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

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MISCONDUCT OF THE 4p,M.MA11",.,

The two Naval Courts-Martial
cers, that have lately occurred, Ale 'patent linis 'Oa
sentences of which have been 1411,!efore thrpublic,
lie now open to the consideratib; tihd dischstiish Of.;
rersoile qualified to animadvert Vision the causal
andiefficta of 114Viti trAllbdC1101111; arid, oanthe
fish navy constitutes the glory, the superiority, and
the security of this country, the subject is of vital
importance. These tianbactions become more evi-
dently of consequence, if a discordance of opinion
among the officers, any) the defective execution of
the service that occasioned these trials, may Le
traced to measures subversive of good order, by on
abuse of that power which was constituted to sup-
port and preserve naval discipline.

_
It is natural for men in authority to extend their
power. This is evident in thy conduct of indivi-
.i.ials, but not less so, in that of bodies of men asso-
c. ited in commissions denominated Boards. His.
tory is replete with instances that prove the neces-
sity of some check upon this propensity, which,
otherwise, degenerates into despotism. The Su-
preme Naval Board of this country being invested
wfith the
tlse ,
i ft
whole power arising from thePrerngstirw
o• . . •• . meet. with scarcely
any check, but from the rare interposition of liar-
: liament; and its we-At constitutional power has
her ri very much augmented within these thirty
years, by the measures it has pursued of increasing
the proportional siutnbers of the commissioned AB-
CM to the slumbers of the ships owl Vt-6,..h. elll-
ployed upon service. This will he evident by a
comparative statement.
In thLyese 1782, at the close of the American
War, the British navy nonsiste.l of the ftriloWilig
number of ships tin.l vessels in commission : -
I...tate.A•bsttle ships cosumnind by Post Captains ..113
Mgr', not of toe hoe, commanded by Post Croatia 130
—.-...
C 43
Ships sinl teasels owlet Comm:mien .. ........ . • • . 14j
The ssuiblislimert of Naval Commissioned Of-
ftcera, in 17:42, wits—
Flal.oflicsrs 51
Post Coyish's ..... . ..... •• • • —367
Commanders toi
Lieutenants. 1169
In the present year, leo9, the l!ritish navy con-
sists of the following numbers of ships and vessels
in commission :
Lise-istbottle strips commanded by Post Captains.. ton
imps, Ilei of the hue, commanded by Post Captions iris

•
178
Slum mil mash uuier Csuaimaders 907
The establishment of Naval Oliminiseletteri3Ofw.
Seers in the present !Per.
FlakOtlic•as ...• •• 175 . •
Pest Captains
Comma.. ',,•
Lieuteaal.ts i 0
These statemeuts, collected Win Stecrs.Lists
of the Navy, at these two periods, dinnonstrate how
far the Board of Admiralty Atelide'd it's pltromige.
during the intermediate time; warrant these facts
it follows, that if there were a sulkient intinher of
coe;tuissioned offiems in 1 i shave a..c now a
greatisniiiy more Ohio a proper nhapher upon the
lists. Such measures may he justly deemed air
ONlrstragaiit waste of the petite treasure, to odd to
the influence of Nliiiister;•:• but even 111. s tr of very
ferior iotpottaucr, when ounipared to the baneful
effects this Anse of power has eventually had upon
naval dacipliiie. The most perceptible check upon
a,i) raviejsur extrtiun of power in the Admiralty,
has ariscn fimn the la:deuces of Naval Courts-Mar-
tial; but, by loadin4 the lists with conimissioued
*liken., min, by keeping the emoluments of tliu,e
officers apt low as pu•nable, an undue influence over
them has been obtained, and this
.salutary check
completely destroyed. The selfish passion of ea.
tending pumar has produced a contempt for the
ominous sea officers, wherever those opinions
hunt interfered with miniArrial authority., until,
by degrees. it has struck U. the very fountlution tit
good order.
Is the tonisoctious of the fleet in Basque Komi,
OW find a pilaw captain selected by the First Lord
tits Admiralty, wed sent to Clettlte a must int-
porta ist enterpnse against to enemy's wpiadriiii,
without the coneurr, ice of the Ailment, who rem-
iminded a formidable force, and whose dnty it was
to do every thing in his power to take or destroy
the French ships then lying at author uear the Esi-
fleet. Whether this was distrust of the faro-
ssional skill, or conttuipt for the }pmeral elianic-
i,rs of the Flag Officers:4ml Captains slips
played on this service, it us equally tuortaystvz ...d
dcgradin. Indeed, such u liar of cousin, t email
nut hare been conceived, had not a total disrepird
for the opinious and feelings area officers pervad-
ed the sm,reine tit usitlionty.
It will lie difficult, it nut impossible, to find any
proeftlent for the. measure ; but even could a pre.
cram he foetid, and similar 6111111411Tr16 Istir.u...l, then
any inferior officer might be scut to pet form tlie
lisidttlial services, ender the eye, mid by the
asei.tiliee of his superiors. This would omonot
to the mounipttoo of a power to destroy snowier
god wl..nduna non fousuled repots oink 410C1 lIVIIIO.
rity, oluch mold sot lie carried lido effect without
rreertisrmag •be principle upon which discipliue is
eatahlonstel.

• 'Mc following passage front Lard Coehrstier evidence
at the last Cuort-Martial, (first day), illusis ides this male-
agent :
" When we anchored it was shoat two o'clock, some lirip
brought up, (as marked in Chart, to SW fur the violet' tom of
the bombs, hat lon far oft to he of any rise. 1 mule the signal
fur 1b... to rloar, bat as there is no flag to express, brigs only,
without frigates or larger rearekr, moat of which were cum-
tairrolud try toy SellMll, I rwrismunt, so far aa lay is my power,
that tha signal was intimated Sot tlirm, by firm" upnw them
foams the maim- deck, for this quarter-deck shut, which I Oa-
tmeal aq•clf, did ant reach t firm. Tibia MIMI, I was after-
wards rahormeil.gare emanderalae offeace ; sad as Wee as
karat that ?ruin Sir ll_ Neat, I declared to my Luta Gambia,
that it was ant ormaneties, N ibe slightest &pee, to hart

1
It ill toots 11. e supreme naval Authority that ell tits Lordship's Isdiaps. I had then so Ow to espress, by a
heririt.,•44 as irrli se all pi riiisincisi We-source, which tritonis tairprsPhaa teramairirathos, whorl MUM wearily.'