ed what she may be sold for. In this case, we should not only lose our
prize, but have to pay for capturing her." "That is very true," said the
captain, "and I have experienced the fact, which I will relate in a few
words:--

"I took a French ship from Antwerp bound to Caen, laden with salt. I took
her into Portsmouth. A few months afterwards I received a letter from my
agent to inform me that the vessel and cargo had been sold; but in
consequence of the duty paid to Government on the salt, she had not
covered the expenses of her trial by eight pounds, which my agents were
obliged to pay for me to the Proctors."

"It is a hard case," said we all. "After risking our lives and distressing
the ships by sending officers and men away in captured vessels, we are
sometimes informed, as a reward for the risk, anxiety and trouble, that
instead of receiving we have to pay money." This most certainly cries
aloud for reform, and it appears monstrous that sailors find so little
support either in the House of Commons or at the Admiralty. Soldiers have
many advocates in the former, but sailors few, and those few not worth
having. The first Secretary of the Admiralty is generally a member of
Parliament, but he only concerns himself with the affairs of the
Admiralty; but ask him respecting the habits of sailors, he may tell it to
the marines, for the captain of the main-top will never believe him. It is
true the Admiralty have now given orders for captains to make a quarterly
return of all punishments inflicted on seamen. This I think quite right,
as it must in a great measure strike down the hand of tyranny. Nor do I
find fault with the encouragement and respectability which has lately been
given to the petty officers. I am only astonished it was not given years
ago, but we are still in our infancy.

Before I quit this subject, I am compelled in justice to ask both
Admiralty and Lower House the reason why old and meritorious officers are
so shamefully neglected. The commanders above the year 1814 may, I hope,
expect promotion in heaven, as I fear they never will meet with it on
earth. One would suppose the Admiralty were ashamed of having such old
officers, and wish to forget them altogether, or probably they think they
are too well paid and deserve, after spending the best part of their lives
in toil and service, nothing more. As for the old lieutenants, God help
them!--they must contrive to hang on by the eyelids until they slip the