Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-23


at least once day, to the cant,in -
ne never sails the ship: had forootten ,Ss.
at quarters, and, of course, in action also Ia
has the deck "'''' ''a
Ihe Purser's birth is, think, the best in
the ship. There is none that brinos MOI
respect; and, what is better still, in short
time 1t brings wealth enough to render tho
man independent, and in circumstances To
,"IoW up ms commission when il becomes
oGli'hchSome. The situation of the other
oiAcers IS different; and think il is mat.
ter well worthy of Consideration on,nTc,
tnosc who arc looking to the sea. that nj,
'hough an officers life is generally plea.
SAINT one ana enjoyed greatly, circumstan
ces may and do occur to change It's charac.
Ter; ana II Is often 10 him bitter reflection
tlat he Is bound to it for life; his education
ana habits uniting him for any other re-
spectacle profession.
n siroe years cruise in vessel like this.
VIII bring to the purser Il nice little fortune
! | nave heard Oi a similar one in the Pacific
producing $4,000 The Mediterranean sta.
tioh IS not so profitable, but by no means a
contemplate one. This officer has his sa
larry, Ike others, but his main profits arise
rom Stops and groceries. Stops are SER
yea out once month: the lieutcnants keen
Il ciothes ist ol their respective divisions. i'm
winch is registered all the wardrobe of each.
sailor This is Produced the last day of
every month";. the wants of each individual
noted, and on the following day these are
supplied. Government has limited the bro,
his on Stops to ten per cent, but on oihCr
articies 1t Is much greater; groceries prodycc
nifty, and cloth and such articles twenty five
per cent. Oh The last, the officers them
selves generally purchase large quantities.
Vast sums Of money pass through the pur-
ser hands, and large securities are required
at the Department, which must he frequently
renewed. The comfort Of the officers depend
good deal on the COmmissary a D, he has,
therefore, little difficulty in securing their
good will. 1t is snug birih-bettA,, | be-
heLe, IN our navy than III any other.
" have two marine officers: their birth is
nearly sinccurc. The marines are drilled
occasionally, and inspected and the oiiicers
are responsible for their appearance, but all
this requires li;;c attention; sin the maSipes
are necessary order of men, nd they must
have officers.
Ihese, with the surgeon and chaplain, form
one class OF officers: they are entitled to The
ward room, and 10 the staTboard side of the
quarterback in port; and have the right
OF coming on board at the starboard gang.
way, when ;ais distinction Is made, which,
however is seldom the case. The larboard
sac oil lhe quarter deck Is appropriated to all
tiit ICSl; uONH 10 tIlc forward officers.
The midshipmcn form an interesting class
both from their age and number; aud still
more because they are going 10 be our COM
moIores and captains, when tho Navy will
be far more important branch of our Ma
uOnal system than II i now. You will find
me often III my letters abiding 10 the future,
Tor love to- do 1t. love TO think of our ma
ton as one OF the mightiest in the earth, an
aStonshment and d proverb, for its free, and
noble, and happy Institutions: and such be-
lIcyc 1t is going to be. Foreigners, know,
! sheer at such talk and predictions-und let
them; let them, till the sneer turns, as it ne
yer fails TO -, into secret, though migrate
iul acknowledgements of their Justice. We
VIII stlll talk, and, hope, shall act the part of
wisdom, III forming our Institutions to such
. character. No one needs attention more.
. ia reference to tbs, than the class of officers
+ have named; but reserve my remarks on
THIS Subject t. another time.
y e nave tive 1ty-five Oh board, distributed
as follows. four Of the oldest are appoint
Cd To the i3rrG9:.c, where they keep watch
in su,cC ion, and have the forward sails un-
der their particular charge; all subject, how
ever, to the officer OF the deck. One is per-
mancntly stationed on the maindc to over
see It's concerns; one, for like purpose, on
the birth deck; and one has charge of the
/ Nous INC idSl must DC present When the IL
quor is pumped, and watch it well, for on no
other subject arc the men so thicyishly dis
posed. These three keep no watch; all tho
rest arc divided into three or four Watches as
the case may he; generally into three, and
take their turns at deck duty, where it is their
business to sec the licutenant's orders under.
y stood and obcycd; 10 muster the men at night
when their watches come OF dcCn; and fc-
quCnty afterwards Tor the purpose Of keep
lug them awake; and to- act generally as aids
TO the officer OF the deck. one ofthcm must
he in each top, when tIe higher sails are SET
Those duties, which Yield neither 20 time or
weather, go hard with somc Of tho Young
or ones, poor fellows: and I suppose as
they pace the wet decks at night, they
|, frequently think OF home. Sometimes
they come across tcmpin corner Of
the deck. and slow themselves away u IL;