The Sun.
London, England, 1828-01-11 00:00:00

his being a sailor. He does not take notice of any thing,
nor any active part in his business ; and vet, I suppose,
when he has dawdled in a ship six years, lie think himself
very ill used if he be not made a Lieutenant. Offices in
the navy are now made the provision for all sorts of idle
people." And again, " - writes to me that her son's
want of spirit is owing to the loss of his time when he was
in England, which is a subject that need give her no con-
cern, for if he takes no more pains in his profession than he
has done, he will not be qualified fora Lieutenant in sixteen
yeais ; and-I should be very sorry to put the safety of the
ship and the lives of the men into such hands. He is of no
more use here as air officer than Bounce (Lord Collingwood'l
dog) is, and not near so entertaining. She writes as if she
expected that he is to be a Lieutenant as soon as he has
served six years, hut that "is a mistaken fancy; and the
loss of his time is while he is at sea, not while be is on
:shore. He is living on the navy, and not serving in
it; too, is applying to go home. If he goes, lie
May stay, for I have no notion of people making the ser-
vice a mere convenience to themselves, as if it were a pub=
lic establishment for loungers." And again, " 1 wish
- were on shore. As to his being an officer, it
seems to me entirely out of the question ; that would be
vorting with men's lives indeed." And, writing to Mr.
Blackett, he says, " I was surprised to see Mr.
come out again. They think when they have served six
years at sea they should be made lientenants, and never
deem it necessary to qualify themselves. He is a good
quiet young man, and walks about doing no harm : but lie
has no activity in him. Such people become pensioners
on the navy rather than officers in it. I hope they will
send out somebody to relieve me; I wish very much to
return to England." And again, writing to Lady Col-
lingwood, " - was sent out again with all his infir-
mities. It makes my heart ache. The object, I sup-
pose, is, that I should make him a lieutenant, which I
never will do, that he may have an annuity and a live-
lihood on the naval establishment ; but my duty is to
seek officers capable of doing the service'of the country, and
none others must expect advancement from me."
Those extracts show us how little such persons
deserve to he made officers ; and that when made.
offisers they only become pensioners on the country
concealed under the uniform of an honourable pro-
fession. But let us suppose, as sometimes turns out,
that the persons who are thus provided for become
active officers ; the consequences far the country are
not less deplorable. They harass their men by
their carelessness and want of skill ; their ships,
which are nice and complicated machines,
requiring constant. care,, entail a ruinous expellee
on the country, and "are seldom .or never, far
any long period, fit for service. We have witnessed
more .shun one rise of this description. They were
dashing sprightly buckS,'would-he-fire-eaters, whose
ships were either things for show, or dilapidated by
excessive and unnecessary, wear. The following is
Lord Collingwood's opinion of this class
to Lord Radstock; on the .10th of March, 1806, be
says, " I see the names of some very indifferent
young men in the promotions, who never go to sea'
without meeting some mischief for want of common
knowledge and care. Every three brigs that come
here commanded by three boyS require a dock-yard.
The ships. of the line never have anything for artifi-
cers to do. I have sent some home, because they
could not be maintained in this country, and their
service amounted to nothing. Better give them
pensions, and let them stay on shore."