The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-23 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

\ TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Merchstoun Hall, March 21st, 1839.
la. EDITOII,—The accompanying letter was intended
for the Naval and Military Commission, but having
shown it to one or two Officers composing that Corn-
mission, I was given to understand by them that their
; powers did not extend to an examination into the cotn-
i,o*itiea of the Board of Admiralty. I therefore request
yat! will die it a plaoe in your Journal, and also your
powerful support.
1 have the honour to be
Your most obedient humble servant,
CHAS. NAPIER.

Sheerness, March 6, 1839.
SIR,—A CoMmission being appointed to inquire into
state -of the Army and Navy, I think it the duty
F officers to lay before it any suggestions that may
ppear useful to assist them in satisfactorily fulfilling.
10 duties intrusted to their charge ; and as I am sa-
.,.{,A a Commission composed as the- present is, of
i.,tingushed officers and civilians (without any regard
} party feelings), will not view with dissatisfaction any
::p-,-stions that are respectfully submitted to them,
shall not hesitate to subscribe my name, which is
ways preferable to anonymous communications.
shall confine myself to my own profession, making
):ITarisons between it and the other when occasion
r.y offer, but without any invidious feeling towards,
le brothers in arms.

Ile first point to which I beg to draw the attention
1, Commission, is the formation of the Board of
alto. fur on that hinges the well-being of the whole
I presume when the Admiralty was first put
imi,•sion, it was in consequence of the power of
•ifd High Admiral being considered too great to
nEted to an individual, and probably thought too
ndent of the Minister of the day. A board
n composed of a certain, number of naval offi-
rid civilians, with a Cabinet Minister at its
he cou:se of time engrossed the whole
ronage cf the Navy without incurrriug the

3 In t

be supposed, when patronage is vested

responsible man, even if that man is not a Ca-
nhter, how difficult it must be to resist the
solicitations of the Minister of the day, as well
i 3 politic:al and private friends ; but when the
Ird c.f the Admiralty is a Cabinet Minister it
evident to all impartial men that almost all
cr,e.gf, of the Navy must be used for -political
p,rtivularly during periods when parties are

lee of war, the evil attending this may be of less
ll2cimse there are always aspiring spirits
.o,•:.f.allar,t deeds bring themselves into notice,
antot:gst men brought forward by
; i,ut in peace, when few opportunities
men diAioguishing themselves, it must be evi-
t vcry little enecanement it held cut for ex-
ana that iuterest, either private or political,
a the high road to promotiOn. That men of
melee as good officers as men without it,
:mot be a doubt, but young men, conscious of
:linty- of promotion, are not called upon for the
hrtions as those who have only their ov:n merit

them in

T evil attending the present system is, that
the Navy who wish to state their claims, or

. ,
feel them elves aggrieved, have no responsible
f)rl to apply to. It is quite true they can see the
;f- Lord of the Admiralty once a year, but that First
'd of the Admiralty is a civilian, a political
and is not a judge of officers' claims ; and even if
judge, he can neither enter into them or into
r feelings ; the pressure upon him is so great, be is
Lett to steel Lis heart against them, even if convinced
t it merit.

Ofricers can alFo wait upon the Junior Lords of the
rairaityonce a week, but the only answer they can

e, and the answer they always do give, is, that they
11 thention to the First Lord what has passed, but that
c potronage is entirely in his hands.
An officer may state his claims or his complaints to
e Secretary of the Admiralty in writing, but he may
assured that is not the way to get them redressed, for
ver yet heard of a Board of Admiralty, ora Lord of the
ral ty , remonstrating against either the promotions or
aprpointments a First Lord thought proper to give ;
J it is well within my recollection when Sir Joseph
); ke was taunted by Mr. Croker in the House of Com-

for not finding fault with the measures of the Ad•

ralty when he was at the Board, replying, ‘• If he
1, his stern would have been turned to it next

mng

ran officer of the army can address himself officially.

either by letter or in person to the Commander in Chief,
i or the military Secretary. A naval officer has no person
I f,) whom be can speak officially. The Junior Lords
t..-:r themselves under the ;First Lord, and he again
'tors himself under the Board, and if he ask an
net of the Board it will be refused.
:now at present many gallant officers who have been
fly wounded in the service, and who have been
constant in their application for employment since the
peace, receiving the dry, unfeeling letter from the First
Lord odd% Secretary, that "their application is noted for
I con,ideration at a proper opportunity ;" and when they
I arrive at the bead of the list they are superannuated
I because they have not completed their sea time.
i A- -

aucie
I I;

tiien who have sat at the Admiralty must be quite
ib!e of the injustice First Lords are obliged to commit
d.ly, but I have never seen one of them step for-
~d recommend that the Navy should be ruled
Army is, by a permanent Commander-in-Chief.
it the present moment there never has been a com-
oli appointed to examine into the state of the two
ices, and I trust a strenuous effort will be now
t.) rescue the Navy from political thraldom, as
as to prevent the Army from falling into the state
e:E,:er service now is in.
oCortanately for the naval profession, the Commis-
Is composed of too many official people. On the
part, there are the existing First Lord of the Ad-
ty acd his naval adviser, a Ihte First Lord and his
I adviser, another late Lord of the Admiralty, a
s;ional man, likewise a late lay Lord, all of them
of considerable ability ; but it can hardly be sup-
I that men who have held the office of First. Lord
length of time, or who now hold it, can view the

composition of the Board of Admiralty with perfect
impartiality ; they know no doubt the convenience
of keiTing it as a political machine ; and they very natu-
rally think that overbalances the inconveniences, and
arid although the naval officers on the Commission, who
who have been long in office, must be aware of the evils
1!-:sing- from the present system, they will not, perhaps,
be very anxious to abolish it, one holding office under
it, awl another expecting, possibly, ere long, so to do ;
alai although I, for one, would be sorry to see the latter
f.7,7T nt officer, to whom I allude, the first councillor of
a civil First Lord, I should be most happy to see him
Commander-in-Chief, or whatever other name the Go-
ye•nment thought proper to give him. A naval officer
could state his claims to him, because he would under-
stand them, but this a civilian can, with difficulty, do ;
and he must in consequence hear with other men's
ears, and see with other men's eyes.
Rumours have been in circulation that it is the wish
Cie present Ministry to get the Army as much into
+.lLir braids as the Navy now is, but, composed as the Corn-
;nission is, of so many distinguished military officers, I
nave no fear they will lend themselves to a measure
which would ruin the Army, and I have some hope
that they will have a fellow feeling for their brethren-
n: me, and stretch out a helping hand to get
Navy placed on the same footing with them-
. Guard both professions as strictly as pos-
, still politics will have their weight, and all I wish
o restrain their influence within due bounds.
beg to assure the Commission I am actuated by no
ng of self—it can neither do me good nor harm—
I have a strong sense of public duty, and a wish for
wdfare ()la e country, and naturally in an especial
co for the Navy ; both will, however, I consider, be
danger if the present system is not corrected.
aw.,re, I shall be met by the old story. " that the
:i.e4 gone on very well before, therefore let it
." It is quite true, alter establishing our superi-
or the Ist of June, 1794, we held it through-
lie war, but 'what was the reason ? Not be-
the Navy of Britain was well governed, but be-
oti:cr Navies were ill governed ; foreign
had no trade to make seamen, and no opportu-
exerciF.e their ships, but the moment the Ame-
;ar broke out; we had to fight a Navy better dis-
t ti a our own . and we were defeated, by su-
'orce it is true, but be it remembered, we were
•ereiv punished without inflicting any very great
n our opponents. What followed ? The
Ind out we were not invincible, and out of
actions, all well fought, there were four

SCI Ve3

IT
ttles.

ii:: ,:other war we shall be in a very dfferent
posi-
what we were at the conclmion of the last ;
C,C, iU3Sii!, and America, to say nothingof the smaller
Lave made rapid strides in improvement, and
w,, may rely uOl it, that actions with either French
Ain!!rican ships, wi:i he no child's play. In gun
Flo have imp••,vcd, but in every thing else, we
gui-if back, and our ships, from being ill manned,
•
e y tt)f, .IKrilr to the 'trench. Our superior
Dqiw!i's are old, tacit's are all young, and Par i
ii.fluence has not the same weight, either in
~r America, as it has with us.
No ripiti who has any regard for his country can view
aur Present position with indifference. No ma:, can tell
we may be allowed to remain at peace ; and
nKval officer who served during the last war, and has
4en employed since the peace, can look forward to a
struggle with perfect confidence.
The navies of other countries have been advancing
in their knowledge and discipline; in about the same
,TrePtrim, we have bean retrograding ; and I fcel as-
tile experience our late opponents have ac-
ht!ve not a very pleasing task before us.
I Colhapwood (and he was no bad authority),
• f.nip:allud • n lus letters, of line of battle ships not
r,•c ro.r,re than tqo or three officers who knew their
Tat was the case in war how much worse must I

it be in peace ; the discipline, the zeal, and the 'energy
created by a long war is gone by ; and the ger .erality
of the young men of the present day, who obt sin pro-
motion through powerful interest, consider them-
selves quite perfect, and the old officers are broken-
hearted and disappointed, and almost without
hope of promotion. The well-being of the
Navy depends so much on the manner it is ad-
ministered, that to be acquainted with the merits of the
Board of the Admiralty, we have only to ,observe the
condition and discipline of our ships. If we see good
ships built, and those ships in high order, well com-
manded, well officered, and well manned, the officers
and men diligent, and doing their duty with zeal and
alacrity, we may reasonably conclude that the Navy has
been conducted by just and experienced men. If
on the other hand we see a relaxation of dis-
cipline, no emulation, no zeal, and few of
our hips in high order, we may pronounce,
without hesitation, that the Navy has been ruled
with injustice and partiality, and that the promotion has
been sacrificed to political purposes, and consequently,
bestowed on men without either talent or experience,
to the almost total exclusion of meritorious and old
offices, who are left to pine in penury and neglect ; or
if employed, are disgusted at seeing ignorant young men
put over their heads, who are totally incapable of keep-
ing their ships is the order they were wont to see them
kept during the war.
Perhaps there never was an instance of so complete
a change in any profession, at that which the misrule
`of the various Boards of Admiralty since th e peace has
gatahreed in the Navy. A superficial observer might at-
tribute this to the length of the peace, and thi ; diminution
of promotion ; but when I look at the Na vy lists, and
observe that promotion has diminished very little,
wisile the number of officers employed bear no compa-
risbn whatever to the war establishment ; when I have
seen until lately the promotion bestowed almost entirely
on young men of family and interest, the rapidity of
whose rise in many cases has surpassed what it was
wont to be even in war ; when I have seem lieutenants
made commanders who never kept an officer's watch in
their lives ; while at the same time there were lieu-
tenants serving of upwards of twenty years' standing,
and midshipmen who bad passed their examination from
ten to fourteen years, can I wonder at the, want of
energy which exists generally throughout th,e. service ;
and shall I be surprised if misfortunes befal us in the
event of war against a well disciplined navy ?
I have been nine-and-thirty years in the service,
and with the exception of commanders of sl ocps, first
lieutenants, senior midshipmen of line of 'aaule ships
and frigates, being promoted in consequeace of the
capture of a superior or equal force, I have seldom ob-
served anythiog like common justice done in the dis-
tribution of promotion: First lieutenants nilght be the
best and most zealous officers in the Navy, that seldom
was recommendation sufficient for advancement.
Captains performing dashing services on ene :riles' coasts,
if influential men, could generally bring an officer for-
ward, but even then it depended more on the interest
of the captain than the nature of the e atprprize per-
formed ; nevertheless in the stirring times. of war there
was always hope, and young men without interest looked
forward to some lucky chance for promotion.
If, under all these circumstances, it is true (and it ad-
mits not of a doubt) that good officers ivere not every
day to be met with, can we be surprised that the Navy
should now be glutted with inexperienced young men,
many of whom have been brought up in ships at anchor,
and have never seen a gale of wind in their lives.

Believing as I do th it no permanent good can be
done for the service until the Board of Admiralty is
abolished, I shall point out what, as it appears to me,
would be the best mode of ruling the Navy after that
step has baen taken.

I am of opinion that the Navy should be governed
by a naval officer and a Cabinet minister, with the title
of Lord High Admiral, Admiral of Britain, Commander
in Chief, or whatever other title it is thought proper
to give him. The whole of the patronage, and the
whole of the responsibility should be vested in him, he
should be assisted by two flag-officers, with the titles of
Vice, or Real-Admiral of Great Britain, (doing away
the two sinecures of that name), a flag-officer, or a
captain, with the title of Captain of the Fleet, (a civi-
lian,) and two secretaries, one a naval officer and the
other a civilian. The vice-admiral should superintend
the dockyard department ; the rear-admiral, the victual-
ling and medical branch and the civilian, the accountant-
general's department ; all correspondence with either of
those departments should go direct to them, and they
should give their orders to the surveyor, storekeeper-
general, physician, and comptroller of victualling, and
they again should communicate with the chief upon all
difficult points.
The Commander-in- Chief's particular attention should
be directed to the stationing the ships, the promotio❑
and appointment of officers, in which he should be as-
sisted by the captain of the fleet and the naval secre-
taries.

The civil secretary should attend to the political part
of the business, which should only be known to the
Commander-in-Chief and himself, whereas, at present,
there are many transactions that ought to be secret,
and which the whole Board arc acquainted with, and in
addition to them, perhaps, one-half of the clerks in the
Admiralty.
The inspection at the different ports should be made
by the Commander-in-Chief, or by the vice or rear-
admiral. They should hoist their flags and examine
minutely into the various departments, and most parti-
cularly into the discipline of the ships, which never can
be done by a Board in plain clothes, with a secretary
tacked to their tail, and running hastily through all the
departments in the manner they have hitherto done.
I remember perfectly well the impulse that was given
to the service when the late King was Lord High Ad-
miral ; he might perhaps have done too much, and
might not have been prudent in his communications
with the Government, but no apprehension could be en-
tertained of any difficulties arising between the Ministry
and an Admiral, who could be removed at' pleasure, but
who ought most certainly not to be removed with every
chancre of Ministry. At present not only the First
Lord, but all the Admiralty, are political partizans,
and just as they begin to know their duty, they may be
replaced by a fresh set, who have their lesson to learn,
and invariably entertain different notions from their
predecessors. Hence arise the constant changes that
take place, ruinous to the discipline and well-being of
the service, and expensive to the country.
I have no idea that any Ministry would voluntary
give up the patronage of the Navy, but if such a recom-
mendation proceeded from the Commission, it would be
extremely difficult to resist it.

It may be thought great presumption in so humble an
individual as myself, ven:uring to make suggestions to a
Commission composed, as the present is, with the Duke
of WVellingto❑ at its head, but I do it from a coviction
that if thing§ are allowed to continue in their present
state, a great catastrophe will befal this country, sooner
or later.

I shall, in a future letter, lay before the Commission,
my view relative to the state of naval officers, and what
changes appear to me necessary both in promotion and
retirement.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient humble Servant,
CHAS. NAPIER.

To the Secretary of the Naval
and Military Commission.

TORY JOBS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Stn,—By inserting in your influential Paper the ac-
companying paragraph (the correctness of which you
can learn on inquiry), you will do much to check a very
growing evil, viz., the use of patronage for political pur-
poses, in a Society formed with very different views, and
will be conferring a benefit on the Club generally ; and
oblige

AN OLD SUBSCRIBER.

L011(1011, March 621.

CITY OF LONDON CLUB.—TORY JOBS.
It may be in the recollection of many of our readers,
that when this Club was formed it was denounced in
several of the Journals as apolitical thing, but the con-
coctors of it took great pains to convince the public to
the contrary. The few following facts will enable all to
form some judgment on the matter :
Ever since the Club was formed, the whole of the
patronage has been monopolized by one individual, a
thorough-going Tory, who has put himself at the head'
of the concern, and who, in addition to other pickings,
has so managed matters as to have a good banking ac-
count s.niling in his face, when he opens his ledger each
morning in Nicholas-lane. The Secretaryship (a nice
little snuggery) very recently became vacant, and this
individual* actively canvassed his brethren of tho
Committee for a favourite of his own, who has
accordingly within " one short week, and 'ere the nest
was cold," been pitchforked into the office, without even
the ceremony of a day being named for the election, and
without being required to produce testimonials of any
sort, it being apparently deemed quite sufficient qualifica-
tion by the independent Committee that heis the brother
of an unsuccessful Tory candidate for the city, and that he
was put forward by their "Master-man." But be the
merits of this fortunate youth what they might, they were
(apart from politics) at least equalled by those of seve-
ral other candidates who were in the field, and it was
surely hardly decent thus to hurry over the affair with-
out giving them an opportunity of producing their testi-
monials, and does not look as if the projector was very
confident of what the result of a fair and open compe-
tition would have been. Such doings will neither raise
the character of the Club, nor persuade the public that
it is quite so disconnected with politics as some parties
wish to be believed.