Star.
London, England, 1823-06-20 00:00:00

point of view, he has selected from chore promoVonl
from the lists, the names of some Captains, Coma. •
manders, ißmiLlithrtessaars.-Ileibigfaseat -Gam&
bier had been- first put-cwar.thi-isaadlrof-3046.1;*;kt. .
tenants, and subsequently of 745 Commanders:
First Lieutenant had been his senior in that rank up-
wards of five yea's. Lord F. Thynne had only served
two and a bal.(' years, and was now a Post Captain.
The two Lieutenants of the Honourable Captain -
Spencer had held that rank, when their pi esent Captain
was a boys Arthur Nepean had been put over the
heads of 3,508 Lieutenants, and 749 Commanders.
1-1-is first Lieutenant had held that rank from Its'oB, •
while his present Captain was a boy at school. Hai
the old rule of seniority been preserved, there would
have been the less to object to. At the Coronation, the
Admiralty had signified that such was to be the rule.
But this seniority had net been that of war but of
peace. Of 57, who had been made Commanders at
the Coronation, five had been employed oa survey,
and of these, one alone was an old Officer. OF the
remaining 52. six only were old Officers; while the
others had only entered the Navy since 1311.-1.11 one
ship there were 10 Midshipmen, who had served 14.
years. Some of those had highly distinguished them-
selves in the service of their country. Three Midship-
men had been promoted for at:ending the King to
Scotland; one of whom, however, had not so attended.
There were ninety-eight Isieetenants, the youngest of
whom had served ten years ; those men had great
cause of complaint that they had not been promoted.
Many had been passed over at the Coronation,
had been wounded in the service. In the carps of Ma-
-1 tines, consisting of nearly 8,000 men, three had been
only thirty-seven promotions in the course of seven
years, and the reason was, that the cot ps of Marines
had no Parliamentar y interest. In the case of Pursers
the Board of Admiralty came to a resolution that no
more Pursers should be appointed than there were
ships, in consequence of which the number had been
reduced by '203. He saw no reason why a similar
course should not be taken in the Navy. The Ho-
nourable Member then moved certain Resolutions
affirmative of these facts. The last was for a humble
Address to his Majesty, for an inquiry into the man-
ner in which the Board of Admiralty had made use
of their patronage since 1915.
Sir G. COCKBURN contended that it was most
desirable for the good of the service to have the sons
of Noblemen and distinguished individuals in the
Navy ; they gave it respectability, represented it in
that House, and added to its character in sacisty ;'
and it was not to be expected that they should un-
dergo all the hardships of inlerioe service, which was
endured by those who served in the profession fur
their bread—(!lour, hear). He was sure that those
who did so were satisfied with the rewards bestowed
by the existing regulations—(Hear, hear). He could
not be expected to follow the Hon. Meaffier, at the
moment, through all the cases he had stated, but that
of Lord H. F. Thynne he happened by chance to
be acquainted with. The atatile of that Officer stood
at the bottom el a list of seven, who were promo-
ted upon a particular occasion, as being the seven •
oldest Commanders upon the diffeiert stations.—
With regard to the service of that Officer, it well
known that the King's son must go through six years
of active service before he could be made; and that,
he thought, entitled an Officer to an appointment,
who had given up the comforts of affluence and rank,
if it could be made with justice and propriety. But.
• this Officer had also served in the Mediterranean, and
afterwards in the Active, with such credit to himself;
that Lord William Gordon came to the Admiralty
and reported to him the ineritotious conduct of this
young Officer as being entitled to reward ; and he
was proud to say that he had it—(Cheers)—and this
was what the Hon. Member called never having set
foot on board, excepting a few years service II) a -
guatd-ship. *Mete was afterwards a ten-gun brig
ordered to go out to Sauth America, and there was
no one to command her, when this young Officer vo-
lunteered to do so. The lion. Member complained that
he should have bees promoted to a ship which was not
built. But the Admiralty know that it would be built
when he arrived tt Madras, and by that arrangement
they saved an appointment. With regard to jenior
Officers passing user the heads of their seniors, it so
happened that his Juniol- Lieutenant had been placed
over the head of this young Nobleman, who sex ved
under him without a woad of complaint—(Near).— •
The Honourable Member had stated that influence in
that House was a ground of advancea.ent in the ser- •
vice. Now, upon looking at the list of the seven
Commanders wlse were promoted, it would Ise seen
that the one immediately above Lord 11.Thynne, was
the Hon. F. Spencer, who belonged to an opposition
family —(1 /ear). lu the Coronation promotions, all
were selected from Midshipmen who had passed be-
fore 1819. The name of Hope had been alluded ;
but no one of the promotions of that name had taken
place in consequence of the influence of Admix:ll
Dope. The promotion as to the name of Coffin had
' taken place oil the tecommendation of an old Officer.
No Officer was :showed to be invalided without me.
dical examination at the Admiralty ; and if any Cap.
jtain improperly recommended an Officer to be inva-
lided, he was liable to be cashiered. Captain Gain-
bier, who was also alluded to, had died three days after
he had been invalided. With regard to the Mariner,
they were regulated by the Hon. Member's
_ f avow ite
maxim, and advanced by seniority. On the whole,
II be confidently declared that the Admiralty had dose
their duty, and thatthe majority of the promotions
were the result of actual and meritorious services.
He should move a direct negative on the main Resaa
lution; and the previous question on the others, w bids
related to mere matters of fact. .
Admiral S.r JOHN BERESFOItD said, it was
within his own knowledge that many promotions had
taken place in favour of those opposed to Ministers.
Admiral COFFIN said, that so far from the pos.
motions being too qui.so he had known midshipmea
who had served 1.8 years without being promoted.
men were kept unpromoted until they had arrived at
his time of life, they would be good tor nothing. lie
himself, if he were now sent to tea, should tail about
like an old thtee-legged stool—(A laugh).
Mr. F. PALMLit spoke in favour of the motions
Captain GORDON said, that many Midshipu en
had served double the time prescribed by the rules of
the service without being promoted, and were hot al.
lowed half pay.
Mr. BEN N ET thought that length of service should
be the principal circumstance to regulate promotioas:
Mr. Secretary CANNING taid,. that 4e belie.ved