The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-10 00:00:00

NAVAL REFORM.

TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD JOHN RUSSELL.
MY LORD,—I address myself to your Lordship, on.
the present state of the, Navy, not only as the Secretary
for the Home Department, but, also as a sound constitu-
tional statesman. The feelings and opinions of naval offi-
cers have been plainly evinced in recent letters from a
Flag-officer, and by Captain Napier. A fatality appears
to have attended every Government in all naval affairs ;
but, by an energetic and judicious reform, the Royal Navy
would soon regain that high tone, and commanding posi-
tion, which was wont to be the glory of Britain. The
truth is, my Lord, the Navy requires an improved system,
and it needs but a glance from your Lordship's eye over her
list of officers, to convince you, from the immense number
of aged warriors in every rank, and the utter stagnation of
promotion, of its immediate necessity ; and as your Lord-
ship is well aware that neither the Universities, the Church,
nor the Rotten Boroughs, ever reformed themselves, so the
Admiralty will not be found to reform the Navy ; and until
your Lordship forms a Committee of the House of Com-
mons, and calls before them officers of every grade, it will
appear a mystery to the Government and the British na-
tion, how a kingdom, relying entirely for defence, and the
protection of her extensive trade and numerous colonies,
on her maritime strength, possessing a brave and humane
body of officers, with at least 200,000 seamen, have been
unable to man one of the finest fleets in the world, without
the barbarous expedient of impressment. My Lord, it
has been stated, that in the present day, Magistrates would
cot back the warrants ; but much as I abhor and detest
impressment, I should hold it a solemn duty, under the
existing law, as a Magistrate., to enforce its execution.
Although I would use all my political influence to urge the
representatives of the people to erase from the Statute-
book so barbarous an enactment, being well convinced that
it is the root of all evil, and ever has been the primary
cause of disgusting the seamen with the Royal Navy, yet
it would be an evident breach of the Magisterial oath to
refuse compliance with Orders in Council. My Lord,
from principle, I have politically supported the present Go-
vernment, believing their intentions to be for the happiness
independent
of prosperity of the nation ; as I am perfectly
of all party, both in feeling and circumstances, I
hope ever to be influenced alone, by patriotic mo-
tives. My Lord, there is a haplessness pervading the
officers of her Nlajesty's Navy, of which your Lordship can
form no conception. When your Lordship sees on the

Naval List the sea Captain of thirty-three years' standing,
after a life of nearly 50 yours in her Majesty's service, with-
out any hope of promotion, except by another Coronation.
which. God forbid we shoiald‘ ever behold—Commander:
and Lieutenants oP from 30 id 40 yOaes, MatOs and Mid-
shipmen who have passed their examination for twelve
or fourteen years, consequently have beer in the
service 18 and 20, without obtaining their hard-earned
commissions, can • your Lordship wonder at the depression
which extends through the whole profession, from the Ad-
miral down to the powder-boy ? My Lord, the very regu-
lations are humiliating. Twenty-three years of peace has
effected a mighty change in the intellectual attainment of
officers and men ; and a comparative view of the two great
arms of defence, the Army and Navy, with a retrospect
of the hardships of their past lives, in comparison with
their fellow-subjects, will at once convince your Lordship
of the &anger and injustice of persevering in regulations
which are mortifying and distressing to the feelings of of-
ficers, lowering them in the estimation of their fellow-men,
and placing the naval service lower than any other under
the Crown. My Lord, every officer now living, who en-
tered the army in the same year that our senior Captain
entered the Navy, is either a Lieutenant or old Major-
General, while the only honour that officer has received for
his gallant conduct in India is his name ! printed in a
larger type, that his juniors may see without specta-
cles the reward that awaits bravery and length of ser-
vice. It is true the Navy cannot purchase commissions.
Before the Reform Bill promotion rested almost exclu-
sively with the Minister of the day, and the Representa-
tives of rotten boroughs ; at the present time it emanates
principally from the House of Peers. Merit and long ser-
vices have but little prospect. While this system continues
there can be no hope of an efficient Navy. My Lord, the
Navy List enumerates 270 Captains, 260 Commanders,
and 1,500 Lieutenants, who held their present rank at the
end of the war, 23 years since, and who have devoted the
best of their lives to the service of their country ; scores of
whom, from hardships, wounds, and age, are totally unable
to serve in their present rank ; and, until the same boon
is granted to them that has been yielded to the Engineers,
Artillery, and Marines (who never purchase comtnissicns),
it is in vain to expect the officers of the Navy to be satisfied
with their position, or that they will encourage others to
enter a service at present the very worst provision that a father
can recommend to his son. The only mode of regenerating
the Navy will be for your Lordship to come boldly forward
with a plan which must be ultimately adopted, or adieu to
England's naval glory—of the Government redeeming
the commissions of officers willing to sell, who
held their present rank in 1815—giving grants
of land to those officers desirous of settling in
Canada, whose talents and energy will be eminently
useful to the Mother Country, promoting the remainder of
that class; advancing all Midshipmen who have passed their
examination more than four years; rescinding that most un-
just regulation of placing Admirals on the retired list, be-
cause they have not served a certain time, when on appli-
cation they had no interest to obtain the command of
ships ; ensuring promotion to all officers who have served
actively for a given period; abolishing impressment; enlist-
ing for a limited time, with mild and humane regulations,
granting as high a rate of wages as can be obtained in the
merchant service, and pensioning sailors after serving four-
teen years; thus, my Lord, you will raise the moral stan-
dard of the naval world, and place it in a position suitable
to this age of intellectual improvement.
The day is past, my Lord, when Cornets of Dragoons
can with safety be Lords of the Admiralty ; or, when naval
Lords of the Admiralty, in their place in the House of
Commons, can have the assurance to tell the people of
England, that it is necessary to maintain the honour of the
Navy, by posting Aristocratic boys. It would, my Lord,
he a dangerous experiment to allow a Russian armada to
approach our shores, and by a coup de main surprise us in
profound peace ; yet, should that Power act so dishonoura-
f,ly, I have no doubt that the British Navy, though now
writhing under neglect and injustice, would instantly come
forward to a man ; that officers would serve in any rank,
where they would be useful, and that every man would glory
in repelling a barbarous enemy, and teaching them a lesson
they would never forget ; like lions they would rush forth
to battle, the experienced would instruct the youthful,
Captains of ships would become captains of guns, and in
a few weeks 100 sail of the line would be afloat.
Sailors bear no malice to their rulers, they love their
Queen and country ; cherish then, my Lord, this generous
feeling, and urge the House of Commons to do them jus-
tice, and with God's blessing, we may defy the machina-
tions of combined Europe, so that the instant an enemy
approaches our shores, by one mighty effort their doom
would be sealed.

I remain, my Lord,
Your Lordship's obedient servant,
D. L. St. CLAIR, R.N.
Staverton-court, Dec. 7, 1838.