The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-10

which includes the cunning arr of fence, and
the sailors amusement of "singe stieks''--l
have assigned TO the Purser; not from any pecu-
liar qualifications which the officers Of that grade
are supposed 10 possess in this respect Il IS not
enough that the Navy officer should understand
the use OF the weapon at his side, merely for his
own sake. But when he goes to sea, he will
find that ''his division" would be doubly strong,
Il, IN boarding and repelling boarders, they un-
derstand the broad sword He should be pre-
pared not only TO set them the example, but
qualified to instruct them in the skiliul use OF the
arms that are put in their hands. Therefore
some officer should have especial charge of this
department; and, If in the economy of the or
ganiZaton, II were not deemed expedient 10
raise the science OF the sword TO the dignity Of
char, | would assign gymnastics, including
fencing TO the Gunner; and the Purser might
take some other chair for which he is better
qualified international and maritime jurispru-
dence for instance. II that grade, in It's present
numbers, would Afford no one properly qualified
TO fill such chair; let it, with Pursers com
mission, be rendered TO some one, ably compe-1
tent, in civil life. woul make similar tender
OF Masters commission TO Naval Architect
and Daftsmrn.
The twenty thousand dollars annually wasted
under the present system, on professors Of ma
thematics in the Navy, if added TO the pay, as
Navy officers, of the professors Of the school
ship, would make the salary of these more than
sufficient TO command for the faculty, the best
talents the country can afford Every professor
should be regularly commissioned officer Of the
Navy-thereby placing him under military law,
subJectlng him to the rules and regulations of
the Navy-identiiying him with the service, the
more eflectually 10 secure his interest in the
school, and more surely TO enable him TO impart
the proper esprit du corps to his pupils
/ ! assign the chair of Chemistry 10 the Sur
geon, because the Navy affords many officers Of
that grade who could fill either that chair, or the
chair OF Natural History, and Of Philosophy, or
the three, with great ability IL is an important
i item in the economy of the Scholarship arrange
ment, that no branch Of science should ex officio,
attach to an officer of any particular grade. AS
| Professors, they should be all equal one chair
should be as important as another, whether filed
by the highest or the lowest officer on board
But. as officers of the ship, every one should en-
! JOY his appropriate rank
Officers board of such a ship, who have
nothing to do with the school, would be like
misplaced lenses in telescope. There should
be none to interrupt, or to confuse but all should
be engaged In the business OF teaching that the
powers Of all might be concentrated upon the
one great object. Therefore you will observe
that i have multiplied chairs and distributed
more professorshps than under other circum-
stances might be thought judicious. But you
will see sufficient reason for this, when you con-
slider, that one important feature of the school
ideas of the discipline on board of man-of-war.
Therefore, have all the officers on board Of that
ship, upon whom that discipline is to operate,
and who have their part TO perform in maintain
ing It: that the pupil may see it in all its bear
ings, and have continually before him practical
illustration Of the wholesome effects-of the eff
cheney and strength-which well regulated
system of discipline imparts to the man-of-war.
i Take for your Scholarship one Of our 74's that
are rottng at their moorings-tor ship in ordi-
nary decays as rapidly house without
tenant; and the putting of one of these in com
mission for Scholarship would be an actual
saving in arresting the progress of decay BY
means of more perfect ventilation and frequent
cleaning of the ship But if "a, or a frigate
may not be had, the Navy will be content with
sloop- ofwar, having simply light deck thrown
over her, and being lightly spared and rugged,
that the Midshipmen may be taught TO hand and
reef; and, in her annual cruise of two months at
sea, constitute her crew proper
4 Besides cooks and servants for the table, there
should be on board ten or fifteen good seamen,
as "A stand by The Midshipmen of the school
should have an appropriate uniform, allowing
free exercise and use of the limbs and muscles.
They should be practised frequently at handing
and reefng at making and taking in SAIL send
ing up and down top -gallant-yards, and the like
Every one should take care of his own ham
mock. They should, for the benefit of the ex-
cursons in row-boats, always their own, oars
4 men.
Those who were the best sailors, should be
rated as captains of tops and other petty officers
those who were first in gunnery, as gunner's
mates, &c. and those who stood highest in
their several classes, should be rated as masters
mates and thus an incentive would be created,
and an nducement held out, for calling into ex-
isence, and for bringing forth, every quality that
Il Is N no q N he
officer IL the Navy were increased, as have
shown it ought to. be- so 10 allow full com
pement of officers for every ship the number of
pupils in the Scholarship required merely to ill
rdedncies in the Nary, would be about one
hundred and ffty-supposing the period for gra-
duating 10 be three years. This estimate is
made on the supposlion, that the admissions of
each year would be lessened by fifteen previous
10 graduation ; and that the remaining number,
in the course of three years at sea, would be at
tended with still further reduction leaving
about thirty TO fill the vacancies that annually
would occur in the list of Lieutenants, from
deaths, designations, dismissals and promotions:
But if the Scholarship were TO cruise at two
months in every year. the scholastic term might,
with great advantage, be extended TO four years
after which, cruise of two years at sea, should
cnttle the graduate TO examination in sea-
manship alone; on which, if found qualified he
should be passed and promoted. Under such
system, Mr. Editor, you would see the service
nvigorated with young officers. We should
then have boys for Mdshipmen and young men
for Lieulenants. You would no longer see gray
headed Midshipmen; or superannuated grand
papas, for young officers.
In this age of discovery, Of invention and i'm
provement, Mr. Editor; when nautical skill
geodetic operations and every problem Of science
in whatever branch with which the mariner has
to do have been reduced TO exact rules or the
process Of solution greatly simpled, il is no