diftrefs : they would be able to fupport the dignity of the &fvice,^ttd fee wady on all emergencies. There would be cben no Ihore occaiion for degrading threats. Such «a«' (jouragement, added to a profpe(% of fair and im« ipartul promotion, wouild render the Briti^ (cr* vice an objeort is not well-fownded ; bm fhould you recede from the biillle of public office, think my Lord, of the choice which ^ now prefents itfelf. You have the power of making an honourable, a- glorious feceffion ; of having, by an adive inter- ference in th€ caufe of humanity, rendered a laft- tog fervice to the kingdom, by a permanent fup- port to its chief flrength j the name of Chat- ham will be rendered ftill mor€ iiluftrious ; the Navy will adore you and pofterity honour your memory. Delicacy will not permit me, my Lord to paint the reverfe; nor can I think it jieceflary, having a confideace that your Lordfhip cannot hciitate in the choice, but will purfue the path marked out by juftice, humanity, and every private and public virtue. My Lord, I now take •my leave, and have the honour to be, with all jsefped. Your Loi;dihip*s moft obedient fervant, ANOLDLEAMAN. L 2 AN «i0aaB AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN, &c. ■M,', T, HE confcquence of the Britilh Navy, and the dependence which this empire refts upon it^ is a matter fo well underflood, that it would be fuperfluous to dwell upon it ; iince every man mud be fenfible that with it, the Brititti domi- nions mufl dand or fall. As the fate of the kingdom depends upon our naval drength, the maintenance of that (Irength is certainly one of the rnoft important duties of a Britilh adminiftra- tion ; and the negleft of that duty, might not unjuftly be conftrued a kind of trcafon to the flate. We have a recent proof, in a neighbouring kingdom, that the pofleffion of a large number of Ihips, though it may make a great appearance of force on paper ; yet, that part of a navy is but a mere fliadow of real ftrength. To give motion^ vigour, and efFedt to this mechanic body, requires genm,Jkill^ and intrepidity. The cultivation of thefe m li^ ( 77 ) e e t e y r e t s f u thefc is, or ought to be, the primary confiJera- tion with every marine minifter. Superiority in thefe indifpenfable requilices has hitherto ella- blKhed the ftrengrh, importance and fame of the Britifh Navy ; and preferved to us fafety, wealth, and dominion, amiJR ail hoil of envious and powerful foes, combined to deftroy us. Whilft our navy can boaft this fuperiority, no combina- tion of power can, under Providence, aftedt us ; when once we lofe it, when once our confequence as a maritime (late is no more ; our fun of glory mud fet, the light of liberty mud depart from us, and a gloomy night of flavifh dependence muft fucceed. As this fuperiority is, then, the mod valuable gem in the Britifh diadem ; it be- hoves every man, who has either an intereft in, or a wiih for the national good, to watch that the negledt of the fervants of the crown, Ihould not fully its luftre. What renders an extraordinary attention to this important concern more requilite at this pe* riod, is the encreafe of knowledge, which has of late years been manifefted, in rival maritime dates ; an object of jealoufy and alarm to this kingdom. France, Spain,, and Ruffia, have, within a fliort period, not only enlarged their marine, and improved the condrudtion of their ihips, by means of mod eminent artids, whofe abilities had been negle^ed in this kingdom; but ; ( 78 ) I ' m but have alfo adopted new modes in their inter- ral regulations, and difnlayed a vaft acquifition of fkill in naval' tadtics. The political fituation of a neighbouring kingdom^ at this perioci, being not yet extri- cated from anarchy and internal commotion ; has probably been the means of preventing our having occafion to try how far we yet hold that fuperiority. The aftoniftiiiig alacrity with which the late armament was equipped ; the ardor and fpirit which pervaded all ranks, ihould indeed give ws fome hope, that we have rot yet loft our re- fpedtability ; but are we fure we flail Icng pre- ferve it ? Nothing can be more palpable, than that ge- nius and ikill require the nurture of encourage- ment to preferve and cherilh them ; and that the ardour and energy of fpirit fo neceflary to fupport the mind and prepare it to bear with and encounter the difficulties, perils and enter- prife of a naval life, muft be deadened and de- ftroyed under the preflure of negledt and po- verty. If we take a retrofpedtive view of the treat- ment the navy has met with for fome years paft, we need not be furprifed ihould we find difguf fupply the place of noble emulation, and igno- rance, inexperience, and indifference making hafly t§i ( 79 ) fcafty ftrides to the deftiiiAion of our naval glory. A very few years back we had the mortifica- • tion to behold the high honour of commanding a large Britifti fleet rejeded. So precarious was that elevated fituation made, by courtly intrigues, that not a man of any note would accept ir, though we had many adtive, brave and good officers on the liil of admirals. The repeated indignities offered to the cap- tains are notorious. Need I call to your remem- brance the attempt made about twenty years agOy to fet afide lix gallant olSicers^ to give a late defpifed commander in chief his fir ft flag ; when the candid and manly conduA of the firft lord of the admiralty. Sir Edward Hawke, loft him his feat at that board ? Has not this indignity been repeated with the moft violent aggravation ? Only two years back, the very man, whofe own promotion had occafioned fo much murmur and difcontent, that the rejeded captains at that period were preferred, on the matter being taken up in the Houfe of Commons ; and the then firft lord loft his place, as I have obferved, in conlequence ; this very man, then placed at the head of the admiralty, at one ftroke, fwept sixty captains off the lift, in order to create, unnecef- farily, sixteen new admirals. Every perion muft remember the fliameful rejeftion of the able ( 86 ) VA •: ■•'!■ KM If"*'. Able and experienced officers, whofe catlfe tirai then brought forward, in both Houfes of Parlia- ment, and that this very man was, for the fame rcafon, alfo obliged to refign. The next clafs of officers, (whofe caufe I have taken up in the preceding Letters) as their inju- ries are as great, and their neceffities more fcvere; fo have they more reafon for complaint. Twice have they attempted the conftltutional means of obtaining relief, by petitioning Parliament ; and as oft have their humble applications been contu- melioufly rejected, by the prefenc minifter; though he acknowledged the hardfhip of their cafe, and the juflice of their claim. They have been treated with infulting threats, that they Ihould '* be fcratched off the Lift i" — For what,— for not plunging themfelves into more diftrefs, than they at prefent labour under ; for not doing that, which a majority of thofe who have done it, may repent in a goal. Can we be furprifed at finding men hefitate, or even refufe to ferve, under circumftances which prefent diftrefb, if not ruin, to themfelves, and perhaps a dependant family ? Will not the threat, held out to them, appear an aft of ftudied cruelty, unworthy of men who would wiili to be thought poffeffed of the feelings of humanity ? Can it be conftrued into apy other fenfe than faying, — • ** We command you to come from your obfcure < €( retire- 1 cc tc €C €< f< XC "tc €C ^^ retirements, where neceffity has compellvd you ^* to retreat; to quit thofe domeftic comforts, '^ that can alone foften the rude refledtions which poverty gives birth to ; Hand forth again the defenders of a flate, which already owes your merit much; incur accumulated difHculties and diftrefs, and again rifque your lives, and the happintfs of your families, in fupport of thofe who have been deaf to your entreaties '* for relief: who have denied you juftice, who ** have treated you with indifference and difre- fped, If you difobey this merciful man- date, you Ihall be excluded from the hope of •* ever emerging from thofe difficuhies, thofe *' diftrefles, by the chance of b^ing preferred to ^* a rank, which long fervice, hardftiips, and *^ perhaps wounds entitle you to exped: ; and to *' an income, which however inadequate to that rank, might yet lift you from poverty to a de- cent fupport." — This, my countrymen, is the Spirit of the Advertifement. The diftrefsful fituation of thofe who have ftood forward on the late occafion, whofe fervices are a theme of public eulogy, is a fubjedt of melan- t:holy reflection to every feeling mind. Their complaints are loud and numerous ; the very hall 'of the Admiralty refounds with them, and they are daily encreafing, as the dlfarmament pro- ceeds* Let the naval agents declare it, for they M know vc tc ( 82 ) i :«■ %^ know it well.— Colkdtively, they canil6t fpfedk ^ but, individually, you muft hear it ; it comei from the mouths of your fons, your brothers, and other relatives and friends. The cafe of the matters and furgeons is equally diflreffing ; both difcharged without any reward for their fervices. The firft clafs, the utility of which is only known to naval men, are left to Ihift in the merchants* fervice, or where they can get employ, and no more thought of, until the fer- vice again feverely feels their lofs. Every one muft conceive the high value of good furgeons ; the charge they have upon them, and the fkill that is necefTary. Men poffefled of fkill in phyfic and furgery, muft have had an expenlive education, and ought to have appoint- ments adequate thereto. When a man has got a comfortable fettlement in bufinefs, can he be ex- pected to quit it, to his certain lofs, on the mere hope of living to make one of the very few who receive a gratuity. Yet is this expectancy in- dulged, and the difappointment creates a neceflity for filling the vacancies with raw, unexperienced young men, to- the lofs of life in numbers of his Majefty's fubjeds, and to the prejudice of the fervice and tne ftate, by fuch lofs. The mates and midOiipmen are next to be confidered, although they can purfue employ- ment<;^ which the lieutenants cannot, as niatcs of Ihips, ( 83 ) rd of ift yet er- ihips, or in other profefTions ; dill however the very fervice they have left is often an objecflion with the merchants. In ftiort, all ranks feel negledt and hardihip; for the promotion of a few cannot atfed the many. When long fcrv'ce and merit is pafled un- noticed ; old officers laid on the iliclf, iheir claims unattended to, and infants (for fuch the law would term them) preferred over their heads ; the piti- ful pittance of half-pay, allowed for fupport, withheld for near twelve months, the cafe at this period ; numbers immured in p-ifons, and great- er numbers pining under the dread of a like fitu- ation ; — when we fee thefe things, can we wonder at the fcarcity of officers, which produced the official menace ; can we be furprifed, if numbers fly from mifery and diftrefs, to proteflion and honour. Muft we not be fcnfible of the juftice of their complaints ? kli *' It is hard in one that feels no wrong, '" For patient duty to employ his tongue; ** Oppieffion makes men mad ; and from their breads^ •* Al' reafon and all fenfe of duty vvrefts." JuvbnaL. Thus, truly, fays the fatirift; and what reafon- ing, or what duty can we expedt from thofe, who merit fo much, yet are fo hardly treated. Hence it is we perceive the feeds of naval great- M 2 ncf$ ( 84 ) nefs, in foreign ftates, fown in the Britifh navfji and tranfplanted by the hand of cruel negledt, RecoUedt, my countrymen, for a moment, the more than mortal, the godlike heroifm of the Britiih captains, who fell in the fatal adlion be- tween the Swedes and Ruffians. A monument fliould be here erefted to their memory; at which every EnglKhman fliould kneel, and de- precate the fatal policy, which loft to the Britiih nation intrepidity and merit, feldom equalled, an4 never lurpafled in naval hiftory. As in the foregoing Letters I have particularly atteiukd to the promotion, I (hall here only add, i^hat t vident partiality and intereft may be traced through the whole. It is not a mark of honour to the navy, but an exten|ion of patronage ; and it now feems the maxim of the naval Lord, at the Admiralty, who, in faft, guides the whole ; that long fervice, which was ever held a recommen- dation, Ihould now operate as a feclufion fron^ preferment, and that the only claim to it (houl4 be youth and ine^^perience. Preferment, was it impartially beftowed, though it would certainly be ar incj cement to emulationji yet, with refped to the general fituation of navaV officers, is only like healing a limb, when the entire frame is confumptive. Nothing but a re- medy, which will operate univerfally on the whole body, can ever have efFed, I ( 8s ) In proportion as ingratitude and ncgleA have fpread their baneful influence over the marine of this kingdom, liberality and honours have mfure4 ^ fpirit of ardour and emulation in thofe of other dates. To the great encouragement given, to the high refpe(fl paid to the meritorious, though abandoned officers of the Britilh navy, does the ^fpiring Catharine owe the prefent confequence of her marine ; a confequence which now requires? an armament to be kept on foot ; and which, there is a probability, will, in a few months (I affert it as a fadt, that fuch is the apprehenfion of admi- niftration) give occaiion for again calling upon thofe men, who are now, to ufe their own lan-- guage, publicly fpoken at the Admiralty, groan" ing under the oppreffion of kindnefs^ in having been employed. The ordonnance, iflfued in France, in the year 1762, immediately on the clofeofa difafterou^ and unfucccfsful war, (hews the different policy pur wiler neighbours thought proper to adopt, refpedling their marine. I ihall here quote the order. ** Hin Majefty boing fully informed of the ** rules and orders of the eftablifhment of his fea ** officers, and having confidered that fuch appoint'^ ** ments were inadequate and infufficient^ and defiring ^* to animate them with a true fenfe of national ♦* glory, and that they may not be estranged . 5! OR .M C 86 ) 4( DIGNITY AND IMPORTANCE OF THE ^ OR COMPELLED TO SEEK APPOINTMENTS I3f *' ANY OTHER SERVICE ; OT be DIVERTED BY ** ANY OTHER VIEWS FROM A TRUE ZEAL AND *^ ATTACHMENT TO THEIR COUNTRY ; it is his royal pleafure to grant an augmentation to their pay throughout the marine department ; ** THAT HIS OFFICERS MAY BE BETTER ENA- BLED TO SUPPORT THEIR RANK BECOMING THE NAVAL SERVICE. Gratitude, benevolence, patrlotifm, and found policy, is difcoverable in eve;ry line of the fore- going ordonnance. How admirably contrafled to the pitiful oeconomy, which fhuts the doors of compaflion againft the complaints of men, equal- ly dcferving, in this country. Can we admit the plea of flate neceffity in this kingdom ; the flate of whofc finances is rcprefented, under the aufpice* of the prefent Minifler, to be fo flo'jrilhing ; when we refledl on the flate of France at the above pe- riod. The fubfequent war, her powerful fleet, and the general condudt of her marine confirmed the wifdom of the meafiire. Can you poffibly, my fellow citizens, reflcfton the lituation of our brave officers, can you hear the well-grounded and univerfal difcontent which prevails, and liften to Jlate neceffity as a plea, for not following the examples of oiir politic rivals, when at the fame time we tamely fee fuch immenle fums lavifhed on <,/ t ( 87 ) Oil vain and idle fchcmes, on ufelefs placemen^ penfioijers, and finecures, to the encreai'e of cor- ruption, and exteniion of minillerial power and influence. Hence a double evil accrues ; in pro- portion as the natural llrength of the kingdom is diminiihed, fo does the progrefs of venality en- creafe, and tend to the diminution of our natural liberties. In confirmation of the well grounded policy, which dictated the foregoing ordonnance, let us advert to the condudt of the government of this kingdom before corruption had become a fyftem^ and patronage had only confpicuous merit for iis objeft. " Henry VIII. it is recorded, gave every pof* fible bounty to officers and feamen. He gave them proper appointments becoming the zvealtb and fovereignty of the nation ; that they ought not impoverijh their private fortunes when abroad ; to maintain their credit, andfupport the honour of the Britijh flag. " Queen Elizabeth, when fhe faw her crown, and the Proteftant religion eftablifhed, by the prowefs of her naval power, gave an inftancc of magnanimity and gratitude worthy of fo great a characfter. She granted nine thou- *^ SAND A-YEAR, OUT OF HER OWN REVENUE, which at that time was a very large fum, and more than adequate to what would, at this pe* '^ riod. t4 <( C< « « e nearly fufEcient to afford, from the na- tional purfe, the relief which the officers havd requelted. King William, fdon after he was eftablifhcd en the throne, in recompence of their fervices^ doubled the pay ofhisfea-officerSy and granted them i^alf'pay, which in proportion to the tin^csj was infinitely fuperior to the prefcnt* Queen Mary> his confort, was fo well pleaf- Icd with the gallant behaviour of the fleets during Ihe a<5lion by which the vdtory at La Hague was bbtained ; that fhe was gracioully pleafed to fend tHiRTY THot;sANP pouNPs to be diflributed iamong the officers and feaman, as a reward in pari for their faithful fervices. ' How different was the condudl of our ancef* tdrs ! We have no queens in thefe times to he^ .fiefiV thoufands nut of their own revenue^ as a reward for bravery and meritorious fervice. The onl^- tuicouragjement, in thcfe parfimonious days, ar^ i& royal review of a naval pageant, and afew partial preferments to boys and favourites. I beg leave in this place to quote a paflage from a former publication on this fubjedt, wherew in the diftindlion is made between this falfe fpe*« ties of cBConomy and the true one. Alluding td thefe, in our miniflerial fydem of management^ the writer obferves, it is " fimilar to that of a ** fpiendthrift, who from a ftatc of profufion and prodi- 1 tc