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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
. -of the vessel is under their immediate control, but the other officers .and men look up to them for instruction in the various branches of their profession in case of the death or removal of the commander he is placed in command, and it is even considered essentially necessary in every Navy that the junior Lieutenants should possess all the req- uisite qualifications of an executive officer, so that in case of emer- gency he might 'fill that station with confidence, how often has it been the case that by death and action the junior officers are called to the command. The next grade of sea officers are the Sailing Masters, this e:1ass·of Officers are out of the line of promotion unless for some merit- orious act they are commissioned. In the United States service they were selected from some of the old warrant officers who had from long term of servitude and good conduct merited some distinction but oftener were selected from Old Officers in the -Merchant service as there is seldom or never that call made upon them for that minute knowledge of Naval Tactics which is requisite in a Lieutenant; their duty being that of the Navigation of the vessel alone. during the last ten years the gradual increase of the Navy of the United States hav- ing formed a school for Junior Officers the grade of sailing Masters has been done away with so far as only to retain the few .who were in service, and the Midshipmen who have passed an examination are appointed as acting in that rank until they are commissioned as Lieutenants. The Surgeons, Pursers and Clerks could at all times be selected from the Citizens of the country. The Masters-mates and Midshipmen ought neccessarily be appointed from among the youth of our own country and too much care cannot be taken with their Naval Education to excite their emulation in their profession they have chosen. They should be taken under the im- mediate and fostering care of the Government and Naval Schools formed for instructing them in the various branches of Mathematics, Geography, Astronomy and other sciences appertaining to the pro- fession of a Naval Officer for they must at some future day be com- manders in the service.- The other warrant officers (Boatswains Gunners, Carpenters and sailmakers, should be appointments left at all times to· the commander in chief and selected by him from among the seamen who are conversant with the duties required of them; the Petty Officers can be selected by the different commanders from their crews-as th'ey alone can have an opportunity of judging of their qualifications. In selecting the seamen, great care should be taken to select those who have generally served on board of vessels of \Var; too great an inducement cannot be held out to them to enlist for a term not less than Two years- The manner in which seamen have hereto- fore been enlisted into the service for a term of Three or Four months is of itself injurious, during this term of service the Officers have not time to become acquainted with their dispositions nnd characters, or the men to know their Officers which is essentially neccessary for the welfare of the service; as our country is as yet too much in its in- fancy to seek amongst its own citizens for men of this class-I would advise the Government to seek more strenuously for them among those of our mother country, whose Navy and COIIDlllerce form the best school for senmen in the world. - I would call the attention of Gov- ernment to prevent abuse from those under whose command they
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