Lieutenant Seaver.- We give insertion to the subjoined statement, which, if correctly narrated, evidences an extremely hard case. We do not know sufficient of Lieutenant Seaver to justify our offering any remarks upon his complaint ; but it must be regretted that an Officer who has served so long should now be driven to become an exile from his native country. "The hard and unjust case of Lieutenant Seaver, late senior Lieutenant of Her Majesty's ship Racehorse, New Zealand. He went to sea in 1811 ; was at the bombardment of Algiers, under Lord Exmouth, 1816 ; has constantly been serving afloat for 25 years, and five years in the Coast Guard, not being able to procure an appointment to a ship. Has been senior Lieutenant of five ships, and commanded the Hornet schooner. Was senior lieutenant of Her Majesty's ship Racehouse during all the operations she was engaged on in New Zealand ; but, in consequence of his seniority over the Lieutenants of Sir E. Home's ship (North Star), was ordered by that officer to, take charge of the Racehorse, consequently, when the despatches went home, his, Lieut. Seaver's, name not appearing, he lost his promotion.

When Commander Hay invalided, it was expected Lieutenant Seaver would have got an acting order to the ship ; but no, Capt. Graham, of the Castor, put his senior Lieutenant (Otway) in command of the Racehorse, there again depriving him of any chance of promotion. By this time his health began to fail him, from hard work, change of climates, and serving in small ships, and he was obliged either to invalid or become a settler in a warm climate. Choosing the latter, he applied to become a settler in New South Wales. In the mean time - in November, 1848 - the Brevet came out, and again Lieut. Seaver was left out, although serving up to the 1st of April, 1847. And this is the reward Lieutenant Seaver gets after thirty-five years' servitude - to be allowed by she Honorable Board of Admiralty to settle down among the savages of New Zealand on his five shillings per day. Lieutenant Seaver trusts this may reach the eye of some of his old Admirals, under whom he has had the honour of serving, Sir Charles Ogle, Sir N. Willoughby, and many distinguished Captains, and that they may judge of his unjust treatment after having, served under the reign of three Rings and one Queen.

SG & SGTL ; Vol 5 ; pages 286-9. 2 Dec 48

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