The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-08-17 00:00:00

4affect tlic maritime rove adds country, take theii.
rise. It is frean that source that unanitnity and
istler spring, and from thence confusion and party
iriaare produced and prevail in the navy, if the
°malt? had,hieen successful in the attack made
stpon Admiral Keppel, he would have been dis-
graced as a man, eml dishonoured a an officer. A de-
rpotism, resembling* that of the Turkish navy, would
have pervaded the srrvii e: the similitude continu-
ing, would at last have terminated in the 'aide
contempt for practical seamanship which prevails
among the Turks. lint the sea officers of that pe-
riod were aware of the blow aimed at professional
knowledge, and they shewed that they were capa-
ble of preserving the dignity of the British navy,
without wounding its discipline. The acquittal of
Admiral Keppel hail no injurious effects upon the
authority of the Admiralty. The supreme power
remained entire. It is true that presumption and
ignorance could no longer retain the direction co!
the navy, because experience had taught the Mi-
nisters some deference for professional skill.
If the Admiralty shall choose to employ an in-
ferior or junior officer upon ally enterprise of which
they may judge him most capable, the superiors or
seniors may be removed; but it is beyond the power
of any authority to alter, by its fiat, the principle
upon which the laws of all force are and must be
founded.

It appears that Lord Cachrane, Captain of the
lesperierase frigate, obtained from the Admiralty
the means which he deemed necessary to VCCOIll••
li!1 •11 I,lle defeat or destruction of the enemy's ships
in Aix Road, in which he was to he soled by His
Majesty's ships, commanded by Admiral Lord
Gauthier, sent to blockade, intercept, or destroy
that Fvencli squadron. Lord Gauthier, in answer
to the diseelions of the Admiralty to assist Lnrd
Cochrune, uses these worn., 4. He assures their
Lordillips that Lord Cochrane shall have every as-
sistione, with all the memos in his power to give
Lint, for the aucotnplishinent of io ileuirahre as ribs
jest." Unfortunately fur the accomplishment of
this service, 411 immutable rule of discipline inter.
ft red, sit as to rehder it impossible for the Corn mand-
rt.-MA to give the assistance in the most effec-
tual manner. It was beyond his power to give Lord
Cochrane the itnaseeliate command of any of his
ships. one only excepted, which was a frigate.
Therefore the Admiral's assistance in ships to be
managed by Lord Cochrane was actually so con-
fined vs to amours to nothing. It was conse-
quently impeded by requiting a longer time for
every step Ie be taken, and upon time the success
of, !netlike operations generally depends. Lord
Coubrene's ideas of assistance were first to be coat-
litinicateil to the Admiral. The Constnander-in-
citief was tneii to judge of the propriety of the
suggestion, fium the view which his more distant
situation gave lnin, ..f the operations and condi-
tiou of the enemy, aod (with the exception of one
frigate) the directious for assistance must at last
be given to a person saperior in command to Lord
Cricheane. whit would execute the service accord-
ing to Ins own lidginent, without regent to the
plans or intentions of Lord Cochrane, as ships
upon this duty must at the time aec aaaaa ily
he separated from the body of the fleet.° It is
Mere material to observe, that, wider the above
circumstances, the Captaites of the ships sent
by time Admiral infallibly supersedi d the Cap-
tain of the Imp-repose fniate, who was the per-
son appointed by the Admiralty to perform this
service. IC niters were diftereitt ideas respecting
who was to command, delay or coofusiou are the
consequences. Rat lest these should not be sufli-
tient to ilistr.,et the :lintels uf officers, under circum-
stances so unfortunate, some doubt inay have re-
fitaiiiPd as to the time when Lord Cochrene's poser
of concluctiitithe enterprise was•to terminate. If
it were bounikl by the explosion and destruc-
tion of the lire-ships, the whole service entrusted to
Ins management finished before the dean of the
next day, awl are had eolith% further to perform,
but by the orders of the Admiral. But if be be
sustained as the judge of future operations against
the enemy. as has been above supposed, the whole
transaction is involved in impenetrable confusion.
Direction, issued by the Admiralty, to sit Ad-
miral ciiiiiinandiug a beiliildtoll. toenapluy all 111111
6,1451 on a certain service, however dose orders
way be qualified, by pistilig the selected person
under the Admiral's reminand, mid however the
Corninalider-iii-Cl.,ef may he officially vested with
isnwt rto eon- tool I ,do tint change the mature of
such ctions. They wer,, therefore imoutesti-
hiy binding upon the Admiral, and he hail an al-
ternative ono restgootion.—The cousequences us-
tui ally follow. The wonder then is, not that ins-