Star.
London, England, 1805-07-10 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF 7 HEiST4R.

,
I

Sir—lt may appear extraordinary to you, that a
sommuotcat ion of the following nature Mould be con-
•eyed to a difcerning public, theough your paper, by
one employed in the defeneenfhiseountry; but Idoubt
not, the candour of the world at large will admit
that no impropriety ean exill in men of a profeflion Co
decidedly dear to this Empire, Rating their feelings
on a matter fo nearly conneeled with their happiness
and honour. I fhould not have thought it neceffary,
but trom the popular clamour that has been raised
againfl Lord Vifcount Melville, and the abufe his
It;gh charaeter has undergone ft om many, who, from
the nature of their occupations in life,cannot be deem.
el better calculated to judge of Inch c,.ncerns than
myfell. I, therefore, only claim an equal indulgence
ith thofe humble individual..

There is little doubt, nay I am certain, that thefe
fentiments which pervade my breafl, are general, not
only amongfl my brethren in the fleet, but amon2fl
all defcriptions of it.—That it would give the Royal
Navy at large the moll heartfelt joy, to fee the Noble
Lord returned to the high &nation which be has
confider en it proper fo lately to refign ; and it would
be well for the generality of people to remember
that the great defenders of this Empire never as
Co well, or with fuch vigour and effea, as under thole
in whom they have fo complete a confidence. And
who, Sir, can fo jufily be entitled to that confidence,
as the Noble Lord, who obtained the Icemen the &-
cure remittance of what part of their earnings they
elroofe to their wives and families ? Alf° the allot-
ment of half of their wages (monthly if they think
fit) as a fuldifience for their wives and families, while
they are aturoad fighting the battles of their country.
Alfothe privilege offending and receiving letters free
of poflage. Alf* the power granted to Oificers of
drawing their pay quarterly; thereby faring them the
dedueions of Agency, and preventing their being in-
debted to their Agents for the means•of fuhfiftence.
And, if I miflake not, likevtife the right held by
the captive of drawing • his pay render certain re-
flrietions, while immured within the loatlifome dun-
geons of our enemies. Betides a variety of other
regulations, too tedious for detail, which have in-
fui ed their welfare and the comfort of their families
to a certain extent.—And little doubt can be
entertained of the many whelefome laws that would
have been adopted in behalf of every defcription in
the fleet, had h:i Lordthip remained at the Board,
where his tranfcendrnt abilities would have been ex-
erted for the good of his country in prefervinv ker Sea.
men. This i can readily aver from the hatidlome ar-
rangements already made by his Lordthip for the me-'
cheat department in our navy. And it mutt be ad-
mitted that much yet remains to be done ; but it is
foreign to my prefent purpofe to draw any compari-
lons, or to touch on fuch fubjeas ; as the known boy
alty of the fervice will ever induce its officers tolive in
the hopes of relief till :heir country can afford it.—
They have, however, I am lure, the fallen confi-
dence in the reaitude, high abilities, and inclination
of the prefent Fir it Lord of the Admiralty, to make
Itch future arrangements as he nkity think belt calcu-
lated to better their fituations. It cannot be forpofed
tl.lat a bide like the Navy of Great Britain tliould be
deprived (nor do I know of any legal deprivation) of
the liberty of giving their opinions, en fuch matters,
where they molt teel fv' deep an interefi—a liberty,
we daily fee, from which no man is- preluded, on
chore, of whatever condition he is in life; and al-
thoogh my profeffional habits do not hefit me to to
flea ttrongly npe'n any other laws than theft that re-
gulate the fervice to which 1 belong, yet, let me allure
you. Sir, I feel a confidence, in common with my
brother officers, while I give this opinion that it
is fuFported by that of fuels able men, as are now
leading Connfellors of his Majetly, in the Honour.
able Houle of Commons. I have no belitation in
deckle ing, that I believe it to be the general prayer of
the Roy ai Navy, that Lord Melville may be found
(as they firmly believe him to be) morally innocent of
the charge. exhibited agairift him, by an impartial
Jury of his c::unrry, and that he may afterwards be
returned to his f‘hijetty's confidence, to rile his bright
talents for the good of that Stare, which he has fo,
long and fo often I;:rved with ability and fuccefs, and
it cannot he denied that ever there was a time, when '
unanimity wasanore effential than at the relent.
I troll the Bi kith Fleet will publicly expt els their
fentimerts tohisLordfbip of theefleem they bear him,
that our Gracious Sovereign may tee how highly they
appreciate the merits and charaaer of the man whom
he once was pleated to place at the head of his naval
Conocils.—And why thould not the Britifh Fleet
make known their fmtiments (through their com-
manders) confiftently with the laws of the country
they fo bravely defend, as well as counties, cities and
boroughs, through their reprefentatives ? Is it not,
.Sir, deemed a virtue in the private individual to ho.
nour hint who has ever befriended him ? If to, is it
not alike incumbent on a public body to proclaim
their grateful feelings to one who has put them un-
der filch II rong cbligations, and whom they recognize
as one cf the bell fi rends the navy ever knew ? In this
tvidrels to my countrymen, through you, I beg to dif-
claim all political motives and difcuWon, as foreign
to my profcflion.
Before 1 difnrifs this fubjca, I with to convey my
fent iments and thole of my brother officers (fo far as
hare afeettained them), of tefpea to the prefent
Ilea Dirt, of the Admiralty. His former lituation,
asComptroller of the Navy, has fully proved hisgreat
abilities, and his charaaer Rands too high to need the
encomiums of any one. Though we lament the lots
of Lord Melville. we alto anticipate every happy
confequence from Lord Barham's knowledge of every
branch of the navy, 'and we are convinced of his de-
termined reaitude and of his confiderate .views as to
the regulations eirential 14 the advantage cf the fer-
vice.—And we are fore that our gracious Sovereign
could not have placed in the room of Lord Melville,
anyone more confonant to the willies of his marine'
fubjeas than Lord Barham, front whom we are laid-
fied of receiving a proper, thottseh mild adminiliration
of thofe laws which are now put under his controul.
While I folicit an early infection of thefe fcattered
thoughts, I mid the generous public, for whom they
are intended, will pardon any inaccuracy which may
appear throughout them ; as being the indePendent
and honclt feelings of a Sailor, and
as OLD OTTICNI is TIM CiIANNIIS.
UW:uels

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eb..usegi Flee, I.7lLint S. E. 6
Jule 34i 1805.