virtues are most likely to shorten their length of days. We grant the exaggeration involved in this mode of tracing out arithmetically the practical consequences of the present system, and that there will not probably be many really octogenarian commanders, nor captains of a hundred years, tottering under the burden of their recently bestowed epaulettes. Still the exaggeration of the extreme case supposed, grows only out of the fact that all these upper grades, lieutenants inclusive, must become filled with none but very old men, among whom, death will be proportionately more rapidly busy. And with all allowance for this, 60 may safely be fixed, as the probable age of the youngest captain to be found, a few years hence, in our service. Upon this, no other comment is required than an allusion to the simple fact, that 60 is the precise age fixed by the constitution of the State of New-York, as that of disqualification for the tranquil, sage, judicial functions of the bench. The adaptation of the period lying beyond it to the energetic, vigorous, daring and indefatigable executive duties of the quarter-deck, may safely be left to unaided reflection.

From the proposition that all executive military command, whether by land or sea, should be in the hands of men, either young, or but little advanced beyond the period of the ripeness of the mental and physical powers of complete manhood, no one will be found to dissent. By such all great military glories, in all ages and climes, have been won. The bold and active energies of such are alone in a peculiar degree suitable for the command of American arms. The rare exceptions to this rule which may be occasionally gleamed from the pages of history, do not invalidate its general truth, which has a peculiar applicability to the military history of republics; our own, short as it has yet been, affording it no small number of signal illustrations.

The system of promotions that should be practised in our navy, ought to be such as to fill each grade, not with the oldest, but with the best officers to be found in the grade next below. For this purpose, some power of discrimination, of selection, must not only be legally vested in the appointing power, but must be practically exercised by it. This is especially necessary in regard to the higher grades of commanders and captains. The common objection to it, is that of the favoritism-possibly, political favoritism-to which it is feared by some that it might lead. Little weight, however, will be found, on consideration, to attach to this objection. Even if occasional instances of improper favoritism should ever occur, the evil would be a much less one than that already exposed as involved in the present absurd rule of simple seniority. But the danger is more imaginary than real. The plan has been suggested by Mr. Bancroft, that when a promotion is intended, a circular letter from the department should require from every officer within reach, both of the grade from which and of that into which a promotion has to be made, an expression of his opinion, or suffrage, as to who is the oldest officer fully qualified for, and well meriting the promotion. These suffrages would alone afford a basis of selection which would render error or injustice extremely rare. Together with the evidence of the comparative merits of officers contained in the records of the department, they would afford to the appointing power the best possible materials for a proper judgment. Sent to the Senate together, with all the other evidence inducing the selection, they would afford an ample guaranty against improper favoritism. Selections thus made would carry their own justification with them, and would command the general confidence of the public and acquiescence of the profession. And even though to some officers who should find themselves repeatedly neglected by the promotion of juniors over their heads, it might not be very gratifying, yet if it should lead to their voluntary

retirement from the active ranks of the service, that result would rarely in such cases afford much just occasion for regret.

In reference to the present condition of the service, the truth is notorious that every one of its grades is more or less heavily overcharged with individuals little servicable in their actual positions, and less suitable for promotion to a higher. A great benefit would be conferred upon the country, and especially upon the navy, if its ranks could be purged of these worse than merely supernumeraries. Why should liberal salaries be continued to men far from capable of rendering any adequate return of effective service? Why should they obstruct the natural course of just and wise promotion, to junior merit, distinction, ambition, and capacity for useful service? Would such an anomaly be tolerated an instant in any organization of the various offices and officers of civil employment? And we should ask in vain for any good reason for a difference in this respect between the military and the civil service of the republic; unless, perhaps, it should be said, that there is much less right or reason in such a system as applied to the naval profession than as applied to any branch of civil administration; inasmuch as persons who have been long employed in the latter, can with much less ease find other employments, than those whose naval training has, or ought to have, well qualified them to fall back upon the inexhaustible field of employment afforded by the vast commercial marine of the country.

No other navy in the world is organized on this principle of simple seniority of promotion; and we think it will be deemed pretty clear, that no navy in the world can, for any length of time, get along on such a principle. It is true, it may be objected, that the practice under monarchical and aristocratical forms of government, in regard to promotions, is but a doubtful authority for republican imitation. The pleasure of the sovereign and the interests of powerful and wealthy families, under the former, must, of course, be the controlling influences in the bestowal of the honors and emoluments of both the military professions. But at the same time that the discretionary bestowal of the patronage of the navy, in the way of promotion, may enable an aristocracy to secure the greater portion of it for younger sons, it also enables the government to secure the services of the best talents, the most spirited and courageous energies.

In the French navy, we find a judicious combination of the principles of seniority and discretionary selection, in the rule of promotion. The rank next above that of lieutenant, is that of "Capitaine de corvette"-corresponding to our "commandant." All promotions above this rank are made at the pleasure of the king. Of the capitaines de corvette, one-half are appointed on discretionary selection, the other half by right of seniority. Of the lieutenants, two-thirds are promoted by seniority, the remainder at pleasure. Such a rule, accompanied by a well-arranged sytem to secure a proper amount of service at sea, together with respectable ability and character, before an officer can be entitled to promotion at all, appears to afford, what might not be a bad example for our imitation, if insuperable objection should be made to the full and frank adoption of the simple principle of promotion by merit alone. Priority of age would still receive its certain degree of preference, while for the more important and responsible grades, the service would have all the benefit of selection by priority of merit. If coupled with publication of the reasons for the preference awarded to the junior officers chosen for advancement, over those possessing only the accidental aud equivocal advantage of years, together with submission to the Senate for ratification, we feel well-assured that there would be rarely, if ever, any just reason to find fault with the working of such a system. And

even if occasional instances should ever creep in, where modest and unknown merit might be kept in the background for awhile, the evil would be nothing in comparison with the great and manifold mischiefs inseparable from the present system.*

The following general view of the organization, and law of promotion existing in the French navy, will be interesting to our professional readers, and perhaps not unprofitable to some others: NUMBER AND RANK OF OFFICERS OF THE FRENCH NAVY. [@]

Other Ranks.-Maitre, [boatswain]; Premier maitre; Second maitre; Quartier maitre; 1st class seaman, &c.

LAW OF PROMOTION IN THE FRENCH NAVY,

[Law of April, 1832, as modified by that of May, 1837.]

1. No one can be a quartier maitre unless he has served at least six months on board a national vessel as a seaman of the 1st class.

2. No one can be a second maitre unless he has served at least six months on board a national vessel in each of the classes of the rank immediately inferior.

3. No one can be maitre and premier maitre unless he has served at least six months in the first class of the rank immediately inferior, on board a ship of the line or frigate, or in a corvette of 24 guns at least, performing the duties of maitre.

4. Every seaman in the French navy, in active service, has the right, until he is 25 years of age, to stand an examination at the polytechnic school.

5. No one can be an élève of the 2d class unless he has been admitted into the naval school after a public examination; has followed for the full scholastic year the course of studies and exercises of the said school, and has passed a satisfactory examination before leaving the school.

6. No one can be an élève of the 1st class unless he has served two years on board a national vessel in the capacity of élève of the 2d class, or unless he has studied two years at the polytechnic school.

The polytechnic school has the right to appoint, every year, four élèves of the 1st class. Before an élève of the 2d class can be promoted to the 1st class, he must pass a satisfactory examination, both in the theory of navigation, and in rigging, equipment, manoeuvring and gunnery. 7. No one can be a lieutenant de frégate unless he has served at least two years on board a national vessel in the capacity of an élève of the 1st class, or in that of auxiliary lie tenant de fregale, furnished with a certificate of his having been a captain in the mercantile marine; or unless he has served at least two years on board a national vessel as premier maitre, and have made, in that capacity, a cruize in a ship of the line or frigate, and moreover have passed a satisfactory examination, both in the theory and practice of navigation.

An élève of the 1st class, nominated by the polytechnic school, cannot be promoted to the rank of lieutenant de fregate until he has passed a satisfactory examination in the theory and practice of naval science.

8. The mode and conditions of the examinations prescribed in the three articles immediately preceding this, are determined by a royal ordinance.

9. No one can be a lieutenant de vaisseau, (lieutenant of a ship of the line,) unless he has served at least two years on board a national vessel in the rank of lieutenant de frégate, or in that of enseigne de vaisseau.

10. No one can be a capitaine de corvette unless he has served at least four years in the rank of lieutenant de vaisseau, two of them on board a national vessel.

11. One-half the appointments to vacancies in the rank of capitaine de corvette shall be made according to seniority.

In all grades superior to that of capitaine de corvette appointments shall be made according to the pleasure of the king.

12. No one can be promoted to the rank of capitaine de vaisseau unless he has served three years on board a national vessel in the rank of capitaine de corvette, one year of which, at least, as commandant; or unless he has had the rank of capitaine de corvette for four years, two of them on board a national vessel, and have commanded for two years subsequently to promotion from the rank of lieutenant de vaisseau.

[a] In the year 1845.

Some reform, it is clear, there must be in the rule of promotion. We care little what shape it may assume, provided only, that some regard be paid to priority of merit as well as priority of age. The plan above mentioned(that of collecting the suffrages of the two grades affected by each promotion, by means of circulars to all within reach-suffrages to be given on honor)-strikes us more favorably than any other plan we have heard advanced. It is well in harmony with our institutions. It would afford an ample guaranty against favoritism-especially political favoritism. It would exercise an excellent influence on the profession itself. Daily and hourly, in small things and in great, ashore and at sea, every officer would forever feel himself in the presence of those whose respect and appreciation he ought to cultivate-whose suffrages would at some future day directly influ

Time passed in the rank of capitaine de fregate will be counted as part of the four years service required by the preceding clause, before being appointed to the rank of capitaine de vais

seau.

13. No one can be promoted to the rank of contre amiral unless he has been, in all, at least three years in command at sea, in the rank of capitaine de vaisseau, or unless he has held that rank four years, two of them, at least, in service at sea, as commissioned commandant of a naval division of three ships of war.

14. No one can be promoted to the rank of vice-amiral unless he has commanded at least three years, in the rank of contre amiral, a squadron of at least five ships of war.

15. Performing the duties of chef d'état-major of a fleet or squadron will be considered the same as having commanded, in making promotions to the rank of contre-amiral or vice-amiral. 16. In no case can any one be promoted to two grades consecutively, in serving as an officer or as chef d'état major general on board national ships.

17. The élèves of the 2d class will be promoted to the 1st according to seniority, provided they have complied with the conditions prescribed in Article 6.

13. Two-thirds of the lieutenants de fregate shall be taken from among the élèves of the 1st class, and the other third from among auxiliary lieutenants de fregate in active service in that ca. pacity, and premiers maitres in active service who shall have conformed to the conditions prescribed in the second clause of Article 7. Nevertheless, in default of a sufficient number of auxiliary lieutenants de fregate and premiers maitres who have complied with the prescribed conditions, the latter third may be completed from among the élèves of the 1st class.

19. Two-thirds of the vacancies in the rank of lieutenant de frégate and lieutenant de vaisseau shall be filled according to seniority.

20. All appointments in the rank above capitaine de corvette shall be made according to the pleasure of the King. [See Art. 11.]

21. In making promotions, seniority shall be determined by the position of the name in the general register of the navy.

When an officer shall cease to be included in the roll of officiers de vaisseau, except in the cases where he has been ordered in service, or the employment has been suppressed, the time during which he shall not have been included in the roll shall be deducted from his seniority. Time spent in service not connected with the navy shall be deducted from seniority, excepting time spent in service under the department of war, or in a diplomatic mission.

In all cases, time spent in the service of a foreign power shall be deducted.

22. The time of service required for promotion from one grade to another, at the pleasure of the King, may be reduced one-half during campaigns in war.

All the regulations respecting promotion according to seniority, are obligatory during campaigns in war as well as in time of peace.

No departure shall be made from the rules prescribed in this article, except for brilliant actions, duly set forth and specified in the decree of promotion, which shall be published without delay in the Bulletin des Lois, and inserted in the Moniteur.

23. Officers who are prisoners of war shall retain their rights to promotion by seniority.

24. No officer admitted on the retired list can have his name replaced on the rolls.

25. All promotions and nominations of officers shall be immediately published in the Annales Maritimes, and in the Moniteur, with a specification of the degree of promotion, the name of the officer who held the vacant place, and the cause of the vacancy.

26. Employment is distinct from ranks. No officer can be deprived of his rank, except in the cases and according to the forms prescribed by law.

27. No one can in any case be nominated to a rank not provided for in the rolls, nor have an honorary rank bestowed on him.

28 Time spent in service on land, which, in virtue of decrees, was considered equivalent to service on ship-board, shall cease to give a title to promotion from the time of the promulgation of this law, [of April, 1832,] but until that time it shall be so considered, according to the tenor of the said decrees,

ence his advancement; whose opinion of him would soon circulate into repu tation-reputation as to ability, spirit, enterprize, judgment, character, seamanship and gentlemanliness. Unworthy arts, to "affect a virtue if you have it not," would be their own punishment. They could never long deceive, and would speedily generate a hopelessly and justly killing contempt. If no man was ever a hero to his valet, as a modern writer tells us, and if the ancient adage be true-that nobody of mortals is at all hours wise, still more true is it, that no one can long be a successful deceiver to all surrounding him, who behold him at all times, in all moods, and from all points of view. It seems to us that the result of such a system would, before long, be the formation of one of the most splendid and noble bodies of men that any country has ever had to glory in. How high and correct the tone of conduct and manners it would tend to produce in all grades of the profession; -how strong the constant incentive to effort, study, self-improvement in all the knowledge, and all the qualities appropriate to the profession! And how sure the selection for promotion of none but officers the best qualified to serve the country and adorn the profession! This plan was that preferred, we believe, by the late Secretary. In making, however, his own first practical attempt to disturb the old routine of seniority promotion, and to introduce the principle of some reference to merit, he did not venture on an innovation so bold. He convened a board of twenty senior officers, all post-captains, and called upon them for their opinions as to the individuals nearest to the top of the grades from which promotions were to be made, who ought to be advanced. By the action of that very distinguished board, the principle which the Secretary was anxious to establish was fully recognized; and discarding the right of mere seniority, the board, in its recommendations, unceremoniously" overslaughed" several individuals whom they deemed less worthy than those whom they felt bound to select.

This practical acceptance of the principle in question, by an authority so eminent in the profession, is a point gained of no small importance. The principle itself can scarcely now be considered as open to further attack. Whether that particular mode of making selections for promotion-namely, by seeking advice from a board of senior officers-is the best or not, is another question. It is certainly open to some objections, on this point; various opinions will, doubtless, be entertained. Our own preference has been already expressed; and we are much mistaken, if the plan above stated, novel as it may be, does not soon, if fairly tried, commend itself to general favor,-like many another excellent novelty, against which it was easy at the outset to turn up an experienced nose. To promotion by merit, in combination with seniority, must also, it is clear, be added some plan of a retiring list, for officers who may become incapacitated for active service, by age, chronic infirmity, or other cause. On the necessity of this feature, required to be added to the organization of our navy, there is, we believe, little difference of opinion in the profession. Mr. Bancroft made an approximation, when he adopted the system of putting on furlough, officers who, without satisfactory reason, were either unable or unwilling to go to sea when ordered. And we believe that the Department soon ceased to be embarrassed with the constant excuses, which before had rendered it no easy matter to get together a complement of officers for a ship about to proceed on an unpopular, and, indeed, on any, cruise, as soon as it came to be generally understood that the Secretary did not insist on the acceptance of orders, but was pretty sure to insist on the acceptance of a furlough, on half-pay, if they were declined. The power of putting on furlough, reluctant or incapable officers, has already, by a late act of Congress, been