Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-06-17


Berd of Admiralty.
., 1t is worthy of observation that the abuses
and grievances which sought TO redress by
variety OF motions, and particularly by the above
mentioned resolutions, and which were so fatty
and indignantly denied by the Secretary ofthe
Admiralty, have since by that same secretarr,
been acknowledged to exist Look into the let
ter which he lately addressed to the sesmen of
the 1eet, enumerating many of the evils which he
had treated as chimerical when complained ofby
me, aud seeking for himself and his EMPLOYERS
popularity and applause for their tardy and par
tial redress. These evils notwithstanding the
maintenance of double naval establishment of
winch they occasioned the necessity, were main
causes OF our late naval 6seraces and disasters
many of which, am firmly persuaded, could not
have occurred, If the grievances in question had
been Investigated and remedied when first com.
planned OF by me.
&c complained of the hardship of unlimited
service; OF the cruelty of harbor duty; of the
uncertain system of reward of the exaction, for
olscharge, even from wounded, disabled, and
pensioned seamen; of withholding from the sea-
men their pay, until their return home, and their.
consequent priyations abroad and of keeping
ships abroad until their crews had persisted. 1
complained OF the custom of imposing on the
seamen the performance of frivolous, vexatious
and unnecessary labors, such as securing and pol
lshmg iron bars, bolts, hooks, pins, shot, &c. Sc
the cause gilmore fiagellation than the violation
OF all the Articles of War. complained of the un-
necessary system of Preparing and restoring ships
at sea on common and ordinary service occasions
OF its effect on the health of the crews and of
the orders when in port which deprived them
of the comfort of stretching Their limbs on the
soil of their native land.
" complained of the want of the ike necessa.
ry comforts in naval Hospitals, which were al
lowed TO the army of the refusal to admit INTO
those hospitals certain diseases, which during
the winter season, could not be cured at sea; of
the inadequate supply of medicine to the ships
OF war OF the limited quantity of lint for dres-
sing wounds and sores of the substitution of
sponge, which beng appl ed without distinction
to the wounds of all, impaired to some the in
fiction 1t received from others, and originated
the necessity of numerous amputatons and of
the misery to which men, thus cruelty crippled,
were reduced, having no acknowledged clam 10,
or any certainty ofreward for Their unmerltted
sufermgs. And reprobated the system of re-
tanning invalids for harbour duty, of VIII ch the
hardshPs are greater than those of active service;
and OF permitting them and even compelling
them by means of hose hardships to re-enter the
navy when their physical power and constitutions
where wholly decayed.
4" 1.-THE abuses of which complained IN the
house OF Commons, some of which only have
here enumerated, had been as promptly correc-
ted as they were honestly exposed, a part of that
weste OF blood and treasure which the country
bewalls-a portion of that deep distress and hea-
Wy taxation under which it mas groaned, and IS
now sinking, would have been spared and aver
ted But, Gentlemen, although am aware that
the description OF abuses which conceived it
my peculiar province to attack, ronprehends
but small part of the progeny of the parent
eyli-and although am aware that to call on the
House of Commons Constituted as it Isl for the
removal OF abuses, is nearly as helpless as to sue
q tree tosshake Oft its branches yet my efforts
IN the exposure OF corruption, feeble and con.
tnued as they were, and much as they were con.
tenned by the espousers- OF that corruption, have
not been wholly useless or Intellectual have
lived to see some benefit arise from every mo.
ton or representation made by me In the house
at least have lived to see many of the evils
which Twas the first to point out, reluctantly ac-
krowiedged and partially redressed; and ihave
lived to feel the resentment of those to whose g.
norance or wIckeClncss truly attributed Their
origin and continuance. Gentlemen, have also
lived, TO see those rewarded who pursued diff.
ferent line of conduct,
Gendemen-Therew was time when /, who
have been accused of sacrificing my integrity and
truth at the shrine of avarIce, rejected splendid
otfice-a squadron and areglment--for the exc.
cuton Of my own plans in the Mediterranean, at
time when the almost defenceless coasts and
ports Of the enemy were swarming with vessels
mterchangmg the valuable manufactures of
France, tor the rich productions OF Italy IN In
fallibe opportunity of acquiring riches not only
without reProach, but with applause; of acquir-
ing incomparably more than the utmost pittance
that could possibly have accrued from the most
successful execution of the artihce attributed to
me. Gentlemen, say, that ! rejected the most
tempting offer, and renounced the brightest pros.
poets, rather than abstain from painful public
duty from which anticipated, and was not DIS
appointed, nothing but clamor and opprobrium
rather than silently acquesce IN the prostitution
ofthe thanks OF Parliament; to the prejudice of
the interest and the honor of the country.
" Gentlem en--When was conveyed TO what
is called the Strong Room of the Kings Bench
Prison, which has been my abode for these three
last weeks, was assured by the Marshal that IT
was only intended 20 detam me here very short
tune, until the apartments over the lobby of the
prison could be made sufficiently comfortable and
secure for my reception. j am now informed,
that after much preparation, he has succeeded
IN rendering the promised apartments sufIicl emily
comfortable, but not sufficiently strong, and
therefore that can only be permitted 10 ,nhsbit
them on certain conditions, with winch cannot
honorably comply.
" IF the best method Of preventing an escape
IS to deprive the prisoner Of the use ofhs limbs,
the damp and pestiferous cell IN which am now
incarcerated, is undoubtedly Constructed on the
true principle of security. in my opinion It's
situation and climate are adequate TO the suspen-
SION Of every muscular faculty in period Of "a,