The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-05 00:00:00

COLBURA'S UNITEI?, SERVICE
MAGAZINE.

We would recommend " A Tale of a Brevet," which
is in the present Number of this magrzine, to the at-
tentive-I erusal of our legiilators, as an illustration of the
iniquity of the system of permitting officers in the army,
to purchase theiepromotion a system asimpolitic, and un-
wise as it is unjust and creel, and to which the happinesS
of many a gallant officer who was rich -only in
merit has been - mercilessly sacrificed. From ,an
admirable paper "On the more efficient Manning
of the Royal Navy,", we extract the following-observa-
tions, and we are delighted to see that this, the pro-
fessional organ-par excellence, has at length taken up the
Subject of the injustice' of underpaying those to whose
services we are iadebted'for our national eXistence.
" The sailor is like the agriculturist, his labour is his capi-
tal, and it seems hard that he shou!cl not be allowed to take
it to the best market. What-would be thought of seizing
upon an agricultural labourer and making him work for a
shilling a day, when the value of his labour was 'two shil-
lings? • The reason why .the royal service is 3J unpopular
in time of war, is from the scanty rate of wages: other
things may operate more or less, but the principal is' the low
rate of wages compared with the merchant service. The
lowest pay of an able seaman in the latter service last war,
was five pounds a month, and rising according to the de-
mand for, or scarcity of seamen ; eight pounds for a run
home frotn the West Indies, occupying about a month, was
commonly given, whilst the pay of an able-bodied seaman on
board of a man-of-war never exceeded one pound twelve
shillings a mouth,.and thus it continued to the end of the
war. It .was then thought too small for puce service, and
was raised to thirty-four shillings a month, at which it now
stands. We do not mean to argue that the pay of the mans
of-war seamen should be equal to that of the merchantman,
because the former possesses advantages over the- latter,
which are equivalent to a considerable difference; but we do
think,.if the Royal Navy is ever the be manned in war time
without resorting to impressment, that in the first place the
war-pay must be raised ;--and next, as far as such a- thing
can be done, the rate of wages between the royal and the
merchant service must in some degree be equalised: then,
with the advantage of Greenwich Hospital, and the hand-
some pensions allowed for servitude, there would be some
chance of manning the navylpon the-volunteer system.
"At this moment of writing, we are increasing our navy
but seamen come in very slowly. Where are they ? The
American navy is almost manned with British seamen ; and
why? Because the wages are higher than in the British
navy._ If we have a war, no doubt her Majesty will issue
her proclamation, commanding all British seamen in. foreign
services to return to their 'allegiance and-their country; and
we doubt not every loyal English sailor will obey the call,
and come forward to serve her Majesty. But at what a sa-
crifice ! Is it to be expected that a man who is receiving
from 31. to 41. a mouth for his labour, should leave that ser-
vice, and enter one where he would only receive 11. 14s. ?
"Here is a clear case established for the necessity for an
increase of pay to our seamen in warstime, if we wish them
to serve us. This -great country is rich enough to pay men
a fair remuneration for their services.".
We shall look with interest to the continuation of this
valuable-paper. The other articles -are all of more than
average mtrit. This is a most entertaining as well as
most instructive number. of the United Service Ma-
gazine.