The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-20
Communicated
REORGANIZATION Of the Navy.

The following extract from recrn, work by disiin-
gusbed officer Of high rank in the English navy, touch.
ing the present condition and prospects of the American
navy, may not be unnteres,ng at The present moment
He says:
The promotion in the United States navy being strict
" by seniority, II cannot he denied that a holy The
officers have greater experience affairs than those
OF the grade in The English service II is equally
cear, however, that change must take place,
The lists getting crowded that promotion has lam.
entaby. O sixiy.eght captains, the senior has been
hity two years in service, TIE junior thirty nine
manders ninety seven in number, the senior thirty nlne
years, junior thirty-two years"
The following extract from the Navy Register will
afford some interesting information:
"Tbe number OF heulenan,s allowed by law is three
hundred and twenty seven OF these one-quarier
shore duty connected with the dock yards shipping
devious &c three-eghts sfoat foreign stations, and
about the same number on leave waiting ORDERS in
consequence OF sickness other causes The number
ot masters IN the line OF promotion Is hut eleven, one
fifth the number necessary afford to each vessel
in commission. In consequence OF the small number OF
euenants junior officers are frequently called upon TO
perform their duties In. the Mexican war midsbp.
perl ormed the duties OF executive officer OF sloop-
Of war, the number OF leulenans being insufficient
answer the exgences OF sicky climate. The number
of passed mdshpmen two hundred and thirty three
the average number OF promotions 10 the rank OF lieu.
tenant has been during the last nine years twelve and
halt per year
These gentlemen have rather discouraging prospects,
the seniors being in their fourteenth fifteenth year OF
ing about the middle Of the list aud who entered the
service in lsa We 8nd they be eutenants for
nine years come, while those al the bottom OF the lis,
unable TO get promotion under nineteen years Most
OF these latter gentlemen have already served ten years.
and their age is probably about twenty consequent
y, under the favorable circumstances ,eniors thir.
y-ye and juniors forty FIVE, before they are ieuenant,
the last year serving masters In the time. their
situation is trying one, neither their duties position
being dehned They subject to many prya,ions and
annoyaDces their grade Is not settled by law regu
laiion. TbIs condition is calculated TO cause dsconr-
ageuent to the most ssngune temperament and TO de-
sroy all zeal in the duties OF profession 10 which they
have devoted the best years OF their lives The average
number OF promotions during the last nine years 10 the
rank OF commander has been only FIVE per year. As
the majority entered at fourteen years OF age the officers
OF this rank be from foy-6ve to fifty three years
As there are nlnelyeight this list the Juniors
hardly expect further promotion IL we take the be
allowance of hi'y cent for ties the eusn-
ants list the passed midshpmen may at the age OF eighty.
one have command OF brig corvette. The youngest
heutenans OF tue present day older men than most
oil The captains ia the war OF lsl2 Decatur, when he
rstook the Philadelphia bat twenty five and when
the Macedonian captured bat thirty tbree McDon-
ough, at the time OF the victory Like Champain nut
iwenty.eght; Perry, at that OF IKE Erie twenty-eght
Lawresce, when he took the Reindeer was hut tbrty
three, and the year he fell command OF the Cnes
apeake
Can there be doubt that the boy.o'fces Of the war
OF lSi2 were quite as efficient the old men OF the
present day. Some of reform are nperatvely
called for revive the dropping prit du oorps and to
place in responsible situations who in possession
OF every faculty In full vigor We shall not then see
among other anomalies, gray-headed young gentlemen,
who say 10 be good for anything. should have been
promoted years ago"
From above data it il clear that unless some
prehens,ve Of retirement - established, very lew
OF th- lieu ensnis hope to gain a step Tnls slow
promotion the osS disadvantage against which the
United States navy has TO contend Let man be ever
active and distinguished, even let him make the mos,
gallant and successful capture against many odds. he