The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-12

they may diffuse through the ships in commits
sion, the advantages OF well-regulated and uni
form system Of training. So admirably has this
plan of teaching by officers on board ship set
apart for the purpose, succeeded, that the Ad-
miralty are preparing 10 admit Captains also, as
pupils in this school. Ii a Captain in the Royal
Navy, may go 10 school OF practice, surely
Midshipman in the American Navy, might be
sent 10 a Scholarship, and study with profit and
advantage 10 his country and himself, the theory
as well as the practice of his profession.
| Notwithstanding, that for many years, officers
of the Royal Navy have had the advantage Of a
naval college at Portsmouth, yet such have been
the Improvements of late years in navigation,
ship-bullding, surveying, and IN every depart
ment Of nautical science, that England now finds
il expedient, not only TO establish this college
upon new and more comprehensive plan, but
OF re educating officers who have passed through
il. Formerly the Spaniards were pre-eminent
in photography. Charts constructed from old
| Spanish surveys, are yet considered by sailors
as the most accurate charts of their day. But
what was considered sufficiently accurate then
is gross and palpable error now, and would be
utterly inadmissible in any survey Of the present
day. In of the most important hydrogra-
phcal surveys ever undertaken by any people,
an argument entered into the data for calculating
i for the oblateness of the earth, as spheroid,
which produced an error OF only nine inches, in
the latitude and longitude of places,-not on the
chart-but in actual position on the surface OF
the earth. In mathematics II is easier TO be right
| than wrong and any error that is not less than
the least assignabe quantity, is error of mag
nitude. And this error of nine inches in the
sphericity of the earth, is deemed Of sufficient
magnitude by the accomplished man of science
at the head of that survey TO be taken into ac
count in the reconstruction of his charts.
Ii was but the other day, that the Board of Ad-
miralty bought up at considerable expense, and
/ cd of IN cba of
the straits of Magellan and of the coasts of Tt
ezra del Fuego, which had been constructed
| from the surveys of public expedition sent out
for the purpose of surveying those straits. Well
may the college at Portsmouth be remodelled;
| and much better may something be done for our
little scholarships or for some plan OF education
in the American Navy The day has gone by,
when in photographed surveys, it was admis-
sible to step off base line, on toierdbly level
beach, and when that could not be found, 10
measure the height of mast with rope yarn,
and use that measurement as the argument IN
calculating the base line. More is thought Of
inches now, than was then thought of fathoms.
In the preliminary arrangements for that impor-
tant national work, now in progress along our
own coast under the superintendent OF Mr..
/ Hassler, highly polished steel bars of uniform
temper and dimensions were used for measur-
ing the base line. They were first subjected TO
every degree Of temperature between the freeZ-
ing ana the DOllln9 point, anu rate Oh
i sion noted Every time the length OF a bar was
admitted in the measurement, its temperature
was observed by thermometer attached, and
also noted. And acting upon the mathematical,
as well as the philosophical truth that the ends
of those bars, though brought together, were not
in actual contact, the space between them was
at each time measured with the assistance of
nicely constructed micrometer. In the final de-
termination of the base line, the bars were re-
duced to a uniform temperature, in order to OBJ
| tain their standard value. And to Mr.. Hassler
belongs the honor of having obtained the most
accurately measured base line, that has ever been
determined in any country. The accuracy Of
this line will pervade the whole survey
A work Of such perfection is TO form the stand
ard which our officers in their surveys, should
seek to attain But 10 those unaccusomed to
| the niceties of mathematical induction and who
| have not been properly indoctrinated into the art
of surveying accurately no service can be more
forbidding and unwelcome than hydroghaphical
duty Whereas, to the initiated, it is not only
inviting, but extremely interesting and agreeable.
This is knowledge which comes not by intui
i ton. Ii may be learned in the Scholarship,
which proposes 10 teach both the theory and the
practice Of this, as well as Of every other branch
Of science, that pertains to the calling OF a sailor.
On certain days, an hour or two spent in boats
| on the survey of the harbor where the school
ship may be, would be pleasant recreation TO
the Mdshipmen of the school, Much of the
time besides allotted for relaxation, should be
devoted, as well for health 10 the body, as for
profit to the mind, TO the manly exercise of the
seaman at the duties fhis calling among which,
frequent training at the guns, firing at targets,
and the like should not be omitted.
4 If the Scholarship were "a, she might have
a tender for two months in the year, in which the
Midshpmen could take their annual cruise at
sea. Indeed, this vessel might be advantage
ously employed the rest OF the year as practical
school of seamanship for naval apprentices:
class of YOUTH who, if properly trained, are like
" to prove an invaluable acquisition to the Navy.
For an agreeable combination Of the ufiie cum
dulce, this cruise with the Midshipmen* might
sometimes be extended from our own coasts, TO
/ foreign countries. The promise OF a visit TO the
dock-yards Of England and of France, would
serve not merely 10 stimulate the pupil at his
studies, but il would have its advantages in other
respects. II would tend TO take away from the
tedium of the scholastic year, by constituting
something pleasant and attractive TO look for
ward to. Ii would give Zest TO the holy day,
! and serve as sweetener TO its rough duties
/ To make the profession OF arms agreeable TO
those who take them up, is one OF the first duties
of those with whom the power rests. The most
comely feature in the economy OF weregulaed
ship or in military corps, is that which looks TO
the comfort and contentment of men and officers,
and which seeks TO make their duties as plea
SAINT and agreeable as the nature OF the service
! will allow them TO be. The great secret OF
teaching too is TO make the duties of the scoool-
room pleasures, if possible. Besides the charm
which, in the young minds of its pupils, this
cruise would prove in making the scholarship
agreeable, they would reap the further advanta-
ges Of visiting other Navy yards than their own
of examining all Improvements, and Of compar-
1 ing the system of others with our own Other
advantages not less real than these, would result
/ from such cruises.
II is curious and instructive too, 10 look back
i ,,.tn tho nnratirne hisinr. &c the World Ilniil