Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-10-09

tile probable cause! were INC yOuuecSt
and most inexperienced surgeons express
IL selected, for service on a station pro-
verbally unhe althy, and when an expert
ment was TO be made as 10 the proprIeiy
OF fixing on permanent West india naval
depot1 These are questions which are
suggested on reading the paragraph a.
hove alluded to; for il presupposes some
thing wrong on The part OF Com. forter,
or something very unjust on the part OF
the government-They are certainly. be.
ginning at the wrong end, for the mischief
is already done Why then cast an odl'
uT, (for cannot look upon il in any OH
er point o! view on Com. Porter and his
squadron before it is known that they de-
serve it; by sending others to perform tha,.
which The Com. must have known was bis
,mperious duty? What can Com. Rodgers
now accomplish, with his four old Sur
geons, which Com. Porter has, with b's
four or more junior ones, failed to perform!
Can the mission throw any light on the
subject, that Com. Porter and his Surgeons
are not i'm possession Of? and | would iur-
Their beg leave 10 enquire, are the sur
geons who remained at Key West during
The prevalence of the disease, less qualihed
10 repo-, on the subject, than the tour old
est Surgeons in the Navy? Have those
four oldest Surgeons been selected because
they have been most conversant with the
yellow ever, and the diseases OF tropical
ATTITUDES; or, are they selected SIMPLY IN
consequence of their advanced age! we
sincerely hope, for the honor OF the govern
ment, for the credit OF the nation at large
hat some jut reasons can be given Tor
conduct SO apparently inconsistent WIN
justice. sound policy and discretion, we
feel assured Com Porter will look upou
this measure as Inconsistent with bis rights,
as totally disregarding his feelings, bis
honor and qualifications. Com. Porter IS
absent from the United States. he is con-
suited, but superseded withou, bis know
ledge or consent, ltor Notwithstanding the
declaration to the contrary every, one
knows that the moment an otflcer OF high-
er grade, or " hose commission IS senior.
comes within signal distance, he Eust OF
consequence assume the command Is
/ this lust ? is it lair is it consistent WIN
the genius and spirit Of our government,
to treat with contumely one OF our most
distinguished citizens, and stygmai'se a
whole squadron 3? We think not-and we
are disposed to believe that the people OF
the United States will bear US out in this
opinion-for the people arejust, and VIII
award merit where merit is due A vast
deal more might be said on this SUBJECT,
and no doubt will, if this is not one OF
those editorial hourisbes which now ana
then occur, somewhat at the expense oil
! the modesty OF the party spoken or Com
Rodgers W no doubt smile at the extra
VACANT strain in which mere trip 10 me
West Indies at lhis season OF the year Is
snoken of by the editors Of the National
InlelIlgencer, as il immense sacr'hcss
were made for the good of the service, 10
remain a few weeks in the West indies, q
climate OF all others the most de'Igh''u'
during the winter months. W. sincerely
regret that Commodore eorter ana ms
squadron have not found it so during The
summer and autu nnal montbs-a circum'
stance that we were by no means aston
ished AT and one ON which we oid not
calculate FROM the last accounts we still
ieel considerable solicilude as to his tate ::
but trust that be will speedily be m The
United States, and will show TO the nation
at large that he has not been unmlndiul OF
his duty in any particular relating 10 Inc
, important trust reposed in hin, as The
Commander Of the squadron on the West
India Station JUo ilCE'