The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-22
TO TIE SDrroR or THE HERALD.

Ahe Ndry UgutU gives us some InfereNAl
data, and from it we gather a. follows.-
The number Of lieutenants allowed BY law 4
three hundred and tweniy-seven. OF these w
lind one quarter are on shore duty connected with
the navy yards, shipping rendezvous, &c; about
three. eighths on shipboard abroad, and about Tia
same number on leave or waiting orders. having
recently returned from sea, or being rendered un6e
for active employment in consequence Of sickness
or other causes.
The number Of masters in the line of promotes
is but eleven by the Register; but one-ifth the
number requisite TO afford one Of that grade to each
vessel in commission
In const quence of the small number Of Keuts-
nants, younger officers are constantly being called
upon TO perform the duties Of that grade In course
Of the late war with Mexico, a midshipman peg
formed temporarily the duties Of executive officer
on board sloop OF. war in the Gulf-the number
of lieutenants attached to the ship being insufi-
Gent to answer the exgencies of sickly climate.
The number Of passed mdshipmen on the List IL
tive hundred and thirty-three the average num-
Der OF promotions TO the rank of lieutenant has
been, during the last nine years, twelve and hak
per year those gentlemen, then, have rather dis.
couraging prospects, the older portion Of them havs
ing entered upon their fourteenth and fitseentk
years of service. BY way of illustration, let us in.
quire concerning those Of one who stands near ths
middle Of the list, and who entered the service in
the year 1871. We find that this person cannot be
a lieutenant before the expiration OF over nine
years, while one al the foot list must remain 10 mis-
prsst NJ capacity yet tor nineteen years. Those
gentlemen have already served during ten years,
and their age ID probably about twenty six consc-
quenuy, under the most favorable circumstances,
which their curTeat experience affords, they must
be- thirty iive aud the other forty five years Of
age before they are lieutenants-durIng the last
year having the rank OF master. la the meantime
their sitaauon Is trying one; their position, and
the duties Of their grade, are defined neither by
law nor regulation, sunjechng them TO many vexa-
tous annoy ances, and placing them in a condiuon
calculated 10 bring encouragement to the most
saUguine Temperance and 10 de sroy all feelings
OF in the duties of the profession TO which
they have de voted the best years Of their lives.
With habits OF life, and of mind IN great mea-
sure disqualifying them for any other occupation,
aud fund 81 information little servIceable except
on thpbcard, they afe tied TO the service, although
force d. year after year, to perform the same COM
parauvely trivial duties which were required Of
them at time Of their entry into the navy.
The syerge number Of promotions, during the
last nine years, 10 The rank OF commander, We ga
tier from the LIS, before US, TO have been five per
year Calling the age al which they catered tho
navy fourteen Year,, the ages Of those of this
grade now In the service must be from forty. live
TO nifty ihree years. At the above average, as
there ninety. eight on the list the younger por-
the liberal deduction OF fifty per cent for Casual
ties, incident 10 advance In age among those on
the list Gf heutenants, the passed mdshptnan,
above referred Ia, who stands about the middle "
the list, end who may be lieutenant under exist
ing circumstances at the age of THIRTY. tive, may
stIi expect command OF a brig or corvette, with the
rama OF commander, at the age of eighty. one
years. captains commission in course ne can
not reach
The protection Of our commercial interests
abroad seems more particularly the charge Of the
navy the care OF these interests IS, TO great de-
gree, entrusted to the exertlons of those who are
placed in command Of the armed naval force,
maintained at he different parts OF the globe. As
this navy seems especially TO merit the fostering
care OF mercantile and commercial men, TO them
should an appeal be made, calling attention 10 ITS
prest nj uuhc sitby coalition. As the efficiency Of
naval force depends essentially spon the capabi-
iy GA the part OF Its officers for decisive action,
SO, II those oil our countrymen who are intimately
and directly interested, would have energy aud
vigoT, decision ana judgment, displayed IA the
course OF conduct pursued by these representatives
OF the country and guardians OF its interests abroad
let the IN exert their great influence IN remedyiug
existing evils, In making promotion more rapid,
thus ensuing 10 an officer position Of responslbiity
calculated 10 expand his powers before his ener-
ges become relaxed by age his ia cutes 10 " their
elastic force, and his spirit become broken by ais
appointment Why should not the law, lim,ax
the Lumber OF heutenan;s, be modified, end the
number so increased that II will be possible 10 keep
each sh,p supplied with her complement The
dunes al master are chiefly performed by passed
mdshi, men, pronounced qualIned by a board ~
competent tAsminers 10 do the duty Ut lieu en- ant
in any class vessel Why not Increase the num-
Der At masters In the line OF promotion, that the
demand for vessels al sea may be su Jplied, AID
that midshilmsr, on passing his exam,nauos.
may be- OF thai grade its duties he may son he
quiied TO assume, let HIM enjoy The privilege ~
the grade permanently; his position thus wei de-
hnt O, he Us no longer subject 10 arbitrary usagrs
OF The seryice," ano' her appeliation not unffe-
qutn'iy Tor the caprice OF the commanding officer.
frf Mt ft biuh eYa md
grtdes IN the navy, with retired list Tor those oh
GERS who have honorasly expended their energies
IN thtH country & service, and for those from onrr
causes rendered incapable Of duty,--noth,pp has
been proposed that can obviate the evil tendency
Of the present state of all airs. Such measures or
any Others that will produce the desired effect
set m impeisiiyey called for and will teud to en-
courage young officers 10 ex. rton, exciting de-
sire or professional improve ment and revy,ng the
dIoopiIg ssp q da cops Of the navy; men viii be-
placed IN responsible stations who are in possrs-
sion OF every faculty ~ full v,gor, and we shall
zee none OF the anomalies Of the present day, no
grey hetded "yourg gentle men," none Ia more
responsible grades who will say as they are now
heard TO do. Ito be good for anything they should
have been promote years since. We shall inca
have navy that will do credit to the country
under any circumstances, in any exgency.
The youngest ls utenants OF the present d az are
Older men than were most OF those capt iins 81 the
war OF Iel2, whose conduct and intrepidi'y has
che halo OF glory over that period of our coln.
Try history Decatur, when he retook the Pha-
telphie, was bur twenty five, and when the Mace
doDen wee capture d but thirty three; Nc Don ough
al The time OF the victory OF Lake Champlaiu, out
tweDy.tigh'; Perry, at that on Lake Enc, was
al'o bit tweIty.e'ghi; Lawrence, WHEN he took
the keindter, was but thirty one, and the same
year be tell while IN command Of figate, a VIC
tlm TO that undaunied spint which scorned Ia sue
eumh, though subdsed by an unprecedented CON.
bina'lon OF un,oward circumstances. OF many
now living, We have evidence, by the veueratioa
win which they are reg arded Of that prof-ssonsl
excellence winch built up for them ia their younger
oays reputation 81 which the country IN ty ju.tly
eel proud. Can there he doubt IN Al the bow
fhcers' OF the war were quite as efficient as the
Id men OF The present dayl A mid-hlpmsn then
,erved Tor The i've or Elk years required by Law,
ma became Ieu'enan', with the prospect u fur.
her not too tardy promotion; and NAV we mot
easonably regard this fact as having exerted az
influence which was mainly instrumental in pro-
tucing their unperall, led successi
The aPrcul,urist end the manufacturer have