In Tempestuous Weather,
They Could Not Live Out Of Port.
Indeed, they are good for
nothing but in smooth water during a calm; when, by dint of
rowing, they make good way.
The king of Sardinia is so sensible
of their inutility, that he intends to let his gallies rot; and,
in lieu of them, has purchased two large frigates in England, one
of fifty, and another of thirty guns, which are now in the
harbour of Ville Franche. He has also procured an English
officer, one Mr. A - , who is second in command on board of one of
them, and has the title of captain consulteur, that is,
instructor to the first captain, the marquis de M - i, who knows
as little of seamanship as I do of Arabic.
The king, it is said, intends to have two or three more frigates,
and then he will be more than a match for the Barbary corsairs,
provided care be taken to man his fleet in a proper manner: but
this will never be done, unless he invites foreigners into his
service, officers as well as seamen; for his own dominions
produce neither at present. If he is really determined to make
the most of the maritime situation of his dominions, as well as
of his alliance with Great-Britain, he ought to supply his ships
with English mariners, and put a British commander at the head of
his fleet. He ought to erect magazines and docks at Villa Franca;
or if there is not conveniency for building, he may at least have
pits and wharfs for heaving down and careening; and these ought
to be under the direction of Englishmen, who best understand all
the particulars of marine oeconomy. Without all doubt, he will
not be able to engage foreigners, without giving them liberal
appointments; and their being engaged in his service will give
umbrage to his own subjects: but, when the business is to
establish a maritime power, these considerations ought to be
sacrificed to reasons of public utility. Nothing can be more
absurd and unreasonable, than the murmurs of the Piedmontese
officers at the preferment of foreigners, who execute those
things for the advantage of their country, of which they know
themselves incapable. When Mr. P - n was first promoted in the
service of his Sardinian majesty, he met with great opposition,
and numberless mortifications, from the jealousy of the
Piedmontese officers, and was obliged to hazard his life in many
rencounters with them, before they would be quiet. Being a man of
uncommon spirit, he never suffered the least insult or affront to
pass unchastised. He had repeated opportunities of signalizing
his valour against the Turks; and by dint of extraordinary merit,
and long services not only attained the chief command of the
gallies, with the rank of lieutenant-general, but also acquired a
very considerable share of the king's favour, and was appointed
commandant of Nice. His Sardinian majesty found his account more
ways than one, in thus promoting Mr. P - n. He made the
acquisition of an excellent officer, of tried courage and
fidelity, by whose advice he conducted his marine affairs.
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