2. We proceed to the general conduct of an Officer towards those under his command. The duty of training up the inferior Officers and private men to active service, and inuring them by instruction and exercise to habits of discipline, may not improperly be confidered as having been comprehended under the preceding head. But the fuccefs of an Officer in discharging that duty will greatly depend on his customary behaviour towards all who are fubordinate to him; and on his paying that unremitting regard to their welfare, which the good of the fervice demands, and the principles of morality enjoin. His brother Officers placed under his control let him treat with liberal and engaging attention. Let him ever be ready to do them acts of kindness, and to facilitate, by his advice and affiftance, their pursuit of profeffional knowledge. Let him preserve over them the authority which his ftation gives to him, and the interests of difcipline require him to maintain; but let him not encroach on their rights by exceeding the limits of his jurisdiction; nor render himself and the fervice odious to them by a rough and overbearing deportment. Let him remember too, that ill-usage from a superior leads thofe who fuffer it to retaliate on others below them; and that they who have been most accustomed to crouch under tyranny, have become the greatest tyrants in their turn. Befides, if the Midshipman is treated with infolence by his Captain, or the Enfign by his Colonel; how fhall the Sailor and the Soldier refpect them? And if they respect them not, fubordination and obedience are at an end. If there be any Officer who has a claim rather than another to the countenance and protection of his Commander; it is he who, having risen by his defert from an humble ftation, finds himself treated with fcorn and neglect by his affociates vain of their birth and accomplishments, though deftitute of his valour, abilities, and experience; or he who entering into the fervice in the opening of youth, perhaps even before the years of childhood are terminated, requires additional inftruction (d) on many important fubjects; (d) "The above-mentioned boy,with four others, comes fubjects; and unless guarded by the counfels and fuperintending care of a Superior, will in all probability be feduced into habits of vice by the example, or the ridicule, of unprincipled companions. An Officer ought ftudioufly to beware of talking frequently and largely of himself and his exploits. This cuftom, if indulged, will "into my cabin every morning. After having read the "pfalms and gospel leffon, they have two hours of inftruc"tion from a young man whom I have on board, a good "teacher of arithmetic, mathematics, &c.; and also from "seven till half-past eight in the evening; fo that they could "not be at a better school. Their catechifm too is attended "to. I think this ought to be a matter of conscience with all "who have young people under their care. Had it been al"ways, I believe we should fee the good effects in the world. "Ignorance is certainly one of the greatest caufes of infi"delity. The effects of religious inftruction are apparent "in these children. May God give his bleffing to it!" The preceding extract from a private letter written by a Captain of a man of war, whose services have recently been rewarded in the most public and distinguished manner by his Sovereign, and communicated to me by the perfon to whom it was addreffed, fhews that Captains have it very greatly in their power to promote the inftruction of youth on fhipboard; and that there are those who do promote it in the best manner, and from the best motives. gradually lead him to esteem himself too highly, and others too little; to detract from their me rit; and occafionally to treat them with manifeft contempt. It will contribute not lefs even than inebriety, or a captious temper, to entangle him in disputes and quarrels ; and ultimately to involve him in the fuppofed difgrace of refufing a challenge, or in the pofitive fin of accepting it. To this embaraffing alternative an Officer who conducts himself conscientiously and with prudence can scarcely ever be reduced. But if reduced to it, let him remember that it is embaraffing merely in confequence of the mif taken ideas respecting honour prevalent in fociety; and not from any doubts that can be entertained as to what is required of him by the laws of his Creator. For what are the pleas of the Duellift for taking the cognizance of his caufe into his own hands? That his country has not provided legal means of redress ; or that difgrace will attend him either if he reforts to them, or if he fuffers the matter to pass unnoticed. The former apology can rarely be alleged with truth when the offence is real and of moment. And, if admitted to be true, would it vindicate him for feeking redress redrefs in a way which the law exprefsly forbids? The fecond tends, as far as it obtains in practice, to fubvert the empire of law univerfally, and to establish caprice and prejudice paramount in its place. Further; do not the Scriptures enjoin obedience to the law of the land? Do not they alfo peremptorily prohibit murder? And do they not fix the guilt of murder on every attempt to take away life, otherwise than according to the authority of law? Yet a Gentleman, it seems, if he has offered or received the most trifling injury; if he has chanced to utter, or to be addreffed with, fome unguarded expreffion; is to forget all former ties of connection and of friendhip, all future confequences, however diftreffing, to his family or to that of his opponent, which may attend the refult of the conteft; is to feek the other party's life, to add to this crime that of endangering his own; and thus to fet divine and human ordinances at defiance, left his character fhould fuffer by abfurd and unmerited imputations. Character, as highly important to usefulness, is undoubtedly to be defended with folicitude by all juftifiable. means; but it is to be hazarded, and even |