THE TRITON OF THE PACIFIC. 



THE public will learn with indignation and astonishment,, that in 

 this great and flourishing country, a junior Lord of the Admiralty, 

 as a compensation for his services, obtains only a miserable stipend of 

 one thousand per annum, "with a free residence at Whitehall, and 

 other advantages." Were our state coffers low were trade languish- 

 ing were our assessments bending us to the earth were every second 

 or third shopkeeper in our streets insolvent were our poor-houses 

 crowded with paupers were we at war with all the world something 

 might be said in extenuation of so paltry a pittance. But the re- 

 verse being the case in every respect at a period of profound peace 

 it is the height of patriotism in any distinguished individual to ac- 

 cept of such a situation at such a salary. As to the duties although 

 they may be imagined, to describe them would be difficult indeed. 

 Yet there are a few discontented individuals and the fact cannot be 

 too deeply lamented who presumptuously inquire of what use are the 

 junior Lords ! In this enlightened age the question is startling. 

 Being of a benevolent turn we will condescend to open the eyes of 

 the moles. To give them some idea of the importance of a seat in 

 the Admiralty it was at one time deemed expedient to call in the 

 great modern Marquess of Worcester ! a man of such stupendous 

 intellect, that, while driving four-in-hand, the cads at Charing-cross 

 have actually suspected him to be a Greenwich coachman in disguise ! 



Burning to become extensively beneficial, and regardless of the 

 scanty emoluments, in obedience to the call of honour and Earl Grey, 

 Captain Maurice Berkeley has at once come forward to fill up the 

 recent vacancy at the board. Such gallantry and devotion cannot be 

 sufficiently eulogized. Like another Quintius Curtius he has leaped 

 into the gulf for the salvation of his country ! But so ungrateful is 

 man that several stultified people have impeached the patriotism of 

 the exploit ! 



Many, however, do not adopt this brutal course, but act with more 

 methodical malice. As regards the presumed necessity of filling the 

 vacant seat like the Scotch disputant they admit the fact for the 

 sake of the argument, but if they fail in the argument they reserve to 

 themselves the right of doubting the fact. And what is their pre- 

 cious argument ? Simply a Socratic one ; to wit : What are Cap- 

 tain M aurice Berkeley's qualifications for a post in the Admiralty ? 



Luckily a man in office, even if the lucre be only a thousand per 

 annum (" with other advantages,"), never wants supporters. Cap- 

 tain Maurice Berkeley's ' friends" are particularly "good-natured." 

 They have told the clamorous some home- truths. ' They have clearly 

 proved that Captain Maurice Berkeley is a man of exalted merit 

 being not only brother to a noble Lord, but brother-in-law to a Duke, 

 having married Lady Charlotte, sister to his grace. This is un- 

 answerable. 



But in addition Captain Maurice Berkeley, as his friends trium- 

 phantly state, has two brothers in the present Parliament : The Hon. 

 Grantley Fitzhardinge Berkeley, member for Gloucester, and the 



