Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-12-09

ed to the Mediterranean q OoM-
n,ander of Gun Boat No. 6, in which
service he was engaged sixteen
months -
That while attached to the Enter
prize, be sailed as first Lieutenant
with about seventy volunteers, IN the
Keteh Intrepid, Of four guns. uader
the present Com. Decatur, then COM
msnder of the Enterprise, to destroy
the frig.te Philadelphia, of forty
four guns, lying in the harbor Oh
Tr;poG:
That Lteat. Morris volunteered
as a midshipmsn in this expedition,
which was so completely successful.
that the Philadelphia was destroyed
without the loss OF single man on
the part Of the Americans:
That fer this exploit Commodore
Decatur was made Post Captain u
the rest of the officers and crew OF
the Intrepid. voted by Congress two
manths extra pay, which was declin-
ed by your MeDorialist:
That since the Mediterranean SER
vice was completed, your Memorial
isthas besu constantly engaged in the
service, having been attached to the
Constitution as first Lieutenant; and
to the Vixen. Wasp. Argus aud Hor-
! net, a, Commander; during which
commands he has been twice to Eu-
rope with dispatches.
That he was in the Hornet when
| war was declared, and was attached
to Commodore Rodgers squadron
! and cruized with him until TIE Com
| modore's retura to Boston, and rs now
| attached to Com. Bain1ridse's squad
ron.
Under these circumstances your
| Memoria!ist respectfully presents
this Memorial to Che Honorable Sc
nate. against ths ratification of the
nc.sination Of Lieut.. Charles Nor
ris, to the grade Of Post-Captain !;
but at the same time would bear tas-
timony to the uniformly distinguish
ell merit Of that accomplished gen
tiemsn and gallant officer.
Your Memorialist would respect
fully suggest, that no achievement
within his knowledge, hswSyer gal
liant. has heeu rewarded vi, a pro-
motion Of more than one: Srade; &
That such IS the inyariab!s usage Of
maritime nations, particularly tic
British whose navy has arrived to lis
greatest Perfection:
That the unexampled promotion OF
a single officer on board Of any fri
este after successful engagement
when all dill thsir duty. with sigaal
but equal brillisacy, must be detri-
mental, ifnct destructive to the SER
vies. in as much ss il is a tacit re-
aeution npon the conduct Of those
officers who are overlooked.
That the masters and commanders
appointed to the smaller vessels Of
the navy. are generally attached to
frisates and consequently are placed
BY their superior grade, in more
unfsvorah!e situation for promotion
than officers &C an inferior grade at
tac'ed TO frigates; thereby render
ins the grade which they had pre-
viousiy acquired by good contact an
obstacle to future promotion. apart
from etiquette. the impolicy and III
justice OF such promotions cannot be
made more obvious by argument:
That your MemOr;a!ist is c"nirm-
ed in these sentiments by the opin-
ions Of some Of the oldest and most
respectable officers ia the ,,rvice, &
BY all the gentlemen Of the navy Of
the same grade with your Memorial
list, with whom he has sommunieat-
ed, many of whom think, they can
not reconcile it to their i,onors to
continue in the service. ifso unprece-
dented nomination should be ratif-
ed by the Senate.
JAMES LAWRENCE.
q. s. Ship Hornet, Oct 22, 1919.
GENERAL. PORTER'S LETTER.