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idea of the imperfections of the present system of der them, raised to the rank of Captains, and ingrades and detail of duty.

vested with power and authority and clothed with Who commands that man-o'-war steamer?-a dignity and honors equal to their own. Both of Post-Captain. Yon frigate ?—a Post-Captain. That these officers are in active service-one at sea, the seventy-four?-a Post-Captain. Who is the com- other at a Navy Yard. They are actively engaged mander of that navy yard?-a Post Captain. Of in the duties of a military office, which they have that squadron-a Post-Captain. Of that fleet?- filled with untiring zeal and ability for thirty-four still a Post-Captain-who, tomorrow, may be the years. And if for a higher grade in the Navy no commander of that single steamer, frigate, seventy- better reason could be assigned, than a reward for four, or yard. These various commands are so distinguished worth and merit, I know not what distinct and different in their character and impor-appeal to a generous people can be more eloquent, tance, that they of themselves point to a different than that which may be read in the gallant deeds, arrangement, and suggest the want of more and in the silence, the modest bearing, and true merits higher grades. of these two veterans.

But let us admit that a higher grade as the incentive and reward of merit, is not required in the

rank with an Admiral of the White. At another time, he must be accepted in exchange only for an Admiral of the Red. And again: no exchange of prisoners can take place, until the enemy formally acknowledge, that a Captain in the American Navy is equal in rank to their Admiral of the Blue.

In the absence of such grades an important-ay, I might almost say, Mr. Editor, a vital principle in the life militaire is wanting. I mean the incen- re-organization of the American Navy, we shall tive of promotion. Three steps-Lieutenant, Com- see that it is required on the score of public inmander, Captain, and the American Navy Officer terest. In time of war, for the want of a higher stands on the highest round—rather, the platform grade, an exchange of prisoners among the officers at the top of his profession, and in the midst of a of rank would be found difficult, if not impracticacrowd of equals in authority. Rank, among mili- ble. A Captain of the enemy would sometimes be tary men, is like the precious stones-the less offered as an equal exchange for an American Capcommon, the more valuable the grade and the tain. Again: the latter would be considered to jewel. But Captain-the title is as current as coin. Something a-head-some high office to which every officer may look, but which few may reach, and they only after a long train of useful and important services, is the very soul of a well regulated military system, as well for the Navy as the Army. Does not the case of our gallant Hull and other veteran heroes of the last war, go to confirm the accusation of ingratitude in Republics, as well as to show that evil influences have prevailed towards the Navy? He was the first to carry a ship into action, and tilt at arms on an untried field. The odds against him were fearful;-no less than a veteran enemy and the full tide of public opinion. But his victory was a double one and complete. He made his enemy his prize; and dispelled forever from the ocean, the charm of British invincibility. important offices and trusts. Capt. Stewart, too, the last in action with a frigate, alone has extended the title of Commodore to the (and the last but one to come out of an engage-American officer in the command of a squadron. ment on the ocean,) also achieved a double victory But even with that, whatsoever be the power with in the capture of two ships at once. This officer, which his government may invest him, his catoo, rendered another service in those trying times, pacity in many respects to serve his country is which we cannot appreciate too highly. It is cramped, and the field of his usefulness circumchiefly owing to the manly stand, and the remon- scribed, unless he bear a title indicative of high strance made with the Executive, by Capt. Stew-powers, and one which men are accustomed to asart, at the commencement of the war, that those gallant ships which shed such lustre upon the American flag, were not dismantled and laid up in fear of the enemy.

The experience of every maritime nation that has ever boasted of a Navy, is in favor of higher grades of officers than Post-Captains. Practice, too, approves it. The details of duty are such as to call for officers of distinct grades and separate authority. There would be as much reason for confining the duties of all the higher offices in the Army to the single grade of Captain, as there is in clogging the Navy with but one grade for all its Common courtesy

sociate with such. An officer of rank to correspond with that of Admiral in other services, is as essential to a complete organization of the Navy— the efficient management and discipline of a fleet— These two, Hull and Stewart, are the only offi- as that of Major General is to a grand division of cers now in service who came out of the war as an army. Could Captain Jackson have trained they entered it-the same in rank; and they are the refractory, turbulent spirits which composed the only officers in the Navy, whether old or young, in the last war the Southern Division of our Arwho took part in that war and have not been pre-my, to discipline and obedience; or could he have ferred since that war commenced. They have surmounted the difficulties which Major General even seen those who, as Midshipmen, served un- 'Andrew Jackson successfully encountered?

Of all theorems, Mr. Editor, a self-evident pro- |quire, and are urgent in their demands, that a larposition is the most difficult of proof. In the de- ger force than is now maintained, should be kept in monstrations of such, mathematicians frequently commission. resort to the reductio ad absurdum. And in the The items of foreign intelligence, to be read from present case, is not incongruity obvious in all parts time to time in the columns of our daily prints, afof the system, which sows broad cast with one ford striking evidence of the insufficiency of the grade of officers all the offices and commands from force afloat, to protect from vexations the widelya frigate up? To the single grade of Post-Captain spread commerce of our merchants, or even to sein the American Navy, belong the offices which in cure the American flag from prostitution. Within other Navies, and according to their importance, the last year, we have seen British cruisers interare filled by Post-Captains, Commodores, Admirals posing in behalf of our flag, and tacitly rebuking of the White, of the Red, and the Blue. Expe- the inertness of the American government, by rience has taught other nations the expediency of bringing American slave-ships as prizes into our classifying the commands and offices thus jumbled ports. Through them, too, we learn of a half a together in our service; and of assigning to each score or more vessels, with false papers and mock classification its appropriate grade of officers. Such Captains, engaged, under American colors, in the classification is obviously called for. The com- slave-trade. Such have been the acts of vice and mand of a second class frigate, with her crew of crime perpetrated under this unguarded flag on the 360 men, is of much less importance than a line-coast of Africa, that we have heard the question of-battle-ship, with her crew of 1,000 or 1,500 men; of search gravely brought forward in the British and she again, than a squadron of ships of all parliament. The American government entered classes. And should not the officer who commands upon the discussion of the African slave-trade at squadrons, and directs the movements of a fleet, an early day. It took an honorable lead, and was despatching with a signal a seventy-four here, and the first to declare the traffic illegal, and its consending off a frigate there, be higher in grade than ductors pirates. These measures were viewed by he who is sent off with that frigate? The natural philanthropists in the light of a pledge to them and difference in the situations of two such officers, the world, that the flag of the United States should their duties and responsibilities, require the artifi- never be worn by a slaver, or be used by one as a cial distinction of grade to separate and designate refuge and protection for his unhallowed purposes. them. Will sailors yield obedience to a messmate, But this pledge has not been redeemed; nor have or soldiers to a comrade? Neither, Mr. Editor, will the necessary steps been taken to redeem it, by Captains at all times lend that prompt obedience, maintaining a Naval force on the coast of Africa. or hearty cooperation to the plans of a Captain, which the discipline of the service, or the good of the country requires, and which the dignity of a separate and a higher grade would not fail to command.

Without going back into the history of years, what better proof need we, Mr. Editor, in evidence of the necessity of such a force, and the inadequacy of the Navy to supply it, than that which we collect from the occurrences of the last year? But there is other evidence besides the want of Charges against an American Consul of official grades, to show that the present condition of the connivance and actual participation in the African Navy is not such as the true policy of this nation slave-trade-the presence of American vessels on requires it should be. I waive, for the present, a the coast of Africa, with the gratings, the false consideration of the prospective advantages which deck, and all the fixtures of the pirate slaver― would result by placing the Navy on a better foot-other startling developments and grave imputations, ing. I waive too the necessity of such a measure, too well known to be repeated here-the represenas enjoined upon us by the precept of the sage and tations of a foreign government and its formal rethe patriot-in peace, prepare for war." Ships quest, that, for the sake of her own honor and the too may be built in a month, but officers cannot be cause of humanity, the government of the United educated in a day, nor trained in a year. Com- States would send armed cruisers to the coast of mending this fact to your consideration, I pass by Africa. Yet, under such urgent calls, the only the wisdom and policy of keeping in service a disposable force that the Navy can afford for this number of officers sufficient to man, on any emer-service, without prejudicing interests elsewhere, is gency, all of our ships that are already built and one small brig and a schooner. building. I shall not occupy these grounds, nor stop to review the advantages, or to discuss the many important results to be derived from placing the naval establishment upon a more liberal footing. I pass on from these to show, that the immediate and pressing demands of American commerce-the interest of American citizens, and the dignity and honor of the American nation all re

But let us turn from the coast of Africa to the coast of China. There too we find very important and valuable interests to this country in a critical condition, and without the least prospect of speedy relief from an armed force. The trade of that empire with England is suspended-the blockade of Canton and consequent interruption of all trade with China threatened-England concentrating a

remains to be run. It has been more than twenty years since an American man-of-war so much as looked into the mouth of Columbia River. Upon what more important service could a small force be despatched, than to survey and bring home correct charts of that river and its vicinity?

strong force in those seas; and, at this juncture, point to a commercial and enterprising people. the only two American vessels of war stationed in Yet the first line in the hydrography of such a point the East, not having any to relieve them, are on their way home to meet the engagements with their crews. Recent intelligence gives strength to the opinion, that England will command the restoration of her trade, and, if necessary, will dictate her own terms at the cannon's mouth, and to the prejudice of American commerce. The necessity The valuable fur trade on the North-West coast, is urgent, that that blockade should be closely the commercial and other important interests there, watched, and that the United States should be have been left to themselves, and languish for the represented in that treaty with a strong force. But want of some evidence that the strong arm of the such is the condition of the Navy, that there is not government is ready and prompt to sustain them. at present a single vessel in commission which may In 1818, the United States sloop Ontario, Capt. be spared from other service, or despatched on that. Biddle, was sent to the mouth of Columbia River. It requires no great intimacy with the course of She returned without having anchored. This is trade, and the exigences of commerce, to enable the only visit of a public vessel to that coast. The one to perceive how very important to American river has been surveyed under the direction of the interests, is the existence and constant presence of North-Western Fur Company of England. Their a respectable East India squadron. The appear-charts are secret, and used only by their own vesance, at the present juncture, of such a squadron in sels. Though the entrance to the river is at all the China seas, would be peculiarly well-timed and times dangerous, and with an East wind is impracjudicious. But we have seen that the number of ships in commission is too small to supply such a force, without serious detriment to the public interests elsewhere.

In the absence of any public cruiser to suppress crime, and to sustain the national reputation, we have heard of scenes enacted, under the stars and stripes, on the coast of Africa, which, like an overcast cloud, will surely dim the lustre of those stars. That they have ever shed one protecting ray on the dark deeds of the African slaver, is attributable to the neglect of maintaining a force in commission for the suppression of that trade. But though an accidental state of things, places, at this time, in strong relief, the necessity of a Naval force on the coast of Africa and in the seas of China, this very state of things is an apt illustration of the value and importance to the public weal of such forces at all times. The actual condition of our commerce in other quarters besides those already mentioned, calls less urgently for help on the strong arm of government.

ticable, I have been informed by traders, that there is to the North of it a large and commodious bay, easy of ingress and egress at all times, and offering a safe anchorage to vessels. This bay is many miles across, and separated from the river on the South by a very narrow strip of land, across which the trappers and Indians are accustomed to drag their boats from the river. Such, Mr. Editor, is our ignorance of the topography of those regions, that were the government called on to treat definitely for its North-Western boundary, it would enter the negotiation as one blindfolded.

The whale fishery, too, that nursery of American seamen, and prodigy of Yankee enterprise, unguarded and defenceless, pursues its prey from the coast of America to Japan on the West, and hunts it North and South far into either hemisphere. A cruise round the world, for oil, is not a foreign voyage; at least, Mr. Editor, so has said a learned judge. It may be because the ocean is the whaler's home. But so it is, that Nantucket-men, for the If you have a map of the world at hand turn to privilege of fishing among our antipodes, without it, and placing your finger at the mouth of the Co- being on a foreign voyage, pay a large revenue lumbia River, consider its geographical position into the Treasury. Towns and districts are supand the commercial advantages which, at some ported by them. They annually fish up from the day not far distant, that point will possess. To the deep wealth enough to pay for every man-of-war South, in one unbroken line, lie seven thousand in commission. Their trade calls for a hundred miles of coast indented with the rich markets of thousand tons of shipping, and gives employment to Spanish America-to the West, Asiatic Russia and more seamen than the Navy of the United States. China are close at hand-between the South and the Yet the Navy affords no vessel for the special serWest, are New Holland and Polynesia; and within vice of cruising over their "grounds" with these good marketable distance are all the groups and fishermen-not a gun to proclaim that they are clusters of islands that stud the ocean, from Cape | American citizens, whose country is watchful of its Horn to the Cape of Good Hope, from Asia to interests and ever ready, with its strong arm, to America. Picture to yourself civilization striding protect them in their lawful pursuits and to redress the Rocky Mountains, and smiling down upon the their wrongs in every sea. The protection they do vast and fruitful regions beyond, and calculate, if receive is incidental, afforded by men-of-war on their you can, the important and future greatness of that occasional voyages of circumnavigation. Twenty

thousand fishermen scattered over the ocean, and be- | tor, where the circumnavigator finds two Sundays yond the reach of the law-why, sir, if I could not, coming together, and gains or loses his day, let as I can, speak from personal observation, it would us, before we attempt the stormy passage of Cape require no brilliant fancy to depict some of the scenes Horn, or consider the force of the Brazil squadron, that are enacted among them;-outrage-mutiny cast back, and, like that navigator, trace on the on board-pillage-ships disabled-wrecks-the chart our track. We have travelled from the Cape whaling Captain, with a full cargo, forcing the of Good Hope to Cape Horn-from the Northcrew to desertion, or landing them on uninhabited islands, that he may reap the benefit of their lay or share of the cargo-the crew, in their turn, deserting at sea a Captain who is not in luck-and, disabling his ship, steal away his boat at night to revel in the sunny climes of South Sea Islands. The life of an American whaler "tells as true a tale of dangers past"

"As ever the dark annals of the deep

Disclosed for man to dread, or woman weep." Statistics obtained during a three years cruise among whalers, give the startling result, that from casualties peculiar to the whaling business alone, the loss of life during a voyage is ten per cent. of men and officers. If I were called on to point out a useful service for a public cruiser, I could not designate one which would be more grateful to the feelings of officers, or useful to the public interests, than that of carrying relief to distressed seamen among the islands of the Pacific, and of cruising over the "whaling grounds" to protect the fishermen in their rights.

West coast to New Holland-from America to China and Japan-from the Eastern to the Western Hemisphere-and almost from the Arctic to the Antarctic Circle. But mark, sir, we have not once in all this distance been beyond the limits of American commerce. And mark this too, sir, that in all those regions we have found but five American men-of-war; two of them, like ourselves, homeward bound.

But as I said, we must touch at the La-Plata, and on the coast of Brazil, to look at the American squadron in those waters. Here we find a most valuable and active trade in flour, coffee, manufactures, hides, &c., interrupted and vexed by a blockade, paper and real-twenty-five or thirty French men-of-war harassing our merchants. They have wantonly seized, and anchored under their guns, two American vessels, in the presence of the American squadron, consisting of one frigate and one sloop-of-war. The American Captain, mortified at his own weakness, is writing a letter of entreaty, craving as a boon from the Frenchman, the release of these two vessels. The crew's time, too, is beginning to expire, and the men on board that frigate are becoming loud in their demands to be discharged or sent home, according to the articles of agreement at the head of the shipping lists. There is no commissioned vessel at home in a condition to relieve that frigate. Unable to wait longer, she is to leave the thirty French men-of-war in charge of a sloop of sixteen guns. She is expected at home daily.

The Pacific squadron, consisting at this time of one frigate, a sloop-of-war, and a schooner, (the two other sloops, there being none in commission to relieve them, are on their way home,) is altogether unequal to the efficient protection of our commerce in those seas; nor is it even equal to the exigences of American interests along the coast. The industry and enterprise of a thrifty people, have strewed the Western coast of this continent with American interests. These interests extend I will not detain you at present, Mr. Editor, to from the fifty-seventh degree of latitude at the review the Naval forces in the West Indies and the South, far into the regions of perpetual ice at the Mediterranean, nor stop you while I inquire if those North, covering a single line of coast actually forces meet all the exigences of American interests greater than the diameter of this earth. To guard in those seas. I wish to call your attention to one and protect these interests, involving life and pro- more fact; for, upon it alone I am willing to rest perty to a vast amount, there are now in commis- the whole force of my reasoning for maintaining more sion, and actually present on that coast, only one ships in commission. The commerce of the United frigate and two small vessels—a force wholly in- States is valued at $400,000,000, affording employadequate to the demands upon it, and utterly incon-ment for two millions of tons of shipping, and for sistent with the dignity and honor of the second many thousand American citizens. For the procommercial nation in the world. tection of these citizens and this property, distri

In alluding to the force in the Pacific, I pur-buted in all parts of the world, we have an effective posely omit the Exploring Expedition. The Co- Naval force afloat at this time of six hundred gunslumbia and John Adams are in the Pacific perhaps less than is intended shall bristle on Forts Calhoun at this time. But they constitute the East India and Monroe, for the protection of Norfolk alone. I squadron, and their presence on the coast of South include, too, Mr. Editor, in this estimate, the guns America is casual. They merely touch there on of the East India squadron, on its return home their way home, and cannot therefore be considered without a relief-of two sloops-of-war returning as any part of the regular force kept in the Pacific. from the Pacific under similar circumstances, and Having carried you over the line, Mr. Edi- of one razee seventy-four returning from the Brazil

squadron also without having been relieved. We hear of vessels fitting out to take the place of some of these; of a frigate and two sloops-of-war, for instance, for the East Indies. All of which tends only to confirm the correctness of the assertion, that the number of ships kept regularly in commission, is not sufficient to meet the wants of the country.

I do not wish you to understand me as advocating at this time, the building of ships by the dozen, or any such extravagances. We have ships enough built and building, launched and rotting at their mooring, to answer all the present demands of commerce on the Navy. Mark that word present, for it is of present, not of prospective wants, that I am speaking. I defer the latter for another time. Yours truly,

H, B-
United States Navy.

THE POET AND THE SYBIL.
"And bought alone by gifts beyond all price-
The trusting heart's repose, the paradise
Of home with all its loves-doth fate allow
The crown of glory unto woman's brow."

1.

I have sought thee oft, in the starless night-
I have left a cheerful hearth,
When the lightning-flash was the only light
That fell on the trembling earth.

I have sought thee beside the foamy sea,
As its wild waves wash'd the strand,
When the whirlwind was sweeping flower and tree,
With the besom of rage from the land.

I sought thee there, for they say thou dost love
The night that is shrouded in storm,
When the sable clouds that are fleeting above,
Wear a dark and a terrible form.

II.

"What would'st thou with me?" the Sybil replied,
"Thou wearest a wreath of fame;

What would'st thou of one whom fate has denied
E'en the boon of a virtuous name?

I love not the night, nor the whirlwind, more
Than thou, in whose youthful breast
The tempest-crash and the ocean-roar,
Find types of their own unrest.

Do the happy, the gay, and the beautiful seek
The loveliest spot that nature e'er made,
When the glow of contentment is bright on the cheek,
Or hope on the heart like a gem-gift is laid?
When the heart that has sigh'd for a glorious name,
And wasted its youth in the labor of years,

And the pale brow above wears the green wreath of fame;
Why sighs it for solitude, silence, and tears?

The light of thy song is shed over the sea,

And in isles afar off they are singing thy lays

In ages to come, fame will point unto thee:

III.

Alas! alas! it is indeed too true;

I've dreamed the first fresh hours of life away:
My hours of bliss have been but brief and few,
And I have sought in fame a broken stay;
But is there not, (and hope beamed in her eye,)
Some hope of happiness still left for me?
It cannot be that I am thus to die,

So sad, and lonely-No, it cannot be ;
Oh! I would give my fame, my glorious art,
To win one pure and undivided heart.

IV.

Sad one! Genius is around thee-
What hast thou to do with love?
With a mystic chain he's bound thee;
Turn then, turn thy heart above!
Spells of might around thee lieth-

A mournful gift he made thy own,
And when thy heart oft sadly sigheth,

Thou can'st not hear an answering tone.
Turn thy heart to things above thee,
Thou hast given love for fame-
Would'st thou give for one to love thee,
Thine own glory-circled name?
Go, sit thee down on earth's green bosom,
And gaze upon the deep blue sky;
Go, watch the wild-flowers bud and blossom,
Whose beauties with the pale stars vie.
Go forth at night, when stars are keeping
Their solemn watch o'er quiet earth,
And heaven her pearly tears is weeping,
As if she mourn'd the planet's birth.
Go, sit beside the gushing fountain,

And listen to the night-wind's moan-
Go, climb the steep and hoary mountain:
Thy spirit will not be alone.
Those are the treasures of the spirit
Which barters human love for fame-
And these the gifts it must inherit;

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TRAVELS AND TOBACCO.

Gentle Reader, if thou hast deemed it fit to spend a thought upon a poor schoolmaster, thou hast perhaps concluded that he was dead; a twelve month's silence might justify the conjecture. Or thou hast fancied him swathed in bandages, under the tortures of the podagra. Or, perchance, thou hast set him down as bereft of his wits by overmuch study, remembering old Burton's lamentation, "How many poor scholars have become dizards, neglecting all worldly affairs, and their own health, wealth, esse and bene esse, to gain knowledge! for which, after all their pains, in the world's esteem they are accounted ridiculous and silly fools, ideots, asses, and, as oft they are, rejected and condemned, derided, doting and mad." Nothing of all this, as I am a

Then what can'st thou wish for!-thou hast the world's true man; but, simply and truly, I have been over

PRAISE."

the sea, to 'merrie England' and 'Allemagne.'

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