Notice of Sketches of Naval Life. 327 



reflection is intended upon those able and patriotic men, who, 

 in the earlier periods of our navy, rose from obscure situ- 

 ations, or from common pursuits, to usefuhiess, rank and 

 honor; but, the state of things is now changed, and, till a 

 regular school for the navy, under the direction of the gov- 

 ernment, shall supply the means, the elements of science 

 ought to be sought by naval men, in the seminaries of our 

 country, and from highly qualified individuals. Natural 

 Philosophy, Astronomy and Chemistry are fruitful in facts 

 and principles with whicli the naval commander must be 

 daily conversant, and there can be no doubt, that an ac- 

 quaintance with them must be of great advantage in the 

 practice of the profession, and in giving success to efforts 

 to advance its interests. The British navy is adorned by 

 some men of this character, and Capt. Basil Hall, deserves 

 to be mentioned among the most conspicuous of them, both 

 for his real merits in this way, and for the eclat which he has 

 imparted to the naval character. 



If naval men are acquainted with the outlines of the most 

 important branches of natural history, they will enjoy many 

 opportunities of making interesting and useful observations, 

 and of selecting specimens of value; this portion of science 

 although highly ornamental, is however, no necessary part of 

 naval knowledge, hke the important sciences first named. 



The author's twenty second letter in which he gives an 

 account of grog serving and its effects, is deserving of an at- 

 tentive perusal, and were it proper to occupy our pages, to 

 such an extent with this topic, (which is however, physical as 

 well as moral,) we would copy the whole letter. 



No one can read Mr. Jones's pathetic and eloquent appeal 

 on this subject, fraught as it is with every just sentiment, with- 

 out regretting, that the respectable author has conceded, 

 however reluctantly, that " to banish grog frnm our ships of 

 war would be a fatal experiment." The difficulty is no doubt 

 great, but is it insuperable ; this cannot be known until it is 

 tried, and has the experunent been made in the navy of this 

 or of any country ? If so, the report of it has never come to 

 our ears. It has been completely successful on board of a 

 considerable number of merchant ships, and one, as we are 

 assured, has just sailed from New York for China, with no ar- 

 dent spirits on board, no not even in the medicine chest F 

 But how ! will not the crew mutiny ? for they were not con- 

 sulted. This will be known in due time; but the better pro- 



