Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-12-05

cHSc nus occn puuIIsH'u aOSoIilIuhlcu VIII
extended comments by an officer. We up
pend the first two paragraphs of the com
ments.
LETTER. No. /.
US. SnIP OHIo,
To tho Hon. J. X. Paulding,
Secretary Of the Navy.
Sir,-Wc,. the gun room officers of the
Ohio beg leave to lay before you state
mcnt Of facts, in relation to the quarters which
have been allotted TO US on board Of this
ship.
In so doing we are impolled by no othel
than proper motlvcs-mo'ives which spring
from what we conceive to be due to our ranl
to tue discipline Of the service, the efficiency
of the ship, aud TO our natural and physicn
wants.
In the first place, rooms on the Orlop decl
have been assigned TO US, where neither ligh
nor air can penetrate, and in none of which
under The most favorable circumstances car
candle light be dispensed with. The close
ness Of these apartments IS such, that ou'
experienced Fleet surgeon, gives it mos
unhesltatingly as his opinion that serious Ill
health must cnsue TO the occupants during Q
three years cruise. This opinion is confirm
ed by that of every medical officer who ha'
seen this new system Of accommodations in
troduced IN our Line Of Battle Ships.
If our objections were limited to this view
Of the subject, we should feel ourselves com
PEELED to forego them, knowing that these
and greater sacrifices may be claimed from
us If the efficiency Of the service be thereby
promoted. But we humby submit that the
very reverse of this is the tact.
In the ordinary duties Of the ship requiring
the presence of all hands, in going to quar-,
tcrs, in case Of fire, squalls, or any other sud
den emergency, the sea officers instead o!
beading and leading the crew must inevita
bly, be the last to reach their respective sta
tons. In case OF mutiny, dozen men
could with perfect ease, and ia a moment oi
time, completely cut off all communication
between the commander and the few officers
Of the watch, and all other officers OF every
grade.
The arrangement Of which we complain
had its origin in the French Navy, but was
soon abandoned on the score of health, OF
the few ships in which it has been retained
were sufficiently high to admit OF large all
ports being cut, aiiord;ng ample light and
ventilation. This, however, if practicable in
our vessels would not remove in our opinion
the OBJECTIONS connected with the disc ipline
and police of the ship. But should you, Sir
consider the reasons assigned by the Navy
Commissioners valid, we most earnestly re-
quest that the whole plan may be carried out
as ordered by these officers themselves, and
that it may not be deprived Of what we con.
ceive its only palliative, the occupancy Of
the after part VI the main gun deck as mess
room.
The N. Carolina was so fitted when she
last sailed from the United States. Her ofli-
GERS were as strenuously opposed to the Or
lops as ourselves, but became in measure
+, concied in consequence of having an airy
apartment whore reading and writing could
be done by day light and which during the
sleeping place. The Ohio was also used in
the same manner by Com. Rdgley at this
J yard, and subsequently approved on lpspec-
ton, by the Commissioners; but at Boston
we were deprived Of that part Of the main
gun deck destined for our mess room, and the
gun room officers sent TO mess on the lower
gun deck, displacing in their turn, the large
ncsses of Passed Mdshipmen, and Midship-
men, who have now to live altogether OH the
Orlop.
We have delayed making this communica-
ton, being deslrois of giving the new ar
rangemcnt fair trial. Our passage from
Boston afforded this, and after mature de-
Liberation, we feel it duty we owe 10 our
selves, TO our brother officers who may follow
us in this class of ships, and to the service
generally, to request Of you 10 investigate
The matter, confident that your decision will
be based upon strict justice, and whatever
may be due to the true interest OF the Navy
We have the honor to be, Sir,
Very respectfully,
Your obedirnt servants,
(Signcd) q. l.. PENDERGRAsT, Lieut..
SAMUEL MERCER, Lieut..
S. +. DU Posi-, Lieut..
WIN. l.. Howard, Lieut..
X. l.. BRowNING, Lieut..
is. MIssRooNI, Lieut..
ALFRED TAYLOR, Lieut..
G.. GANsEvOoRT, Lieut..
B. TIcKNoR, Fleet Surgeon
WM. SINCLAIR, Purscr.