Star.
London, England, 1819-10-19 00:00:00

difference of the remuneration Made to those Officers.'
For the said 18 years of employment, the Purser may
receive 936 guineas ; whilst a Master, or Lieutenant,
though 15 years junior to him, is sure of receivin& no
less a sum than 1,642 10s.! ! ! this difference is so
unconscionably glaring, and presses so hard against
the comforts, and vital interest of the Purser, that it
can never fail of exciting the glow of a generous in-
dignation in the countenance of every unprejudiced
person who enters into its consideration.
Oh! it is a heart-rending reflection, and the depth
of melancholy dwells in its contemplation, that, after
having served the Country faithfully for a series of
years, that the Purser is to be ultimately abandoned,
cast a-drift, and left a prey to want, to penury, and
haggard wretchedness! And that, after living on
terms of intimacy and friendship, and enjoying, for
years, the pleasing society of his jovial mess-mates,
yet, in a few weeks after being so cast a-drift, he finds
himself no longer able to associate with them, though
often living in the store neighbourhood.
No longer able to support the dignity of 'a rank se
justly conferred upon him, and as justly merited, he
broods, in rueful meditation, over his ill-fated doom :
and now, ashamed of his tattered garments, the
thread-bare remains of his former greatness, he im-
mures himself in the obscure shade of gime less than
half furnished, and half illumed corner; where, like
the solitary owl on the north side of the ivyed elm,
the genial rays of the enlivening sun can seldom
shine upon him ; and, from whence* in further like-
ness of that unsocial bird of night, he silent strolls, at
dusk, and pensive treads the lonely untrod way,
friendless and pennyless, during the still hours of
kindly gloom. Oh ! ill-timed rank ! what art thou,
and what evil is this that thou bast done? Alas !
thou art no more than a vain, empty nothing, of less
value than the fleeting shadow, and of no more avail
• than the gaudy bow of HEAVEN, that lures the eye
and grasp, but never can be caught !—a shallow dig-
' nity, that, in an evil hour, deprived the Purser of the
asylum afforded him by a Ship in Ordinary; and now
involves, in endless misery, and tumbles headlong
from the desponding precipice of the down-hill of
hope, the principal part of the unemployed Pursers of
his Majesty's Navy.
But, oh, my Country! 0, England! thou brightest
gem in creation, cf this gross partiality I freely ab-
, solve thee ! the blame of such a grievous oversight
rests not with thee—it sprung from mistake, and ori-
ginated in the error of thoughtlessness, which, till
now, thod knewest not. Oh ! Arbitress of Nations'!
thou that boldest the balance of empires in one hand,
and poiseth the justice of impartiality in the other!
thou Mistress of the Universe and pride of Naval
Glory ! that sittest triumphant on the proud height
of Ocean's wave, and that delightest not in the scourge
of Oppression, suffer not thy servants to be thus so
harshly dealt with!
In thy Senates, in the Councils of the wise, and in
the august presence of thy most auspicious PniNcE
and well chosen RECENT, assert the rights of these thy
faithful servants, and place them on the equitable
footing of remuneration with those of thy other Naval
servants of equal rank : for which the lisping babe
shall learn to bless thee, and, in maturer years, to
magnify thee in the song of gratitude; whilst the
GoD of CREATION shall shield illy sea-girt Isles from
foreign foes, and, in the wrath of his indignation,
confound the machinations of such as may dare to
conspire against thy internal peace !
And now the expectant, poor, but honest, Half-pay
, Purser, remains as before PHILOMATII.