The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-09-09 00:00:00

To :Its EDITOR or fix STATESMAN.
lettecerita ut bate, kit. *ill apply;
rhow as *ell is in the days or lioeACs. Human sa-
tire is pretty much the sane ih every igo-11 IS not
the disposition of man to be cohtented with his lot,
let him be ever to *ell shutter! lb life ; and this
rettleasnesi Ind tontines! with to improve our con-
dition; plainly prove that this lire is only a Stets of
probation.
Every profession his its particular irieVaneett, and
each man thinks himself worse off than another;
notwithstanding this, I shall venthre to point oot the
peculiar hardships of the service lb Which I hale Creed
employed Since the age of 14.
A bby whi has presiobsly been eddrated at ti
gentleman wishes to go to sea; his friends have ad
interest In the Navy ; the 'Welt litho service they
think 100 hard for him, particularly without they'
can meet With a Whine Comthaftder ; he is there:
foie sent on board one Of the Eait India Company's
ships at a Midshipman. Sind in thU station he (vial
rally serves two voyages before be can be tithe.
Fifth or Sixth Mate; hit Wages, in these Stational
are nothing adequate tat the espente of his mess sail
his clothes (and he milt Weir tome kind of uniform)
which increases the 'spent% of the latter). The harti
ships he undergoes are much greatei that is generally
Imagined. Besides, being exposed to vkissitudei of
weather and varieties of climate, he it the greateft.
part of the voyage Ift a hot uftwhblesinne hold,
stowing and unstowing, and the confines! Waite by
perspiratios (unless hell blessed With an excellent
constitution) impairs his health early in life.
About the age of 20, he it allowed to pest for
Fourth Mate; and becomes a sitotu Officer ; he hag
note a cabin to himself and his pay and privilege td
trade are I little increased; his espences, lsosse.er,
are increased in a more than equal ratio, and fur
many years past markets have been so bad in India
that a young inexperieuced trader is more likely td
lose money than make any.
lie nest goes out es Third Mate, and Is nOti in it
much more responsible situation, having the charge
of the cable, and stowing the hold entrusted to hit
care; he is likewise Mester of the Mess, and to hint
•all the young Officers should look op for instrectien
and good example ; he therefore now begins le feel
I some anxiety, more particularly if he has charge of
a watch, which no man of feeling can think of
lightly : his emoluments in this situation are Serf
little preferable to those of Fourth Mate, add td
think of making any thing by his Mess would id
beneath his character as a Gentleman. Withnet Mita
kets sec good, the pay of the service is so small diet
' it will most likely prove lu the end a losing topple.
him.
I will go on regularly,' and suppose him nest to h.
Second Mate, al:hough after being Third he it ,Heil
Isle for Chief Mate, if he can obtain tree situation. If*
has now done with the betd,•Attfff'nther•Vt?ff Ajar
his duty being principally upon the qearter.deck, ...dr
to be ready at all times to relieve the Chief; he
now time to attend to the lunar observations ate
chronometers, and to make himself perfectly qtratta
fled either for Chief Mate or C •nsmander on his O.
turn ; if he does his duty in this situation there
enough for hat to attend to, al!hough many make
an idle birth of it, especially those of good interest,
and who expect to become Co 'menders without nn.
dergoing the labour of Chief Mate.
! Before Igo farther I will do justice to the Cow&
mauder with whom I sailed three voyages as Chief,
Mate, he and I never bad a word of difference, he i 6
a perfect gentleman, and wets a'l like him there
would be no occasion for my writing 'onto part of
this letter ; this avowal will, I hole, prove, that It is
not merely ou my owe acceont that I have wader.
taken such a task.

The emoluments of a Cider Map at% lint torsi
great—be has M. per month and eight tons of privi.
lege ; but, as I have already remarked, markets
hare been so bad in India, from the great eat and
competition for many years past, that there Is much
greater probability of losing than gaining by trade;
if he, therefore, pays his expences by the voyage,
he may consider himself well of. Many have lost
money, and were It net for their friends, nothing
but a prison would welcome It in after • long said
tedious voyage. There is nothing to be made now
except in the China ships, and th • d.fllculty of ob•
tainiug a birth in one of thpfm I a. increased since the
trade to India has been laid open.
There are but few who can escape being Chief
Mate; and indeed it ought to be • standing rule of
the East India Company, that every man she'll'
perform at least one voyage in ibis station Wore Mt
is Commander; instead of which 40111.• very prong
men get ships after being Second II to, tri.haut the
least regard to the feelings of an old Chief Mate that
they may have under them. Not having Pit the
hardships and anxieties of that station th,mselves,
they hare only seen duty carried on smartly, with.
out knowing the method, and it mull be so done in
their ships, whether the ship.s timpani be bad or
good ; and if the Chief Mate, in spite of all his
efforts and Wearing out the people, cannot *mom.
plish this, some of these Commanders (I will not
include all) soon forget themselves, storm and rave,
and think nothing of hurting the feelings of a good.,
worthy, and expettenced Officer by their intemperate
expressions.
Man is very apt to forget himself in India, where
the natives by their Itemllity, feigned or real, teens
to justify him in his arrogance'
In the service look down upon
much contempt, and hardly thin!
to behave to them as Gentlemen
who are more immediately under
suffer most, and if their feelings
Wien becomes intolerable.
Can it then be wondered at tr
Mating been many years in the
Mate, and having bad his comet(
spirit wounded, and not making
livelihood can it, I say, be
should at length relingeish a service
ChillCt of seer obtaining a command,

1


•

'Many Commanders 1
to their Officers with
sok themselves obliged
en; the Chief Mates,
ler them, are apt to
;s are ar.itte their sita••
that an Officer, aft*,
he situation of Chief
illation impaired and
r any thing bet a
wondered at slat
'nice where he hat Imo 5;
Band, bat only mos i
venom" j
.
... a.`..._