The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-10
Engineers In the English Navy.

The subjoined letter relates TO subject
which the growing importance OF steam nayi
cation will shortly invest with interest in this
country. We take it from the London Maui
cal Standard:
"Io the Editor of The Nautical Standard
''Sia; Allow me to congratulate you upon the
victory you hive obtained over the Admiralty.
You have fought noby and well for the position or
engineers for years yours wac the only portion
of the press who sympathized with them. When,
like Pariahs, every hand aud every person thought
themselves justified in denouncirg them as AFRO.
giant and presumptuous, You feariessIy stood by
their eide. and was ultimately the chief cause Of
their victory. II must to you be peculiarly gra-
tfyng that such result has attended your labors.
The Admiralty have forever set the question
of precedence at rest II now remains for them 10
mete out the other measures OF justice; Tor IN
stance, the alteration Of their uniiorms-thc open
ing of civil appointments for them the alteration
Of the distribution Of prize money, and all other
grievances fairly investigated and reIneded
but as they have now shown to tho world that
tn, engineers are recognised as worthy Of the
same Consideration as all other classes OF Off
cers, and as step in the right direction we have
placed them in list of seniority next 10 the mas
tiers, in spite OF all opposition; as they have now
shown that they hold precedence to surgeons, how
is it that they sanction the taking away Of the cab
ins Of assistant engineers, and giving them 20 ofli
GERS subordinate in rank to them-the assistant
surgeonsl Ifany two classes OF officers have great
claims for consideration, it ID the above oficerstho
assistant engineers and surgeons. Advancement
in life depends upon their studious habits-thc
bendings of the practical and the theoretical; their
scientific investigation demands greatand compar-
alive sccusion; and no one will be rash enough 20
say that the lower deck Of man of war produces,
s at all favorable 10 such state Of things. II an
assistant engineer wishes 10 improve himself in
drawing what chance has he Of 30 doing Ifhe seeks
to dive deeply into ma hematics, where he retire
to do so? The quietest place be can find ID the en-
CINE or stoke-hole, where he ID alW avs Liable
20 interruption. II studiously inclined to follow
ont n % ma ont n
series of experiments, where can he go? Why, on
the top of his chest on the lower deck; he has no
other place Of refuge. He has been deprived Of his
cabin when he most required he has been made
quarter deck officer, taught to believe that his
value and importance is recognised-and, a
proof oft, is deprived Of that privilege that he
joyed when in more subordinate rank. Surely
there was neither justice or right in communion
with the parties who issued the order; but they
must live in hopes that although the late Admiral
~ issued such an unjust order, that the present
one will remedy the evil and that, with the active
assistance of the present spected surveyor
OF the navy, they will not be long in regainiug
what they were deprived Of.
at may require time, but trust that the Adj
miraty will see the wisdom Of carly conccs-
sion, and that they will remove every obstacle
that has hitherto proved n stumbling block 10
gineers remaining in the service; and that they
will not allow them To lie snubbcd insulted
when they go into the august presence OF the
chief engineer at Somerset House; and that upon
no pretence whatever will they allow eny officer
10 pe unnecessarily hnnoycu or insuitcu. Fat -
the cause of many an engineer having left the
service and il ia time tic iron rule was succeeded
by OF q milder nature.
"Thc engineers have proved Themselves men of
tai mt and ability, and the great majority Of them
are also men II gcntlemanly habits and manners,
and il IL true they were recognised such; they
have proved themselves jealous Ia their duty, and
most active ia the performance Of the charge en-
trusted TO them; it is to be hoped that they will
receive the reward they so justly merit.
Again congratulaiibg you Upon the victory
the engineers and yourself have obtained and
trusting il is only the precursor Of more inn
portant once, bid you farewell and trust that
before have another opportunity of addressing
you, that the grievances Of engineers will 10
among the things that were.
"EHofsrERp