No one presumes that navy officers are to be so matic training of the mind, to enable it to compare thoroughly instructed in these branches as to su- the differences and resemblances between facts, persede the necessity of a corps of diplomatists, and thus to derive conclusions from them. The distributed in foreign countries to represent the object of education then, is to drill the mind to interests of the nation and its citizens. Enough observation and deduction, rather than to store is demanded in a skilful naval officer, without in- the memory with facts ascertained by others. cluding diplomacy among his official functions. He is best educated, whose mind is most capable It is admitted that knowledge of every descrip- in the application of the principles of knowledge tion may be useful to a man at some period of or science in any combination of circumstances his career; but this is not a conclusive reason to the every day affairs of life. Under this view why every man should master every kind of of education, the study of mathematics, of phyknowledge; if it were, the naval academy should sical science, of natural history, and of the dead be a University and embrace medicine, theology languages, constitute the best means of drilling and fiscal studies in its course, and the duties now discharged by staff corps should be added to those which pertain to officers of the line. Then, every graduate would be prepared to serve as a lieutenant, surgeon, purser or chaplain, according to the proclivities of his taste, or in accord- of colleges, ten years after leaving Alma Mater, ance with the imperative detail of the Secretary of the Navy, without discrimination of grades, or rank.

the mind to observation and ratiocination; and beyond this point the various branches of science taught in schools are really of little practical utility to the pupils after they enter upon the actual business of existence. How few graduates

are able to construe a Greek author, work an algebraic equation, or solve a problem in spherics or integral calculus, unless these branches of Experience has taught that perfection in the knowledge are of daily application in their spepractical application of knowledge has resulted cial vocations; but it will not be denied that from the division of pursuits among men. This their minds have been almost made what they has led to the division of professions into depart- are by these studies. It is by such means we ments, which are respectively pursued by different are taught to think; and to acquire that mental men of the same profession with marked advan- discipline, which is so valuable in every situation tage. It is this fact, or example, which has in life. caused even the military profession to be divided Education, however, should not be limited to into several departments, and gave origin to those the mind alone. The morals and affections which are known as the staff corps. In a well should be carefully cultivated, excessive self-apconstituted army, we have cavalry, artillery, and preciation should be duly regulated, and all disinfantry, which, while they possess many traits position to selfishuess should be subdued. As a in common, have peculiar features; and in ad-general rule, persons who have extensive interdition to these, we have distinct corps of ord- course with others in society learn, by measuring nance officers, engineers, topographical engineers, their powers with others, to estimate more justly commissaries, quarter-masters, pay-masters, sur-their own mental and physical capabilities, to geons, &c., all partaking of the military char-appreciate more correctly merit in others, than acter, for no man can be a civilian and at the when educated in seclusion, at their own homes, same time be embraced in a military organiza- or among a small number of pupils. tion; because in it all authority or command is based upon a right to enforce obedience through the operation of military law.

Under every aspect, the system of education provided at the Naval Academy, seems to be well calculated for its objects, and deserves the A division of the various duties of the navy fostering care of the government and of the peohas not yet been made, and perhaps not even ple. Its cost is, or should be a minor considecontemplated, although it is admitted by some ration; for it should be borne in mind that withintelligent officers at least, that all are not equally out the proper kind of intelligence to direct it, no competent without discrimination, to perform all number of ships or men however great, can conof the duties which all are, by custom, considered stitute an efficient navy, the strength of which equally eligible to discharge. It is sufficient to must depend upon the professional skill and Mere animal suggest that duties connected with ordnance re-health of its officers and men.

quire long and careful study to discharge them courage, bravery, though always lauded, is the well; and that those employed at the national common attribute of men; pusillanimity is the observatory, and on the coast survey, require a exception, not the rule. The value of intelliconsiderable period to be spent in training before gence then cannot be estimated in dollars and they become accomplished in these several de- cents.

partments.

The lamented Secretary Upshur in one of his By the term education I understand a syste-annual reports held the following language, which

fessionally as circumstances demand? Without endorsing the statement or the verisimilitude of the picture in any degree, we refer to the following extract from a recently published book, which is, as a whole, a romantic caricature, but

is applicable in its spirit to the present point. instruction for the navy? In a word, are all the Believing it to be an object of the first import- officers of all grades as well informed proance to place our navy on the most efficient establishment, I have not expected to effect that object at any small cost. The saving which exposes the country, in a defenceless condition, to hostile attacks, will not be recommended by me. The spirit which pauses to calculate the cost of nevertheless has strong pretensions to considemeasures rendered necessary for the support of

the honor and glory of our country, will never, it is hoped, display itself in this Department. I have felt it to be my duty to place the alternative fairly before the country. An efficient navy cannot be built and supported without very great expense; but this expeuse is more than repaid, even in time of peace, by the services which such a navy can render. In war, it will be worth to us, all the value which is placed on the safety of our exposed sea-coast, on the security of millions of our people, and on the well-earned glory of our naval flag. It is enough that a necessity for this expenditure can be shown; the amount of it will be a secondary consideration with a people who truly love their country and properly value its

institutions."

ration.

"In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command. The truth of this seemed to be evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the captain's order at the helm. But every seaman knew, at the time, that the captain's order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse

than unwise.

"These two orders, given by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters. By putting the helm hard up, the Captain was for scudding; that is, for flying away from the gale. Whereas, Mad Jack was for running in almost all instances of similar hard squalls and the ship into its teeth. It is needless to say that, gales, the latter step, though attended with more appalling appearances, is, in reality, the safer of the two, and the most generally adopted.

an onset.

In his report, which is worthy of careful study, Mr. Upshur urged an increase of the navy. And in connexion with our subject, he said: "If it be "Scudding makes you a slave to the blast, our purpose to increase our naval force, we can- which drives you headlong before it; but running not too soon begin to train a suitable band of of-up into the wind's eye enables you, in a degree, to hold it at bay. Scudding exposes to the gale ficers to take charge of it. It is to be borne in your stern, the weakest part of your hull; the mind, that although we can build a good ship in contrary course presents it to your bows, your a few weeks, it requires twenty years of arduous strongest part. As with ships, so with men; be service, of active instruction, and of strict dis- who turns his back to his foe gives him an advancipline to qualify an officer to command her. If, tage. Whereas our ribbed chests, like the ribbed bows of a frigate, are as bulkheads to dam off therefore, we would be prepared for the exigencies of the next twenty years, we must begin "That night, off the pitch of the Cape, Capour preparations to-day. It is mere prodigality tain Claret was hurried forth from his disguises, to build ships, if we have no officers to command and, at a manhood-testing conjuncture, appeared them. There is no school for the sea-officer but in his true colors. A thing which every man in the ship itself. The theory which he may ac- true. Hitherto, in going about the ship, and the ship had long suspected that night was proved quire on shore, although a necessary part of his casting his glances among the men, the peculiarly education, only prepares him to begin to learn lustreless repose of the Captain's eye-his slow, what he is required to know as a naval com- even, unnecessarily methodical step, and the mander. A small fleet properly employed, will forced firmness of his whole demeanor-though, afford such a school to pupils enough to supply consciousness of command and a desire to strike to a casual observer, seemingly expressive of the a large one. We should not, therefore, wait to subjection among the crew-all this, to some build new ships, before we begin to train their minds, had only been deemed indications of the officers. We have at present not enough for our fact that Captain Claret, while carefully shunnavy if all our ships were in commission. Those ning positive excesses, continually kept himself ships, if actively employed, together with such in an uncertain equilibrio between soberness and as shall be built from time to time, even under its reverse; which equilibrio might be destroyed by the first sharp vicissitude of events. the most restricted scheme for the increase of "And though this is only a surmise, nevertheour naval force, will afford all necessary means of employing and training twice the present number of our officers of every grade.†" Is there a necessity for an improved system of *Report of the Secretary of the Navy, Dec'r, 4, 1841, † Report of the Secretary of the Navy, December, 1841.

less, as having some knowledge of brandy and mankind, White Jacket will venture to state that, had Captain Claret been an out-and-out temperance man, he would never have given that most imprudent order to hard-up the helm. He would either have held his peace, and stayed in his cabin, like his gracious majesty the Commodore,

"To show how little sway at times have the severest restrictive laws, and how spontaneous is the instinct of discretion in some minds, it must be added, that though Mad Jack, under a hot impulse, had countermanded an order of his superior officer before his very face, yet that severe Article of War, to which he thus rendered himself obnoxious, was never enforced against him. Nor so far as any of the crew ever knew, did the Captain even venture to reprimand him for his temerity.

may display even temerity. Yet it would be false to deny that, in some instances, the lowest privates have acquitted themselves with even more gallantry than their commodores. True heroism is not in the hand, but the heart and head. "But are there incompetent officers in the gallant American Navy? For an American, the question is of no grateful cast. White-Jacket must again evade it, by referring to an historical fact in the history of a kindred marine, which, from its long standing and magnitude, furnishes many more examples of all kinds than our own. And this is the only reason why it is ever referred to in this narrative. I thank God I am free from all national invidiousness.

"It has been said that Mad Jack himself was a lover of strong drink. So he was. But here we only see the virtue of being placed in a sta- "It is indirectly on record in the books of the tion constantly demanding a cool head and steady English Admiralty, that in the year 1808-after nerves, and the misfortune of filling a post that the death of Lord Nelson-when Lord Collingdoes not at all times demand these qualities. So wood commanded on the Mediterranean station, exact and methodical in most things was the dis- and his broken health induced him to solicit a cipline of the frigate, that to a certain extent, furlough, that out of a list of upwards of one Captain Claret was exempted from personal in- hundred Admirals, not a single officer was found terposition in many of its current events, and who was deemed qualified to relieve the applithereby, perhaps, he was lulled into security, un-cant with credit to the country. This fact Colder the enticing lee of his decanter.

But as for Mad Jack, he must stand his regular watches, and pace the quarter-deck at night, and keep a sharp eye to windward. Hence, at sea, Mad Jack made a point of keeping sober, though in very fine weather he was sometimes betrayed into a glass too many. But with Cape Horn before him, he took the temperance pledge out-right, till that perilous promontory should be far astern.

"The leading incident of the gale irresistibly invites the question, Are there incompetent officers in the American Navy? that is, incompetent to the due performance of whatever duties may devolve upon them. But in that gallant marine, which, during the Late War, gained so much of what is called glory, can there possibly be to-day incompetent officers?

lingwood sealed with his life; for, hopeless of being recalled, he shortly after died, worn out, at his post. Now, if this was the case in so renowned a marine as England's, what must be inferred with respect to our own? But herein no special disgrace is involved. For the truth is, that to be an accomplished and skilful generalissimo needs natural capabilities of an uncommon order. Still more, it may safely be asserted, that, worthily to command even a frigate, requires a degree of natural heroism, talent, judgment and integrity, that is denied to mediocrity. Yet these qualifications are not only required, bnt demanded; and no one has a right to be a naval captain unless he possesses them.

66

Regarding Lieutenants, there are not a few Selvagees and Paper Jacks in the American Navy. Many Commodores know that they have seldom taken a line-of-battle ship to sea, without feeling more or less nervousness when some of the lieutenants have the deck at night.

"As in the camp ashore, so on the quarterdeck at sea-the trumpets of one victory drown the muffled drums of a thousand defeats. And, in degree, this holds true of those events of war "According to the Navy Register (1849), there which are neuter in their character, neither are now 63 Captains in the American Navy, colmaking renown, or disgrace. Besides, as a long lectively drawing about $300,000 annually from array of ciphers, led by one solitary numeral, the public treasury; also 97 Commanders, drawswell, by mere force of aggregation, into an im- ing about $200,000; and 377 Lieutenants, drawmense arithmetical sum, even so, in some bril- ing about a half a million; and 451 Midshipmen, liant actions, do a crowd of officers, each ineffi- (including Passed Midshipmen), also drawing cient in himself, aggregate renown when banded nearly a half a million. Considering the known together, and led by a numeral Nelson, or a Wel- facts, that some of these officers are seldom or lington. And the renown of such heroes, by out- never sent to sea, owing to the Navy Department living themselves, descends as a heritage to their being well aware of their inefficiency; that others subordinate survivors. One large brain and one are detailed for pen-and-ink work at observatolarge heart have virtue sufficient to magnetize a ries, and solvers of logarithms in the Coast Surwhole fleet or an army. And, if all the men who, vey; while the really meritorious officers, who since the beginning of the world, have mainly are accomplished practical seamen, are known contributed to the warlike successes or reverses to be sent from ship to ship, with but a small inof nations, were now mustered together, we terval of a furlough; considering all this, it is not should be amazed to behold but a handful of he- too much to say, that no small portion of the milroes. For there is no heroism in running in and lion and a half of money above mentioned is anout a gun at a port hole, enveloped in smoke or nually paid to national pensioners in disguise who vapor, or in firing off muskets in platoons at the live in the navy without serving it. word of command. This kind of merely manual Nothing like this can be insinuated against valor is often born of trepidation of heart. There the forward officers'-Boatswains, Gunners, may be men individually craven, who, united, &c.; nor against the petty officers-Captains of

66

the tops, &c.; nor against the able seamen in the educated, was not calculated to collect corps of navy. For if any of these are found wanting, they efficient officers; and considering this point, the are forthwith disrated or discharged. wonder is that so very large a proportion of good efficient officers should be obtained, not that

True, all experience teaches that, whenever there is a great national establishment employing large numbers of officials, the public must be some exceptionable men have reached the grades reconciled to support many incompetent men; of lieutenant, commander and captain. for such is the favoritism or nepotism, always If high moral tone, integrity, general intelliprevailing in the purlieus of these establishments, gence united to professional skill and experience that some incompetent persous are always ad- be requisite to enable a commissioned officer in mitted, to the exclusion of many of the worthy line of the navy to perform his duties, it is uot

"Nevertheless, in a country like ours, boasting

of the political equality of all social conditions, likely the forecastles of our men-of-war will furit is a great reproach that such a thing as a com- nish many persons fitted either to bear or adorn mon seaman rising to the rank of a commission- a commission. There may be rare exceptions; ed officer in our navy, is now-a-days almost but the general rule is, that men do best those unheard of. Yet, in former times, officers have so risen in the service, and sometimes have rethings which they have been taught to do. It is flected solid honor upon the country. Instan- very fine for romance writers and demagogues to ces in point might be mentioned. declaim in favor of common sailors, unlettered "Is it not well to have our institutions of a and unlearned, being fit, from force of native piece? Any American landsman may hope to talent, to command squadrons; and to argue, they become President of the Union-Commodore of should be eligible because any American born our Squadron of States. And every Americau sailor should be placed in such a position, that may aspire to the Presidency; but they forget to he might freely aspire to command a squadron add, it is not for any American born to reach the of frigates." goal, until he satisfies a majority of his fellow citizens, that he is pre-eminently fit for the post. This writer believes there are some incompe- Whenever any sailor, in like manner, satisfies a tent officers in the Navy, and no one will quarrel majority of the people, he is pre-eminently qualiwith him on account of this belief, seeing that fied, for a commission in the navy, there is now he is also aware, that "really meritorious ofno bar to his gratification; the simple fact of an ficers" constitute the majority of those afloat. American being a sailor, whose services comAs to the proper number of officers he differs in mand from ten to fifteen dollars a month, does opinion with Mr. Upshur, and seems to cast bit- not, cannot prevent him from becoming a Comter censure on the navy, because all the officers modore, or even President; it is the want of qualare not continually employed, overlooking the ifications which interfere with such aspirations; fact that the officers themselves, especially it is absurd to expect to be paid for services, the Captains and Commanders, are not censura- which we are incapable of rendering. ble for their numbers respectively. The sin It is admitted there are evils in the service. rests entirely with statesmen and politicians, and But it contains all the elements of efficiency. they are responsible for it. Upon their judg It has able and skilful officers, who compete with ment they were originally appointed as midship- alacrity for every post of danger or adventure; men and upon their fiat depended their promo- its men excel in seamanship, courage, and fidelity tion to higher grades. The excessive number of to their country." The evils of the service are officers in any of the grades, and the almost hope- inherent in its organization. lessly slow rate of promotion, which exert a depressing influence on the energy of the service, "No naval service can maintain an efficient sprang from the delights which politicians expe- and elevated character under a long continuance rience in the exercise of patronage. It is un- of a system which levels merit and demerit, and tends to change the profession of the navy from generous and unjust to censure the navy genea career of rewarded honor to a career for a rally for the existence of an evil over which it livelihood. It is not strange, under this system, can exercise no control, or to reproach officers that the navy even contains a very few officers for a state of things which they have not the who have scarcely been at sea, and some who power to remedy; want of employment is their have not seen sea-service enough to accomplish misfortune, not their fault. The irregular, hap- them in the proper qualifications of their prohazard manner of appointing midshipmen and "Those that are capable-and our service others in the navy in numbers limited at the dis- abounds in them-those, and those only should cretion of the President; taking them without be promoted. The office of captain in the navy discrimination, or even inquiring whether they is a high executive trust. Like the judges of the were lame, or blind, old or young, ignorant or

*White-Jacket or The World in a Man-of-War. By Herman Melville. New York. 1850. pp. 134-9.

fession.

Supreme Court, he considers himself appointed for life. The oldest captain, when in service,

* Report of the Secretary of the Navy. December, 1845.

receives a salary equal to that of a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; the pay of the youngest captain, even when doing no duty, and only waiting orders, is much above the average salaries of the district judges of the United States. He bears the flag of his country to "As the only practicable means of accomplishforeign climes; he has authority over officers and ing these results, I recommend to Congress a remen; he directs the power of armed squadrons; duction of the numbers in the various grades of he is the protector of the persons and interests officers to that point which will secure a sufficient of our citizens abroad. The body of captains number in each for such a naval force as Conshould be a body of chosen men. There should gress may determine is necessary and proper, not be among the number one of doubtful merit." and that provision be made for a retired list for such officers as are disqualified for active service, on such terms, and with such pay, as may be

which will render them efficient for command when an emergency may arise, and to make them really and truly the nucleus capable of any and every expansion which the future exigencies of the country may require.

"The service should be relieved from the bur-thought liberal and just.”* den of carrying along so very much greater a number of officers than can be employed. It is not just to the people of the United States to retain on pay, as waiting orders, men who, since their promotions, have not received orders, and, from the excess of officers, and for other reasons, can never receive them. None should have the pay as waiting orders, but those who are one day to receive orders, and are able and willing to obey them. Some very few have lived at ease on shore for so many inactive years, having no connexion with the navy but to take rank and pay, that a want of knowledge of their profession has become added to original inaptitude for

the service.

Thus it appears, that those who are in position to judge best believe, the number of officers of the navy in the several grades should be reduced and apportioned to each other. The prominent reason for this belief is that, as an aggregate, the officers do not render an equivalent for the amount of pay they receive. This may, or may not be a sufficient reason, for it is difficult to set a precise money-value on the navy to the Union-or a proportionate rate of price on each of the grades. The results flowing to the nation from the victories obtained by Hull, Decatur, Bainbridge, Jacob Jones, Biddle, Warrington and others, should be considered a more "Whenever the principle of discrimination than equivalent for all the pay received by all has been applied, the navy has been benefitted. officers in the navy for the past fifty years, great Some years ago, the rule was established for the corps of surgeons; and the result has given the as it may be, or astounding to those who are navy a body of well-educated and well-trained unaccustomed to compute large sums. What surgeons, of which any nation might be proud."* American would reverse those victories and give "The numbers of officers in the higher grades their glory back, with all the consequences clearly are greater than are required either for the ves- traceable to them, in order to have piled up in sels now in commission, for the number of men the Treasury every dollar the nation has exauthorized by Congress to be employed, or for pended since the revolution? any increase of force afloat which may reasona- Let those who think grudgingly of the item of bly be expected. The numbers in the respective grades are disproportioned to each other. Its pay for the navy in the annual appropriations, present organization retards promotion. Age, narrowly scrutinize the quantity and quality of infirmity and want of employment, have disquali- materials furnished, in comparison with the fied many for the performance of active profes- amount of money paid for them to contractors, sional duties. These evils are felt and acknow- and ascertain whether any of this money can be ledged by all who have a just regard for the pros-regarded as a bonus or reward indirectly paid for perity and honor of the service. The difficulty lies in suggesting a remedy, which, while it will partisan services. Why is it that supplies of relieve the country from unnecessary burdens, perishable materials, beef, pork, &c., have been and at the same time operate justly and liberally sometimes purchased in quantities sufficiently on those who have devoted large portions of their large to meet the demands for four or five years lives to the service, will afford regular and con- in anticipation? Surely such manifest prodistant occupation to those who are retained, ingality is not designed for the benefit of the navy crease their energy and activity, and hold out to all the indispensable stimulus to honorable ambi- exclusively. tion-the prospect of promotion at a period of The remedy proposed for the excessive numlife when each is best qualified to discharge the ber of officers, is a Retired List. This of itself duties required of him. Whatever may be the must be a temporary measure, and is not calcuextent of our naval force, the largest proportion lated to remove all the complaints urged against possible of the officers should be kept in active the naval service. professional employment, to acquire and insure the requisite experience and professional skill

*Report of the Secretary of the Navy, (Hon George Bancroft.) December, 1845.

A just regulation of the admissions into the

* Report of the Secretary of the Navy, (Hon. William Ballard Preston.) December 1, 1849.