The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-05-22
FROM TIE N. Y. EVENING GAZETTE.
A AT RANK. 5

The following story, if applied to matters
where doubtful rights and doubtful honor
were involved, may go far 10 show the result
of concession, if done in good feeling.
Mr.. Editor-I was once dining at the hos
pitable residence ofone of our Consuls a.
broad in the Mediterranean, where two Of
fcers of our Navy were also at the table,
After the cloth was removed and the bottle
had circulated, a discussion arose about rel
alive rank. Both of these officers were of
equal rank, being bothMaster Commandments.
One, however, was alag Captain on board
the Conmodore's ship, and the other com
manded a sloop ofwar. believe the latter,
by this circumstance, was LIrTLE in advance
in TEMPORARY rank over the former. Be
this as it may, sthe flag Captain was by far
the best naiured of the two, whilst all WE
LANDsMEN believed that he as flag Captain,
and on board the biggest sloop, ga double
decker" was surely the greatest manof the
two.
After a long discussion, in which this flag
captain tried (rather facetiously perhaps,) to
make it appear that he outranked the sloop
of war commander, the latter gathered all
his argument into what he called "a real
clincker.n ssNow, sir,'' says he,~ sssuppose /
was on shore, and Iwent down TO the wharf,
or landing place, and not iading my boat
there, saw you faaa;ng iE your boat from the
flag ship, and | told you wanted your boat
10 90 on board my vessel, without asking
you whether the same suited your convent
ence or not-now, I ask you TO say what,
according TO rank and discipline, would be
your answer?"
The "1ag captain" looked at him with as
sumed sternness,a and after repeating the words
to know that he exactly understood If, say
ing, 81, the flag captain OF the vessel-com-
handing in reality the Commodore's double
decker-iust landing in my own boat. and be-
ing told by you that you wanted my boat 10
go ON board your little sloop of war, and
without asking if il suited my %coveniance or
MOTIFS that the question sir ?o
eyes, sir, that is The question, precisely,
sir?'
"Then, sir, my aswer is, il il cost me an
arrest and trial by Court Mortal the next
hour-ay, sir if the Secretary ofthe Navy
himself, or even the President, stood present
| should turn TO you, sir, in the presence of
them all, and the boats crew in the bargain
and looking you straight in the face, and LET
ting you see that | understand my rank and
my dignity, as we'll as you did yours,-l
would turn to the officer of my boat, and
tell him in a distinct tone, SO that no mis-
take should occur about it--sMr. Officer,
back your boat in, and take Captain R
o n board his ship, and follow his dire ction,
sir.n
= + y There was during this discussion
- 1910, ztilinoSs o1 the 1ar&
of the listners--every one regretting and
every one fearing, a fatal result; but this re-
plv set the table in a roar, and even Cap
tain R., who found that every thing had
been conceded 10 him, looked alone as ifhe
had rather not have joined the battle. But
what could he say? And yet he did say?--
a pretty good thing, under the circumstances
"Well," says he, 81 think ii would have been
better for me to let your boat alone, and
hire a skif, rather than get such AScRATcH.