The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-08

the Ddsbipans warrant bearing the date Of the gsdu
and another examination they should be noted for pro
motion TO higher grade. which propose should be
created by law and deuopinated masters The grade
passed midsbpman should DO abolished soon as the
gradual promotion OF the corps may allow. IT IL
nsy in the naval service presenting class Of officers
epeensering discomfort when the duties Of ordinary
nd,hipmen are required OF II This class now perform
duty aud the rank should be associated by Law The
change wonld require no increase Of pay and would,
have no doubt. be productive Of good effects
The grade Of masters might be established at one hsn-
dred and might at once be filled BY appointing to it that
this plan would give when all the present passed mid.
kbipm hal have been absorbed 10 the regusr
Of promotion two hundred and nifty mid.h'pn'n and
the corps Of four hundred and s'xtyour oicers-s
ducton of one hundred and fourteen This reduction,
OF course would increase the ratio OF promotion tho
corps of Meutensnts, and would leave sufficient
psm for all the demands Of the service estimated by
the present size Of the navy future increase OF the
navy would suggest proportionse Of officers Of
The promotions incident to this organization OF the
eorpsthat is to say, OF two hundred and fifty midhp
men, and one hundred masters-.would supply about
twenty five vacancies year The present number Of
higher officers furnish something this yearly
and there to suppose that 1t will be reduced
in futurethe more active service Of the navy
the present estab hment may rather increase It, The
school, therefore may be regarded annual
demand for this number Of its graduates to be advanced
Of graduates at twenty ve the whole Of them would thus
find portion and employment. An increase to thirty
would Of course give remainder Of i've, which may also
propose in further organization OF this system to
construct scientific corps In the navy to be established
rs the Biographical Corps-this to be designed
in its first formation upon basis which shall provide for
thirty masters thirty eutenants fifteen commanders,
and five captains, making eighty in all 1t should be
especially educated for that scientific professional service
in which portion of the navy constantly employed
Its chief duties should be connected with hydrographca
surveys astronomical observations construction charts
preparation and improvement of ordnance the superv
sion of naval architecture and machinery and the drec
other structures requiring scientific knowledge and skill
The corps should be entirely separate from and indie
pendent Of the regular naval service Its line of promo
tion should confined to its organization and it's
government should be under its proper oserS In
addition to the duties assigned to on shore aud N by
biographical Surveys portion OF it might be appro
prated to service at and officers of the
corps might be introduced into the compliments Of
squadoDs on foreign or home service An experienced
officer Of this corps would find useful and active duty
upon every cruise. 1t should be left to the Navy De-
psttment regulate the character and contingencies of
this Service and to make all the necessary rules
ders for its application.
This corps should be built up under the direction Of
the Secretary Of the Navy from the material Afforded by
the Academy with such additions to it in it's commence
nent from the regular line OF naval service in his
judgment the qualifications Of the present officers might
enable him to make with advantage
With view TO the supply Of this corps from the
the graduates the Board Of Examination shall be d.
rected to bestow cloee attention upon the class sub
adapaon OF any Of the graduates to this species OF ser
vice. and that they shall report to the department the
names Of such as they may find qualified by study
II, upon this report tho students designated
shall consent to enter the corps they, or so many
Of them as the established pement Of the hydrogra
phsa corps may rquire sha be appropriated to that
fervice and upon being go appropriated they shalt bs
returned to the academy for additional oftuiy
Of two years during which they shall be employed ia
tanning thorough knowledge Of the higher branches Of
e,a snsns.riIg aydrogTaphy ss S s mssna1sm
stInc ton which the academy may be able to furnish At
the end Of this probation OF two years they shall be sub
~ final oo1fu nd .,1a
toS TO that effect sha be admitted to the rank Of
ters in the Photographed corps Five service in
this grade should ente them to be promoted to eu,en
thenceor~ard should await the ordinary incidents of the
corps which may supply the proper occasion
If the department shond be able to contribute asy
members to the corps from the present officers Of the
vice. think such appointments should not exceed twea
~ 10 each grade of aud ieutenaus and ten
msnders and that captain be appointed, until after
five years service in the corps there m,y be ousd tie
pro officers to occupy the vacancies In this grade It
should also well be understood that the of the
Navy In Assigning present officers TO the should De
governed sone in his selection by high qualification and
accomplishment in the science required and by
Iiority Ia the servce and that appointments should
aton for their requirements in reference this service
Who may be willing 10 enter the corps
this system be assigned to the two branches OF service
have de- crb~dhst il to say 10 the regular naval
vice and to the hydrogrspLcal corp, Thsgradustes re-
tbore who are adjucged by The Board OF Exami
nsion 10 stand hishest on the roll of the class
rsquittiops should not embrace the whole
Der o. graduates il each ysar than those whose services
receive honorable discharge from the school, These
would return to the occupations OF private life well
educated BY the bounty Of the and qualified
for useful employment in the important vocstions
connected with commerce and navigation and especially
in the yarsus services OF Steamship which create so
lalge dtmsb for expert and accomplished officers Ia
whatever situation they may be placed they will fud
abundant ccca'ion to rejoice in the advantages thsy
shall have cbsned at the school, aud by The proper
OF there sdvapa indemnify the country for the
and expense 1t may have bestowed upon their culture
These conditions aud incidents an admission to the
academy being understood in advance both by ths
and bic friends It is presumed will prepare them to
CARA the discharge In its true point OF view nesss
cary contingency Of most important good conferred aud
rot as disappointment which should ccesien regret
H. on the other bard It should tuIn out that the annual
number Of graduates hould not be adequate to the de-
nancs Of these two branches Of service the blss Of
sxytwo In the class Of beginners may be increased to
the number At which experience may show that ths
desired result may be obtained 1t win be easy afser
the experiment Of few to ascertain this numbsr
with sufficient precision; and in the antme the
hJdrcgrapbical corps s TO be filed the extra supply Of
the classes for the next three by the admission Of
the mdshiPmen OF dates prior TO 1851 will very opPor
timely enlarge the classes to number which will satfy
that reQptsion.
In arranging the complement Of officers to tss hydro
graphic corps have proceeded upon coojectura esti-
mste Of what suppose may be found necessary to the
l.rvice required Oft submit this to the judgment Of
Congress for such 10 the grades aud M mber,
their Investigation Of the uhjsc may suggest Ih.vs
thought IL safest TO prcpose number rather below what
INK tne svivlce may ultimately demand as eaer
TO increase this complement than reduce 1t pro
par for to ray eso, that in assigning five captains
this corps may have exceeded the nber which may
BE- appropriate to the organization But captain
according tc this plan could be appointed before the
Of FIVE years the expereDse which may he gained in ths
Interval enable Congress before that psEoi has gone
by to adjust this grade to its proper number and assign
TO Its appropriate duties 1t may be netes looked
to the supply OF the head Of the Engineer Department
the Superintendent Of Naval aud Cou.truc
ton the General Supervision Of nydrogsa sbcu Surveys
and the Management OF the Naval Academy. Ii these
functions may be efficiently discharged by It, the
Der have assigned will not be too urge.
These are the general views and consdersticns which
have Induced me to submit this plan to your approval
and tn the consider alton OF CongTefs.
IL will Afford the annual appointment Of sixty two
dicaos for the navy
1t will give greater permanspcy and efficiency to tn,
school.
1t will quicken promotion IN the navy and give to the
younger officers hope Of useful command whilst they yet
poisep the vjgor and mbition OF youth
1t VIII establish valuable corps Of scientific officers