Or go to the act by which that Board was created, | pride; and, under such calamities oft-repeated, we and you will find that it may be nothing at all, or might expect to hear the many-tongued and mercievery thing-so vague is the law.

less voice of popular clamor, crying aloud for the blood of some unfortunate officer more innocent and guiltless than they who cry for the people now, while it is time, may correct the evil and prevent disaster, by placing the Navy upon a proper footing.

In no period of equal duration have as many im

A few months ago, when, in the opinion of many, a war with England was more than probable, an officer in command abroad, anticipating such an event, wrote, that he could neither run, nor chase. All that he could do, would be to stand and fight whatever force should choose to attack him; for there was not a vessel in his squadron, except one, provements been made in Naval architecture, as that, under the most favorable circumstances, would there have been within the last forty years. But sail more than five knots an hour. Whom would you on this side of the Atlantic these improvements hold responsible for the building of these tubs? have been mainly confined to the commercial maUnder the present system, the law makes no one rine. As our merchant ships have advanced in eleamenable. Therefore, admitting that every officer gance of model, combining the qualities of strength, who had any thing to do with their models, their capacity, and fleetness in admirable proportions, so construction, or equipment, did his duty, you must have our men-of-war receded. The vessels of this charge the fault upon the system, and hold up the five-knot squadron are all new ships. It is well fact as an example in illustration of the defects of known that the vessels built by Humphreys and the present organization. We have seen in a for- Eckford-before the present system came into exmer number, how officers, acting under a defective istence, or had fairly fastened itself on the Navysystem, preserved the line' in fleet engagements, are to this day the favorite and the fastest ships in did their duty, and brought defeat and disgrace the Navy; and some of them were built more than upon the arms of England. Like causes produce like effects. Assuredly as war comes upon us with the Navy in its present condition, as assuredly will there be disaster at sea; and, in a general confusion and consternation, officers may expect to see the tragedy of Byng reenacted on the quarter-deck of some American ship. A few months ago, an Eng- It is well known that the Commissioners had lish sloop-of-war, called the Rover, (one of Sym- their own way in the building of the Columbus monds' ships,) challenged the whole of this five-seventy-four; for they undertook to make her the knot squadron to a race. The one that was the model-ship* of her class for the Navy. They failed, least dull among them took up the gauntlet and was distanced with ease.

forty years ago. The cause of this is fairly attributable to the system adopted in the Navy. The Constructor is subordinate to the Navy-Board, and the Commissioners may approve, alter or reject the model which he is required to submit to their inspection.

and though much larger than, did not cost as much as, the Commissioners' ship, by $132,888 14!

and produced a ship-the masts and hull of which alone, cost $426,931 114! It is said that Eckford For the sake of further illustrating the practical insisted on having his way too in the building of effects of a system, under which it can so hap-one ship. He produced the Ohio, eighty. She is pen that a nest of tubs can be turned out upon to this day the crack-ship of her class in the Navy; the Navy, and sent to sea as men-of-war, let us suppose that the question of the North-Eastern Boundary Line had been settled by a resort to Ship-building and ship-sailing are entirely disarms. This five-knot squadron would have been tinct and separate professions. A knowledge of employed in the Gulf of Mexico, where it now the one no more implies a knowledge of the is, to give convoy and protection to the com- other, than grave-digging implies a knowledge merce there. Suppose it to have under convoy, of medicine. Naval Architecture forms no part of from Mexico, Texas, New Orleans, Mobile and the education of our Navy officers and when the Pensacola, a large fleet of merchantmen, freighted Constructor exhibits the model of a ship to the with the rich products of the Mississippi valley, of Navy-Board, the Commissioner, like the dealer in the mines of Mexico, and of the West-India Islands. pictures, may or may not be a connoisseur in the The ocean is whitened for leagues with the sails art. He may tell by the eye, whether the piece of this fleet-the breezes are fresh and fair, and before him be in comely proportions-whether the Rover falls in with it. With crowds of can- there be too many hollow lines, too many curves, vass spread to the wind, the American squadron or proper water-lines-whether too much breadth are' sweating along' under as much as they can here, or depth there. But let either the picturedrag at the rate of five knots an hour. The Ro- dealer or the Commissioner touch a line, or attempt ver is cutting about them at the rate of ten or to alter the piece before him, and the whole will be twelve knots; and, in spite of the best exertions of blotched and spoiled. When the models of the officers and men, burns or destroys the whole fleet Constitution, the United States, and the Ohio were of merchantmen. A series of disasters such as * Model-Ship. See letter from Navy-Board to the Secthis would not fail deeply to wound American retary of the Navy, Sept. 5, 1822.

drafted, there was no Navy Board with its Com- | pleasure with duty, or give zest to exertion. Unmissioners to supervise-to cut off a little here-to rig and refit, change and alter as you may, her tubadd a little there—and to take away or mystify re-like proportions and qualities remain as they were; sponsibility. Every body knows who built the and the officer finds in her no improvement to Ohio; but who can tell the father of the Fulton, compensate for his trouble, and nothing to gratify or of any other of our new and dull ships? Eck- professional pride. Like the Goede Vrouw of the ford and the elder Humphreys were each wholly Dutch Communipaws, she sails nearly as well and entirely responsible for the success or failure sidewise as endwise, and serves as a mark for the of his own model. cutting jibes and jests of seamen. To attempt to compete with other vessels is certain defeat; therefore the effort is useless, and there is no spirit of emulation among her officers. The shafts of keen ridicule that are aimed at her reach them; they soon become callous and manifest an indifference to the appearance and condition of their ship, which is a sure presage to habitual carelessness and neglect in the performance of duty. 'A quick ship for smart officers, and a dull ship for lubbers,' is one of the most approved on the list of ocean proverbs. In this way you perceive it is that a ship impresses her traits upon the habits of officers, and gives tone to their feelings and actions. She is the mould in which they are formed; and the connexion between the qualities of the one, and the character of the other, becomes as close as the umbilical cord. When a bad model is constructed for the Navy, those who adopt it entail evils upon the service that are more lasting than the dull ships they build. Like the influence of the first crime on the actions of individuals, one gross error in the Naval system is linked to a thousand evils in detail, which those who do not witness can never understand.

Dull ships are not the only evil results experienced in the Navy from building on bad models. It is an opinion often expressed among old seamen, that the character of officers depends in a great measure upon the ship in which they sail. Such, they say, is the influence which the character of a ship exerts upon the youth who serve in her, that a dull sailer seldom turns out active and energetic officers. A fast ship on a beautiful model is the pride of a sailor's heart—she bends gracefully to the breeze; and, bounding over the deep, bears him safely and swiftly along; she rides out the gale like a duck on the water-and in the storm she behaves like a thing of life, dashing the foam from her bows and leaping over the waves; or stopping to buffet some threatening billow, she rises, trembling from the shock, as though she were conscious of her danger. On board such a ship, duty is a pleasure, and is always performed with alacrity. Active herself, and quick in her movements, those on board are required to exert themselves in a corresponding degree, and thence are formed brisk and active habits in the performance of duty. Their affection and pride endow her with In viewing the Navy under so many disadvanqualities that call forth the most unremitting care tages, there is one redeeming quality about it to and attention on the part of the officers, who seek cheer its friends, and to make glad the patriot's to add to her efficiency and to improve her appear- heart-and that is its moral condition. The tone ance by giving her an air of more perfect order of morals among officers in the Navy was never and neatness. Thus a spirit of energy is kept better, or at a higher pitch than it now is. About alive, and habits of diligence too are formed that twenty years ago examinations for Midshipmen are greatly to be desired. She is a hobby at sea were instituted in the Navy; and before they can with old and young. Her proportions are studied; be examined, regulation requires, as a sine quá non, and, like a bride for the altar, they strive to beautify that they furnish the Examining Board with testiand adorn their ocean-favorite in the most comely monials that their moral character is good. About rig-not a rope-yarn is loosely laid; and no part the same time another regulation was introduced, about her escapes the ever-watchful care of her by which those who enter the Navy as Midshipofficers. They note her appearance with pleasure- men, are required to undergo a probationary service point her out to others-tell of her noble qualities, of not less than six months at sea, before warrants and descant upon her beauties with feelings of are issued to them. Both of these regulations pride and exultation. Excelling other ships herself, it becomes a lively principle with them and her crew also to excel in their turn. By such influences do good ships tend to model good officers. But your slow ship, Sir; she is an old droger' a mere log in the water. Dull herself, her officers become habitually so; the crew suiting their actions to her's move lazily along, and thus her character is impressed upon those who serve in her. Awkward and uncomely in appearance, every thing looks lubberly. There is no pride of ship about her to excite and give energy-nothing to combine

have been attended with the happiest effects; and, in connexion with the encouragement that has been given to the introduction of libraries on board our public vessels, have served greatly to elevate the tone of morals in the Navy.

That no vessels should have been built under the auspices of the Navy-Board, comparable to the frigates of 1797, surely cannot be ascribed to any want of talent in the country. The fact ought rather to be ascribed to the defects of the system; for the finest merchant-ships that ever floated, are now built in New-York and other seaports. Hum

phreys and Eckford were merchant-builders; and an art to submit his models and drawings to the the merchant service now affords finer specimens inspection and alteration of a Navy-Board, which of Naval Architecture than they ever saw. Ra- is likely to be, and no doubt has been, compother than the present plan should continue in the sed of men who have never read a treatise on Navy, it were better to contract as formerly with ship-building, much less have studied it as a private builders of well-established reputation-to science. To remedy the evils, which, as we have say to them, the Government wants a ship of such seen, do arise from such a plan, a BUREAU OF CONand such materials to mount so many guns-detail STRUCTION, under the management of the Chief an officer to see that the proper materials be used, Naval Constructor, is thought necessary; and is and that the work be faithfully performed-and considered by intelligent officers as one of the leave model and every thing else to the builder. most important features in the plan of reorganizaBut I find that the "Lucky Bag" contains the de- tion. Like the head of each of the other Bureaux, tails of a plan, suggested by others, and highly ap- he should be independent of all the rest, and reproved of by officers generally, that is greatly pre-sponsible to the Secretary alone, and subject only ferable to this. And before you enter into an to his orders. When a ship is to be built, he examination of this plan, I wish you to consider should be informed of the number and size of the well the evils of the present system. There are guns it is intended she shall carry. But her model many officers of sound judgment and experience, should be left entirely to him; and he should be who will tell you, that, in case of war, they had ra- held responsible for her faithful and proper conther command one of the New-York packets, fitted struction. He should have an Assistant Constructor up as a man-of-war, than any corvette or second at each Navy-Yard, to see that his model be adhered class frigate in the Navy. They will promise you to, that all his designs be faithfully carried out, and more execution against the enemy, and more effi- personally to superintend the construction. Officient protection to a convoy, than any such dull cers of the Navy should have nothing to do with sailers could give. The principles of what is called the ship, until she had passed from the hands of Symmonds' plan-on which the Rover and other the Constructor into the water. She could then vessels of the Royal Navy are built-have obtained be turned over to the Bureau of Equipment, and got for years in the construction of the New-York ready for sea. packets. Increased breadth and lighter draft are Under the present system, the Medical Departthe chief characteristics of this plan-a feature ment is as much under the control of the Navythat is remarkable in the packets; for the packet- Board as you have seen that Naval Architecture is. built ships now of a thousand tons do not draw | And the Surgeons are quite as much hampered as more water, than the packets of only three hun- the Constructors, by the defects of the plan. To its dred or four hundred tons did twenty years ago.

corps of Surgeons, the Navy points with prideThe Secretary of the Navy, in obedience to a for it can boast of some of the most eminent phycall of Congress, submitted at its last Session a plan sicians in the country. We find them side by side for the reorganization of the Navy-Board. That with learned professors and prominent members, plan as far as it goes, and with some modifications, occupying chairs and places in our most celebrated is such as the necessities of the service require. colleges and institutions of science and literature. We have seen the want of individual responsibility Ruschenberger's vogages, and Harris' life of Bainin the Navy-Board. The duties at present re- bridge are among the most popular works of their quired of it might, with great advantage to the kind. As collaborators of medical journals, and public interests, be divided into at least three sepa- contributors to the science of medicine, Surgeons of rate departments or Bureaux. The three officers the United States Navy are held in great repute who compose the Navy-Board, could then preside both at home and abroad. Horner's Observations on over these Bureaux-with this very obvious ad- the climate and topography of the Mediterranean vantage and improvement-that, each Bureau being is a work of acknowledged merit. Barton's Flora independent of the other, the head of each would Americana is sui generis. And Harris' numerous be wholly and entirely responsible for his own acts. contributions to medical journals, are peculiarly Besides these three, the Naval service embraces rich and instructive; they are received with eclat two other departments, each of which obviously among the learned doctors of every land. Yet requires for proper management, qualifications of such are the anomalies of the present system, that a peculiar kind-these are the Medical, and the Architectural Departments.

the Navy-Board are required to make rules according to which these men shall treat their sick. The art of ship-building is a profession of itself, And what is still more extraordinary, when one of and is only to be acquired by great diligence, these Surgeons is ordered to sea, it rests with a after years of previous and special instruction. Captain to say what medicines shall be laid in for The clumsy ships of the Navy afford eloquent-the cruise. The Surgeon's schedule of medicines, because they are practical-commentaries on the like the model and drawings of the Constructor, defects of a plan, that requires the master of such must be submitted to the inspection of, and is sub

ject to be altered by, officers who know nothing of reorganization, the propriety of establishing a of the art; and the former too frequently finds the National Dispensary in connexion with this Bureau, pen of authority drawn across this or that item, in strongly recommends itself for consideration. his list of articles for the hospital. If stricken Here, under the direction of the Surgeon in Chief, out under its vulgar name, it may be reentered the medicines for the Navy might be prepared and under the technical abbreviation of its Latin name; put up in suitable cases. It is desirable that our in which case it seldom shares the same fate. public vessels when bound on long and distant cruisThus I knew a Commodore who erased 'gold leaf' es, should not only be supplied with good medicines, from a Surgeon's requisition, as an article unne- but that these, especially the vegetable medicines cessary in the dispensary of a ship bound on a which are so liable to damage on board ship, should three years cruise; but he had no objection to the be put up and sealed, in small quantities convenient same quantity of “fol. auri. dent." Such are the for use. Thus powd. Jalap might be put up in ounce little artifices to which even these distinguished bottles, marked HOSPITAL U. S. N.' in the Surgeons are sometimes compelled to resort, in or-mould, and sealed with glass-stoppers. When the der to procure the various items which they deem ship returned, those that remain unopened, might be necessary and proper in the practice of their pro- turned over to the Dispensary, as fresh and as good fession on board ship. as they were when first received. It is customary now, to sell the damaged medicines which remain at the end of a cruise. The utterer of spurious coin or false notes is hunted down as a violator of the law, and an offender against good morals.

that are now condemned and sold as unfit for use, are bought up by the apothecaries, repacked, and frequently again sold to the Navy as fresh and good.

Not a great many months ago, the Surgeons had cause to complain of the regulations as to recruits, on the grounds that they were vague, and did not point out what should constitute disability. The Navy-Board were directed to point out to the Sur- What then should we think of a system, under geons the defects, diseases and affections which which Government itself sets the example of reshould disqualify a sailor for the Naval Service. tailing spoiled medicines, doubtless to the hurt of its The result is, that the recruiting Surgeon is as citizens? If a National Dispensary were to serve much at a loss now as he was before; for if he be no other purpose than that of correcting so baneful governed by the new code, he will seldom find an a practice, it were well to establish one. But I able-bodied seaman at all, and the Navy must per-doubt not experiment will prove that economy and ish for the want of men. Baldness, dandruff in the efficiency are both in its favor. For the medicines hair, ring-worms-for all manner of cutaneous diseases,' under this new code, constitute disability for the Naval Service. The holding of officers of one profession responsible for the duties of ano- Ordnance, Supplies, and the Equipment of vesther, which they have never studied, and do not sels for service, each, of itself, constitutes a sepaunderstand, (which is frequently done under the rate and distinct department, which requires the present system,) is not only unwise, but mischie- supervision of experienced and intelligent officers. vous. For besides exposing to ridicule the officer Some are of opinion, that to these three Bureaux, who is required so to intermeddle, it serves to lessen each under the control of a Post Captain, should one's respect for the laws, and to bring rules and be added a Hydrographical Bureau, and a Buregulations' into disrepute. The instance is of re-reau to take charge of the Department of Steam. cent occurrence, wherein a Surgeon, being ordered The Bureau system has been already tried and on a particular service, found it necessary to go approved in the Army, and therefore ought not to first to the Navy Department, and ask that some be considered in the light of an experiment for the particular rule or regulation might be revoked or Navy. But neither steam nor hydrography is as suspended, to enable him to do his duty and perform yet made of sufficient importance in the Navy, to the service required, without laying himself liable entitle either to a separate Bureau. The Navy to be tried by a court-martial. What beneficial Commissioner, whose duties are explained below, results does common sense teach us to expect from could detach the necessary officers for these dea system, under which Navy Commissioners are partments, without any special law on the subject. made responsible for the model of the architect, and The duties of the Secretary of the Navy admit Navy Captains for the duty of Surgeons? That of subdivision and improvement, no less than the excellent guide teaches us, that the first step to- duties of the Navy-Board. The Secretary of the wards an effective system of accountability is to Navy is usually selected from among politicians, confine the attention of officers to their proper de- who have never made Naval affairs any part of partment, and to hold each one responsible for his their study. Neither is the selection made on acown acts-" A ship-builder to build a ship-a sai- count of any peculiar fitness or qualifications on lor to manage a ship-and a doctor to take charge the part of the incumbent for the duties of his of of the medicine chest," is the homely, but common-fice. Your readers are too well informed on the sense rule, in conformity with which a Medical subject, to require any explanation of the motives Bureau is advocated for the Navy. In the work and considerations which prevail in the selection of

Cabinet members in this country. The Secretary three years. Within this time it is impossible that of the Navy usually comes into office uninformed as any one of them could have formed a proper estito the condition of the Navy, ignorant of its wants mate of the professional merits of officers, more and usages, and unacquainted with the official cha-than a thousand in number. Although the archives racter and standing of most of its officers. Ac-of the Department contain, for the most part, a cordingly he goes to work in the dark, and, of just account of the peculiar qualifications and cacourse, blunders and mismanagement ensue. It is pabilities of every officer, they are of but little a postulate granted by common sense, that a know- avail to the New Secretary; for the brief time ledge of details is as essential to the proper of his official career, if devoted to nothing else, management of the Navy, as to the proper man- would not suffice for overhauling the musty reagement of every other business, whether pub-cords of the Department, in order to get at the lic or private. Even to conduct the details of a character and standing of officers. Therefore, ship, where every thing is reduced to the compass whenever a change of Secretaries takes place, of a mere shell, the Captain requires the assistance the officers, especially the junior, feel that their of an officer exclusively for this purpose. The peculiar good name, as far as the Navy DepartCommander of a fleet finds it necessary to assignment is concerned, is blotted out and forgotten. the details of the fleet to one officer, and the de- The Secretary knows nothing of past services, tails of his ship to another, that he may give that and every officer has to commence, as it were, his attention to the general superintendence and man-career anew. You know the chief characteristics agement of the whole which the general wel- of true, and of fictitious merit. Your officer of fare requires. If then, these officers, whose par- true merit thrusts not himself forward, but delights ticular business it is to manage ships, both singly to be sought out. Your man of mere pretensions is and in squadrons, find the assistance of others ne- forward; he delights to be made conspicuous, and cessary merely for the purpose of issuing orders is loudest in his own commendations. Under the and giving directions, how much more necessary present system, when a new Secretary comes into must such assistance be to the Secretary, who is office, those of the latter order are most apt to charged with the management of a whole Navy, crowd around him, seeking to ingratiate themselves and who comes into office ignorant of details! in his favor. For this they are often pushed forIn remodelling the office of the Secretary of the ward. Hence it is we find the claims of real Navy, it is proposed that all the details of the ser- merit modestly set forth, so often thrust aside in vice, such as ordering officers on duty, directing the Navy, and the most honorable posts and imthe shipment of men, the equipment of vessels for portant service confided and entrusted to those, sea, and the like, should be entrusted to a sort of whose want of qualifications many a time totally Under-Secretary,* who shall be a Post Captain in unfits them for such trusts. Such circumstances the Navy. And that the attention of the Secretary have given rise to the remark which has become himself should be directed to a general superin- so common, and to the truth of which most officers tendence of the various sub-departments proposed; will subscribe; viz: "a cruise of a few months in that the heads of them shall be amenable to him- Washington tells more than a three years cruise at and that he should exercise an appellate jurisdic-sea in an officer's favor." In this condition of tion over them; that he should direct what forces things, we have found one or two spirits among us shall be employed, and where they shall cruise; base enough to stoop to acts of sycophaney and that he should give instructions to our Command- adulation-and we have even seen such coming ers abroad; order courts-inartial and revise their forth crowned with Naval honors, and commended proceedings; and be responsible for the general with the official" well done." Now, the details of management of the Navy. It is proposed that the the office of Secretary, conducted in the inanner style and title of this under-Secretary, be that of proposed, would put an end to all such scenes and Commissioner of the Navy; that his department acts. A change of Secretary would not be followbe constituted, like the rest, into a separate office ed by a change of Commissioner. And if it were, or Bureau; and that, being next to the office of another Post-Captain would succeed to the office, Secretary, the Bureau of Commissioner take pre- who, having spent his life in the Navy, would be, cedence over all the others; which have been ex-officio, as well acquainted as his predecessor named without any regard to the order in which with the character and standing of his brother-offithey should stand. cers. Had the modification proposed of the SecWithin the last twelve years, there have been retary's duties no other recommendation but this, four citizens called at different times to fill the of-it would of itself justify the change. For one fice of Secretary of the Navy. This has given us source of the present dissatisfaction in the Navy, is on an average, a New Secretary at the end of every owing to the circumstance, that merit among officers so seldom meets with its just reward, but is rather made to give place to pretension.

* Under-Secretary. The duties of whose office shall be to the Navy, what those of the Adjutant-General are to the Army.

In adopting this system of Bureaux, every officer