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


Southern Literary Messenger Of the following
article, written by one, who we are assured BY
the editor, is deeply versed in naval affairs
Although IL is quite rambling essay, and though
possibly the reader and ourselves might not be
particularly desirousl or willing TO be tenacious
in sustaining all the authors opinions, YET as il
contains many suggestions which are valuable.
and points out many palpable defects in the pre-
sent system, and may contribute TO awaken al
tention and action somewhere on the general
subject, we give the whole article, in "broken
Doses" as our limits will admit.
DETAILS OF THE SCHOOL SHIP
France, England, and Russia, nay, even the
Grand Turk himself, Mr.. Editor, has his Naval
School. These schools, though severaly con-
Quoted under different systems, agree peverthe-
less, IN this one principles viz:--that the proper
teachers for officers, are officers This principle
is well known, and forms striking feature in all
military institutions. Divest the faculty at West
Point OF It's military character, and what think
you would be the state Of discipline, and conse-
quently, the national advantages, of that inslitu,
ton? Disrobe the chairs at Brenne and at
w oolwich, of their military cloaks, and what
kind OF soldiers, let me ask would have been
turned out upon the field TO manmuvre the armies
of France and of England? In the schools of
homeopathy, the dogma is, that like cures like"
And this dogma reversed, becomes the doctrine
which is every where preached, that in normal
schools, like begets like Would you, Mr.. Ed-
tor, have a surgeon to teach sculpture; or law
yer incidence Neither, sir, would have lands.
man to teach sailor the way of his ship over
the sea; nor citizen from the walks of private
life, TO direct the education of officers for the
Navy. Give me for that your old a-dog, whose
mind is well stored with professional lore--who
can instruct the Refer in the art of doing things
" ship-shape and Bristolfashion." as well as ac-
cording TO Gunter and in man-o'war style,"-
who can introduce the discipline and etiquette Of
the quarter deck into the school room-one who,
in the course of instruction, can impart TO the
Midshipman all the pride and feeling Of the Off
cer-excite him to noble emulation, and Undue
him with the spirit of sailor: so that the young
aspirant ere ever he has tasted saltwater, can
imagine himself almost web-footed; 7 and, when
domciiated in his ocean-home, feel that he is
indeed on his element. Such, sir should be the
teachers for our little Scholarship
1t was remarked by the sailorking of Eng
land, William w., that the best school for edu-
eating gentlemen, is the quarter deck Of man
of-war. Change the present system so as to
introduce the discipline of the quarter deck be-
low matches, that il may be felt in the school
room, and the fact would soon become obvious,
that the best school for training up sailors, and
officers, and gentlemen, would be the little man
of-war school ship of the Americans.
Under the present arrangement, the duties of
the school-room, when one is to be found on
board of man-ofwar, are subordinate to every
other duty in the ship. There, the Midshipman
is practically taught TO consider his attendance at
school, as the matter Of the least importance in
his routine of duties. He is interrupted at his
lessons 10 go on shore for the Captains pig; or
he is called from recitation, TO count the duck
frocks and trowsers contained in the wardrobe of
Tom Brown, the sailor have known Cap
tain, who forbade the Mdshipman TO "work out
longitude" on the ground that it was secret OF
the Captain and Master; and, therefore, ii was
exceedingly otiicious, and unbecoming the
character of gentlemen, for Midshipmen to be
prying into the rate and error of the chronome-
ter, or to have any thing to do with the longi-
tude.
of man-of-war, is in the hands of the Captain
and Lieutenants-that the school-room, even
when one is tolerated, is too often made the pre-
text, by many midshipmen, for avoiding duty on
deck, or elsewhere,-you may understand why
the school-room is by no means considered in
the light Of a subsidiary to the discipline of the
ship; but quite the contrary. Discipline is al
ways, and deservedly so, matter of the first
importance on board a man -of-war. Upon it is
safety of men and officers. On the Captain and
Lieutenants depend proper state Of discipline,
and they are held responsible for it. Discipline
can only be maintained, by requiring from every
one prompt and ready response TO the calls OF
ships duties. And whenever, not needing such
calls, the luckless Refer urges for excuse his
attendance in the school-room, the school room
is considered as bore, and from that moment is
looked upon too much in the light of a skuking
place for lazy Midshipmen. Hence it is consd-
cred by no means discreditable to the Midship-
man never to be seen in the school-room and
many make il a matter of pride, never to enter
there. Every officer is so fully convinced of the
tutility Of attempting to teach Midshipmen I'M
der present arrangements, that there is no one
TO take any interest in the matter. Even the
professors themselves, when they come to under
stand the difficulties in their way, Ego through
the motions" of their duty, merely for forms
sake-conscious that they labor in vain.
Education is a matter Of primary importance,
and it must be treated as SUCH else it will never
flourish That any school, either ashore or
aiioat, should prosper, among other requisites It
is an essential one, that the duties OF the school
room should be ofparamount importance. Hence,
you may readily enough perceive, how that edu
cation can never flourish under any system Of
instruction on board Of one of our public vessels,
where every thing is made to bend to the man
oi-war-where the ree6ng of topsail, the cross
ing of yard, or the cleaning of a cutlass, IS
made a matter of more importance than the de-
monstration of every proposition in the six books
of Euclid.
For this reason, would set apart one o! the
idle ships in the Navy for school ship. On
board of that ship, the duties Of the school should
be paramount to all others-that is, she should
be first Scholarship, and then the man-of-war.
Every officer on board--Purser, Chaplain, Mas
ter, Surgeon, Lieutenant and Commando
every one, should have chair assigned him,
and take part in the duties and management Of
the school. The Captain should be tactican,
and, ex-officio, the President. Him | would