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The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
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A letter to the Morning Chronicle from London details numerous grievances in the British Royal Navy, including misuse of marines for labor, improper manning of ships, violations of service rules, unfair promotions, and poor command choices in various stations.
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To the Printer of the MORNING CHRONICLE.
NAVAL GRIEVANCES and ABUSES.
The Marines, that glorious body of people who so highly distinguished themselves the last war, now do all the dirty, laborious work on board all guardships because they have no seamen.
The people upon the ship's books are footmen, coachmen, gardeners, threshers, helpers, plowmen, egad even the maids and nurses.
Ask this question on board that glorious bit of bunting at Plymouth; ask that active Admiral who for his glorious services the last war is made—(worthy sensible, gallant gentleman!) Vice Treasurer of Ireland: ask that regulator of the service how these things come?
Besides, it was the established rule of service this peace, that no Officer should serve above three years without being superseded. This rule is piously and religiously observed in cutters and other vessels; but interest can keep a flag flying six years upon Mount Edgcumbe, in spite of rules and orders. Is this encouragement to the senior Captains and Admirals when such sea weed as this is suffered to be nourished?
Behold a frigate is dispatched with a packet of importance from a squadron; and what may be the contents? A bad, sad, unintelligible love letter from a Prince to a subject's wife.
Again, we see preferments of flags impeded by Sir Peter Denis's refusal of his; because the pay of a Captain of a yacht is one hundred per ann. more than the half pay of a Rear-Admiral. Should such a thing be suffered to a man worth 80,000l. who keeps his menial servants upon the yacht's books?
Do not we know, that guardships in our ports are commanded day by day, night by night, by a boatswain's mate? Should the enemy surprise us, it will be an amusing circumstance to find all the Officers at their country cottages, mending their stockings.
Is not the valiant Sir George Pocock treated scurvily by Government, while such a thing as Sir J. Lindsay, with only the command of two paltry frigates, has a ribband given him, for his no services, the pay of a Rear Admiral, and the addition of five pounds a day from the Treasury; when any other man (but a nephew of Lord Mansfield) would have performed that duty as well for his pay as a Post Captain!
This is naval oeconomy.
Who commands in America? The amiable Captain Jemmy Gambier?—Who commands in the Straits? The—the—the—the—the thing Captain Proby. Who will command instead of the glorious Forrest? Some young, discreet raw Scotsman, you may swear.
Roue, roue, for shame: and distinguish your sense of the naval service by making a more judicious choice of men, and by rewarding merit to support your fame by sea.
Young Cloudesley Shovel.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Britain
Event Date
July 30
Key Persons
Event Details
Letter complains of marines doing laborious work due to lack of seamen, ships manned by non-sailors like footmen and maids, questioning an admiral at Plymouth who is Vice Treasurer of Ireland, violation of three-year service rule at Mount Edgcumbe, frivolous frigate dispatches, Sir Peter Denis refusing promotion for pay reasons, guardships commanded by boatswain's mates, unfair treatment of Sir George Pocock versus promotion of Sir J. Lindsay, and poor command appointments in America, the Straits, and replacement for Forrest.