Naval War of 1812 93 



310) : "But I well know the system of favoritism 

 and borough corruption prevails so very much that 

 many people are promoted and kept in command 

 that should be dismissed the service, and while such 

 is the case the few Americans chosen for their merit 

 may be expected to follow up their successes except 

 where they meet with our best officers on even 

 terms." 31 The small size of our navy was probably 

 to a certain extent effective in keeping it up to a high 

 standard; but this is not the only explanation, as 

 can be seen by Portugal's small and poor navy. On 

 the other hand, the champions or pick of a large 

 navy ought to be better than the champions of a 

 small one. 32 



31 To show that I am not quoting an authority biased in 

 our favor I will give Sir Edward Codrington's opinion of 

 our rural better class (i, 318). "It is curious to observe the 

 animosity which prevails here among what is called the bet 

 ter order of people, which I think is more a misnomer here 

 than in any other country I have ever been. Their whig 

 and tory are democrat and federalist, and it would seem for 

 the sake of giving vent to that bitterness of hatred which 

 marks the Yankee character, every gentleman (God save the 

 term) who takes possession of a property adopts the opposite 

 political creed to that of his nearest neighbor." 



w In speaking of tonnage I wish I could have got better 

 authority than James for the British side of the question. 

 He is so bitter that it involuntarily gives one a distrust of 

 his judgment. Thus, in speaking of the Penguin's capture, 

 he, in endeavoring to show that the Hornet's loss was greater 

 than she acknowledged, says, "several of the dangerously 

 wounded were thrown overboard because the surgeon was 

 afraid to amputate, owing to his want of experience" ("Naval 

 Occurrences," 492). Now what could persuade a writer to 

 make such a foolish accusation? No matter how utterly de 

 praved and brutal Captain Biddle might be, he would cer- 



