55. CHAPTER LV.
MIDSHIPMEN ENTERING THE NAVY EARLY.
The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at
which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some
thoughts relative to more important considerations.
A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order
to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly
be sent to sea too early. To a certain extent, this may be a
mistake. Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities
and things restricted to one particular field of action,
are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of
twenty-one, or even at a later period of life. It was only
about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British
military and naval services were kept distinct. Previous to
that epoch the king's officers commanded indifferently either
by sea or by land.
Robert Blake, perhaps one of the most accomplished, and
certainly one of the most successful Admirals that ever hoisted
a flag, was more than half a century old (fifty-one years) before
he entered the naval service, or had aught to do, professionally,
with a ship. He was of a studious turn, and, after
leaving Oxford, resided quietly on his estate, a country gentleman,
till his forty-second year, soon after which he became
connected with the Parliamentary army.
The historian Clarendon says of him, “He was the first
man that made it manifest that the science (seamanship) might
be attained in less time than was imagined.” And doubtless
it was to his shore sympathies that the well-known humanity
and kindness which Blake evinced in his intercourse with the
sailors is in a large degree to be imputed.
Midshipmen sent into the Navy at a very early age are exposed
to the passive reception of all the prejudices of the quarter-deck
in favor of ancient usages, however useless or pernicious;
those prejudices grow up with them, and solidify with
their very bones. As they rise in rank, they naturally carry
them up, whence the inveterate repugnance of many Commodores
and Captains to the slightest innovations in the service,
however salutary they may appear to landsmen.
It is hardly to be doubted that, in matters connected with
the general welfare of the Navy, government has paid rather
too much deference to the opinions of the officers of the Navy,
considering them as men almost born to the service, and therefore
far better qualified to judge concerning any and all questions
touching it than people on shore. But in a nation under
a liberal Constitution, it must ever be unwise to make too
distinct and peculiar the profession of either branch of its military
men. True, in a country like ours, nothing is at present
to be apprehended of their gaining political rule; but not
a little is to be apprehended concerning their perpetuating or
creating abuses among their subordinates, unless civilians
have full cognizance of their administrative affairs, and account
themselves competent to the complete overlooking and
ordering them.
We do wrong when we in any way contribute to the prevailing
mystification that has been thrown about the internal
affairs of the national sea-service. Hitherto those affairs have
been regarded even by some high state functionaries as things
beyond their insight—altogether too technical and mysterious
to be fully comprehended by landsmen. And this it is that
has perpetuated in the Navy many evils that otherwise would
have been abolished in the general amelioration of other things.
The army is sometimes remodeled, but the Navy goes down
from generation to generation almost untouched and unquestioned,
as if its code were infallible, and itself a piece of perfection
that no statesman could improve. When a Secretary of
the Navy ventures to innovate upon its established customs,
you hear some of the Navy officers say, “What does this
landsman know about our affairs? Did he ever head a
watch? He does not know starboard from larboard, girt-line
from back-stay.”
While we deferentially and cheerfully leave to navy officers
the sole conduct of making and shortening sail, tacking
ship, and performing other nautical maneuvres, as may seem
to them best; let us beware of abandoning to their discretion
those general municipal regulations touching the well-being
of the great body of men before the mast; let us beware of
being too much influenced by their opinions in matters where
it is but natural to suppose that their long-established prejudices
are enlisted.
