Richmond Enquirer

THE NAVY.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE ENQUIRER.

Washington, Dec. 29, 1823.

Dear Sirs: Before I redeem the promise I made in concluding my letter to you of the 20th, it is due to truth and candour to repair an omission in the previous one of the 16th, in order that the besetting sin of carrying money on freight, in our public vessels, may not wholly fall upon the heads of those who are mere agents in the transaction, or those who by the profits they have amassed in the business may have excited the envy of their less fortunate companions and countrymen. It is this—that upon the sailing of the present West India Squadron, the gallant and indefatigable commander entrusted with the command of it, had the permission if not the recommendation of the President and Department, to endeavor to divert some portion of the immense specie trade between Mexico and England, to this country—and for that object he was allowed, when any vessel of his squadron had performed her cruise and was about to return to the U S., to receive on board any specie that might be offered to be shipped to his port of destination.

This is believed to have been permitted by British authority and only involves a portion of the "abuse detailed in mine of the 16th by directing an enquiry against the expediency of such permission—without qualification and the exercise of a sound discretion.—The going to a port for that special purpose, the freight to be received—the appropriation of it to the commanders exclusively, and the super-addition of goods and passengers are the condemned abuses of this official permission, of the necessity itself may not be considered an abuse.—It may not be amiss to remark (for it is a fruitful subject) that the exportation of specie from any of the Spanish ports is positively prohibited—except for the use of the public vessel that calls for it, of which the Spanish Governor is satisfied upon the honor of the officer who sends or calls for that object—and that the taking it away upon freight for individuals, syndicates or others, or for any other purpose, can only be done by an infraction of the revenue laws of the country— of which there are numberless natives who make it a profession, whenever they can find foreigners with the willingness or force to assist, them and cover the impunity of their transgression.

In this way, the Royalists have got away large sums of money from the Revolutionists, which was their lawful spoil of war, and vice versa—and foreign nations have rendered the most important assistance in a conflict, where they solemnly avowed neutrality! What would we say, if foreign vessels of war were engaged in illicit commerce in our ports and harbors?

But to the subject of the extra allowances by order of the Navy Department for various services on shore, and the considerable augmentation of the appropriation for the navy, in consequence of it.

The Naval Register shews 42 Surgeons in the pay of government at 50 dollars per month and 2 rations, (50 cents) per day, and of that number shews thirty-two to be stationed on shore at hospitals, or attached to vessels in ordinary, &c. and receiving somewhere about eight hundred dollars each, over and above the pay allowed by law, thus making in that single item alone, about twenty-five thousand dollars per annum!

If a court martial is ordered, the officers composing it receive for extra services one dollar and an half per day during the session, though it convenes at the place where he resides and not an hundred yards from his own door, or the ship to which he is attached—and if called to a distance, receives besides his actual travelling expenses or ten cents per mile.—This later regulation when called to a distance is proper enough—but to consider services upon a court martial as extra duties of an officer, seems as preposterous as the taking of lunar observations would be, when he might navigate the ship with safety by the old fashioned mode of taking the sun at mid-day.— Surely, it is as much the duty of an officer to be able to judge with impartiality and ability at the tribunal erected for the protection of his own honor, and his companions in arms, as it is to be able to manage his ship in a gale of wind or fight her in an action.

What has been the enormous amount expended for this item of extra allowances, the books of the Department alone can shew. To every station a recruiting officer is attached who must be a master commandant—the pay of that rank by law is sixty dollars per month, and 4 rations per day.—For prime seamen the law allows twelve dollars per month—ordinary seamen 10 dollars—landsmen 8 dollars, and for boys 6 dollars—and the recruiting officer is allowed for extra services, four dollars for each and every man he ships, which to several of them, at New York and Boston, where seamen are plenty, has amounted to a handsome fortune. This perquisite, for shipping the crew of the U.S. Frigate, amounts to more than two thousand dollars, making the wages of the whole crew for the first month average 16 dollars per month. A Lieutenant is also attached to the recruiting station, with extra allowances. A recruiting captain, if well employed, might very readily consent to waive all claim to promotion, even to the rank of Admiral.

There is another officer, of the rank of post captain, who, if he be the senior captain on the station assumes the title of commander afloat—that is, all vessels in the port, and not in ordinary or in dock repairing, come under his command. The captains and officers apply to him for leave of absence, changes in situations, make their compliments of respect or arrival, and particularly give him the trouble of writing to Washington to state all their wants and grievances. For these extra services (his pay and rations by law being 100 dollars: and 8 rations per day) the commander afloat, is allowed house rent—fuel—light—stationery and clerk hire, making in all the handsome income of at least 3500 dollars per annum!

The commander of the yard, who is also a post captain, has large allowances, making his emoluments exceed 4000 dollars per annum.

How disproportionate are the wages of all these officers to that of the commander of the squadron in the Mediterranean for example—who by law has the pay of post captain with an extra allowance of rations only—that is 16 rations or 4 dollars per day instead of 8 rations—yet this officer has not only the discipline and character of a fleet to maintain in the eyes of Europe, but the commercial and political relations of his government to superintend and support with Barbary, Spain, France, Italy, Sicily, Greece and Turkey:—requiring constant official intercourse with great public characters, of course additional expense and close attention to the vicissitudes of national and political circumstances interesting to the character and dignity of his country.

The truth is, this system of allowances for extra services has nearly inverted the true object of a navy—the sea which is its legitimate past, every day ceases to have any charms with those who enlist in its service, in consequence of the greater temptations they who have the management of it, hold out to the officers to remain on shore—where there is really labour, talent and extraordinary qualities necessary, the compensation is small—where care, comfort and a dull routine of mechanical duties are only necessary, the reward is excessive! Reform is indispensable and loudly called for.

I shall call your attention in my next to some particular yards &c. to some other "grievous abuses" which as a subordinate, I sensibly feel—without help, we are destined to be ridden over rough-shod by our superiors.

A FRIEND.