Star.
London, England, 1805-10-09 00:00:00

TO THE EDI7TIR OF THE STAR.

Siltlt having been fuggefted that Government
have it in contemplation to inereafe the pay of the
Lieutenants of the Navy, I with through the medium
of your paper to awaken its attention, and that of
the Public, to another branch of our armed eflabliOt•
ment, equally entitled to their gratitude and protec-
tion ; I mean the Commiffioned Offices. of our rev..
lar Infantry.
It is well known to every one converfant in the
Hißory of Great Britain, that more than a century
has elapfed fence the pay of the higher ranks of the
army has received even the rink inconfiderable aug-
mentation, during which period ft has been found
regnifite from the enhanced value of all the artitlis •
of life, not only to double the pay, but greatly ton-
-1 arge the allowances of the Nrin-Commiffioned Offi-
cer and Soldier ; upon what principle of juftice this
partial provifinn has been made, it is difficult, if not
impoffible to firm a rational cnnjefture. If our an.
celtor. ecefidered the prefent pay of the Officers of
the Army, no more than a fair and equivalent remu-
neration for their Terriers et the time it war eitahlifh-
ed, it Purely is but equitable, when every neeeffary of
life bears a noble enhancement, and the price of la-
bout from the meaneß mechanic to the mai iiinuei.
outs Ratefmen pruportinnably advanced, that ibis op-
preffed part of the nation thould receive from their
country a fuitable prnvifion. The great depreciation
of money within the lalt forty or fifty years, hat been
fuccefsfully urged as a competent reafon for increaf-
ing the referees and pay of thofe who fill the various
ilattons in the doll depattnitnr of Governmen• ; is it
not then incompatible with the jolt principles of equi-
ty to exclude fuch only from a participation of fimi-
Lir advantages, as devote their lives and conflitutions
in the hour of danger to the fervice and prefervation
of their country ? I am aware there are many aho
imagine thefe diftreffes chimerical, becaufe adulated
il by the warmell fentiments of patrintiftn, and relying
upon the benevolence and gratitude of their country,
the Officers of the Britifh Army have hitherto Pup.
1 preffed their embartaffments and complaints; bat
the poverty of an Officer is now become proverbially
nntorious, and the profeffinn is daily lofing its refpec-
tability for want of an adequa e rapport, which, as a
military writer obferves, " unable to preferve itielf,
is expofed to every infult, vile and ingrate." But if the
feelings of the nation are not fufficiently alive tothe csiffi.
culties under which its Officers labour,itis atleaßitsin.
terelt to confider the calamities that may refult from !Of-
fering the pt ofellion itfelf to fall intoaßate of difrepute.
When the preknt pay of the Officers of the army was
I ellablinted, a pair of colours was thought an ade-
quate and fufficient pravifion for a younger fon, and
lwere then only confined to the care of men of libe-
rat education, illußnous family, or brilliant accom-
pfifhments ; and the wifclom of placing the honour
tithe nation in loch hands is fully exemplified by the
hiflory of there times; trot owing to the great dimi-
nution of the value of money luxe that epoch, and
the prefent extreme parfirnony of the nation, few, if
( any, will now embark in the profellian, except mew
I of very affiuent circumßances, or fuel as are entirely
delkirute of every other refonrce, and the policy may
at lea be queftioned, of canfiding the national ho-
none to the care of men, either immerfed in diffipa-
tion through the exuberance of their. wealth, or clef-
titute of independence by the indig-nee of their da-
( tion. If we expert oar army to etch eve exploits cur-
refpondent to its ancient military charader, it is ne-
ceffary to refine it from its prefent degraded Rate ;
and by enerealing the Pay, to invite the fame defcrip.
tion of men to embrace the profeflion, as formerly
fought and conquered, and railed the martial glory
of their country to its cord of fplendour ; but fa long
as the Pay is incompetent to the fupport and honour.
able maintenance of an Officer, fo long will the pro-
feffion of arms be difgraced by needy adventurers,
illiterate people, and men of dubious and problemati-
cal honour. Tnefe obfervations I have confined to
the Officers of the regular Infantry alone, as thofe of
1 the Cavalry are more amply provided for ; and Gen-
tlemen of the Militia, independent of obtaining their
Commiflions without purchafe or fervice, are ruppuf.
eatu be placed beyond the inconveniencies complain.
ed of, by the private property that eitablifhes their
qualifications. Moreover, it is but fair and equitable
I to exped, that fuel% as toil in the Vineyard, during
the whole and heat of the day, thould be more libe-
rally recompenfed, than thofe who only occafionally
lab )01. 1111.1.111AILIVII.
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