Navy

Payable Quarterly.

The boatswains, gunners, and carpenters of the navy, have pensions or superannuations, in lieu of half-pay, according to the following scale, formed on a consideration of the total length of service as warrant officers, with the length of service in commission.

In point of half-pay and other pecuniary emoluments, the navy has much the advantage over the army, more particularly in the chance of prize-money, which but seldom falls to the share of the army, except on some conjoint expedition. On the commencement of a war a proclamation is issued by the King, directing that the net produce of all prizes taken by any of his ships of war, shall be for the entire benefit and encouragement of the flag-officers, captains, commanders, and other commissioned officers, and of the seamen, marines, and soldiers on board at the time of the capture; and directing also in what manner the distribution shall be made. Many very handsome and, in some instances, very splendid fortunes have been made by captures of the enemy's ships.

Another great encouragement for young men to enter the naval service arises from the honours bestowed and Rewards. by the Sovereign for any brilliant exploit. Thus, in consequence of the skill and bravery which were exhibited in the great and glorious action of the 1st of June 1794, his Majesty was graciously pleased to confer on Earl Howe the Order of the Garter; Vice-Admirals Graves and Sir Alexander Hood were made Barons of the Kingdom of Ireland; and Rear-Admirals Bowyer, Gardner, and Pasley, together with Sir Roger Curtis, Captain of the Queen Charlotte, were created Baronets. Gold medals and

chains were also distributed to such admirals, and gold medals to such captains, as were particularized in Lord Howe's dispatches. The first lieutenants of each ship were promoted to the rank of commanders; and pensions of L. 1000 per annum were granted to Rear-Admirals Bowyer and Pasley.

For the action of 14th February 1797, Lord St Vincent was advanced to the dignity of an Earl, and a pension granted to him of L. 3000 a-year; Vice-Admirals Thompson and Parker were created Barons; Commodore Nelson received the Order of the Bath, and Captain Calder of the Victory, the honour of Knighthood; and gold medals were distributed to the admirals and captains.

For the action of the 11th October 1797, Admiral Duncan was created a Viscount, with a pension of L. 2000 a-year; Vice-Admiral Onslow made a Baronet, and Captain Fairfax had the honour of Knighthood. Gold medals were also distributed to the admirals and captains.

For the action of the 1st August 1798, his Majesty was pleased to testify his sense of the importance of this brilliant achievement, by raising Sir Horatio Nelson to the dignity of the Peerage, by the title of Baron Nelson of the Nile; and by directing medals to be distributed to the captains. The first lieutenant of the Majesty was made a post-captain, and the first lieutenants of the other ships were promoted to the rank of commanders. And for the attack of the Danish fleet at Copenhagen, Lord Nelson was raised to the dignity of a Viscount, and on Admiral Graves was conferred the Order of the Bath.

For the ever memorable action of Trafalgar, in which Lord Nelson fell in the arms of victory, his Majesty was pleased to confer on his brother the rank of an Earl, with a pension of L. 5000 a-year; and the sum of L. 120,000 was voted by Parliament for the purchase of an estate to be annexed to the title. Admiral Collingwood was raised to the dignity of a Baron; Lord Northesk was honoured with the Order of the Bath, and Captain Hardy was created a Baronet. The captains had medals; five lieutenants were made post-captains; 24 lieutenants, commanders; 22 midshipmen were made lieutenants; and the senior captain of marines made brevet-major.

By this last act of Lord Nelson's life was annihilated the last remaining hope of the combined navies of France and Spain, and a blow given to the naval power of the enemies of Great Britain, which they never recovered during the remainder of the war.

In the minor victories of Sir John Warren, Sir John Duckworth, Sir Robert Calder, Sir Richard Strachan, Lord Gambier, and Lord Exmouth, and even for brilliant actions of single ships, appropriate distinctions have never been withheld. Exclusive of peerages and baronetcies, the honours bestowed for gallant conduct in the naval service consist of 25 Grand Crosses of the Bath, 70 Knights Commanders, and 130 Companions of the Bath.

The provision which is made for officers, in the event of losing a limb, or being so severely wounded in the service, as to be of equal prejudice to the habit of body with the loss of a limb, is another encouragement for entering the naval service.

For an admiral, from L. 300 to L. 700 per annum.
A post-captain, wounds, L. 250, loss of a limb, L. 300.
Commander, do. L. 150, do. L. 200.
Lieutenant, do. L. 91, 5s. do. L. 91, 5s.
Marine officers the same as in the army.

A provision is likewise made for the widows of the widows' commission and warrant officers of his Majesty's navy, under the title of the "Widow's Charity," the management of which is vested in a Court of Assistants annually chosen, consisting chiefly of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty (the First Lord being President), and the flag-officers of the navy, making in the whole eighteen.

The funds arise from, 1. A deduction of three-pence in the pound from the pay, half-pay, and pensions of the commission and warrant officers of the navy. 2. The amount of the wages and value of the victuals of one fictitious man in every 100, borne on the books of ships in sea-pay. And, 3. Interest of the capital vested in the funds. During the late war, the amount of the revenue from these sources was from L. 90,000 to L. 100,000; and the amount of pensions were about L. 70,000 a-year. The pensions are allowed according to the following scale, being similar in most cases to the widows of officers in the army of corresponding ranks: the latter are provided for by an annual vote of Parliament.

And the widows of officers of the Royal Marines are entitled to the following pensions:

In addition to these pensions, there has recently been established a Compassionate Fund.

NAVY. been established a Compassionate Fund, for the relief of such widows and orphan children as may appear to be objects of compassion. The sums annually required are voted by Parliament, and at present do not exceed from L.6000 to L.7000 a-year.

Provision for Seamen. No provision, however, had been made for the brave seamen who fought the battles of their country, excepting for such as had been wounded in fight with the enemy. In the year 1588, after the memorable defeat of the Spanish Armada, the wounded seamen petitioned Elizabeth for relief, upon which, with the advice of the Lord High Admiral and the Commissioners of the Navy, and with the consent of the inferior officers and seamen, the sum of sixpence a month was deducted out of the wages of warrant officers and seamen, for the relief and maintenance of such as were hurt or maimed in the service. The money so raised was deposited at Chatham in a chest, under the superintendence of the Yard Officers and the Warrant Officers of the Navy. As the funds increased, the management of them was transferred to certain Commissioners and Governors; and in order to do away in some measure the inconvenience of compelling seamen from the western ports to go to Chatham for their pensions, the chest was removed, by the 43d Geo. III. to Greenwich Hospital; and the power and authorities of the former trustees were vested in the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Comptroller of the Navy, the Governor of Greenwich Hospital, and the Auditor of the same hospital, all for the time being, who, by this act, are created a body politic and corporate, by the name of the Supervisors of the Chest of Greenwich; the said supervisors to appoint five Directors from the officers of Greenwich Hospital, to have the immediate management of the business.

In the course of the late war the funded property amounted to nearly L.1,000,000 in the 3 per cents. the monthly sixpences, medals, &c. to nearly L.70,000 per annum, and the $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ of 5 per cent. on the net proceeds of prizes to about L.40,000; making a net annual income of about L.130,000.

Scale of Allowances. The annual allowances made to pensioners were regulated according to the following scale:

In all cases of wounds, fractures, &c. for which no positive scale could be affixed, an allowance was made from the examining surgeon's report of the injury sustained, and a pension was granted for life, or term of years, according to circumstances.

When the wound or hurt was not thought of sufficient consequence to entitle the party to a pension, a sum of money was given as a full compensation.

Every man, at time of entry on the list, was paid the amount of half a year's pension, as present relief, which money was not deducted from growing pension.

Since the conclusion of the late war, the funds of the chest of Greenwich have been amalgamated with those of Greenwich Hospital, both of which are now under one and the same management.

The establishment of Greenwich Hospital embraced more extensive objects. The first idea of this noble institution, the glory and ornament of this kingdom, has been ascribed, with every appearance of justice, to Mary, the consort of William III. Being desirous that our gallant seamen, worn down by age or infirmities, as well as suffering from wounds, should not be left destitute, she made a grant, jointly with King William, of the Palace of Greenwich, and certain lands adjoining, to be appropriated to this purpose, in order, as stated in the King's commission, to "the making some competent provision that seamen, who, by age, wounds, or other accidents, shall become disabled for further service at sea, and shall not be in a condition to maintain themselves comfortably, may not fall under hardships and miseries, but may be supported at the public charge; and that the children of such disabled seamen, and also the widows and children of such seamen as shall happen to be slain in sea service, may, in some reasonable manner, be provided for, and educated." In 1695 the committee appointed to examine and report on the premises, recommended an additional wing to King Charles's building, which being approved by the King, Sir Christopher Wren undertook the conduct of the new erections without any pay or reward. Since that time various additions and improvements have been made to this magnificent pile of building, which was completed very nearly as it now appears, in the year 1778.

The King granted L.2000 a-year towards the carrying on, perfecting, and endowing this hospital. The great Officers of State and wealthy individuals also subscribed liberally to the undertaking. It was at the same time enacted by Parliament, that a deduction of sixpence per man per month should be made out of the wages of all mariners for the use of the hospital; and power was given to the Lord High Admiral to appoint commissioners for receiving the said duty, whose office is situated on Tower Hill. In 1699 his Majesty contributed the sum of L. 19,500, being fines laid by the House of Lords on certain merchants convicted of smuggling. In 1705 Queen Anne assigned to the use of the hospital the effects of Kid the pirate, amounting to upwards of L. 6000. In 1707 Robert Osboldiston, Esq. devised by will half of his estate, which was valued at L. 20,000. In the same year Anthony Bowyer gave the reversion of a considerable estate for the use of the hospital.

Navy. By several statutes, the forfeited and unclaimed shares of prize-money were given to the hospital, and various grants, from time to time, continued to be made by Parliament. But the most substantial grant was that made by the Commons of the rents and profits of the forfeited estates of the Earl of Derwentwater, amounting at that time to about L. 6000 a-year, and at present to the gross rental of L. 60,000, of which, after payment of all expenses for improvements, repairs, collections, and incumbrances, the annual receipt may be estimated from L. 30,000 to L. 40,000.

Permanent Revenues. At present the permanent revenues of the hospital consist of the following heads:

1. 1. Sixpence per man per month for all seamen and marines belonging to his Majesty's naval service, and sixpence which was formerly paid to the chest at Chatham.
2. 2. The same from all seamen employed in the merchants' service.
3. 3. The duties arising from the North and South Foreland light-houses.
4. 4. The rents and profits of the Derwentwater estates, including the lead mines.
5. 5. Rents of the market of Greenwich, and of certain houses there and in London.
6. 6. Interest of money invested in the public funds.
7. 7. Forfeited and unclaimed shares of prize-money.
8. 8. Fines for various offences.

It is evident that the funds of the establishment must vary considerably in times of war and peace; being lowest in the latter period, when the demands are heaviest upon it, especially for a certain number of years after the closing of a war.

The rental of the estates belonging to the hospital in the counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Durham, have risen from L. 23,000 in 1805, to L. 43,000 in 1816. The present gross rental of these estates and the lead mines, as above stated, amounts to about L. 60,000. The merchant seamen's sixpences amount to about L. 20,000 a-year; the naval seamen and marines to L. 15,000; the North and South Foreland lights to L. 7000; the interest of funded property to L. 50,000, making, with other contingencies, an annual revenue of about L. 150,000; the whole of which is expended on the household establishment, the clothing, maintenance, and allowances to pensioners and other attendants, repairs, taxes, and contingencies.

During the war, and for a few years after the war, the funds of the hospital were adequate to the payment of the out-pensioners, which, taken at 35,000, the greatest number they ever reached, and allowing to each, on an average, L. 11 a-year, must have amounted to the sum of L. 385,000. Their numbers may now have decreased to 30,000, and the amount of their pensions to L. 330,000, to be voted by Parliament; the funds of the hospital no longer affording a surplus beyond its own support, from which only, by law, the out-pensioners had any claim.

The establishment of this noble institution consists of a governor, who is a flag-officer in the navy, lieutenant-governor, four captains, eight lieutenants, all resident within the hospital. A treasurer, auditor, paymaster of pensions, secretary, clerk of the check,

two chaplains, two physicians, three surgeons, two dispensers, steward, clerk of the works, and several clerks. The number of in-pensioners is about 3000, and the number of nurses 180, all of whom must be the widows of naval seamen, and under the age of 45 years at the time of admission.

Under the naval administration of Earl Grey, the following officers were added to the out-pensions of Greenwich Hospital, to be selected by the Admiralty according to their respective claims on the service:

in addition to their half-pay.

The out-pensions to seamen were first established in 1763, by act of 3d Geo. III. ch. 16. in consequence of which 1400 out-pensioners were appointed, at L. 7 per annum each, after undergoing an examination at the Admiralty as to their claims.

At the close of the long revolutionary war, the applications became so numerous, and the claims of the seamen who had been wounded, or worn out in the service, so strongly grounded in humanity and justice, that it became necessary to adopt a scale of pensions, and to establish certain rules and regulations, by which seamen of his Majesty's fleet and royal marines should be remunerated for wounds or hurts, debility, and length of service. The following are the regulations:

For Wounds, Hurts, or Debility.

Every seaman, landman, boy, or royal marine, wounded or hurt in his Majesty's service, is to receive a sum of money from the Chest of Chatham in the nature of smart money, as heretofore; and also be entitled to a pension proportioned to his wounds or hurts, of not less than sixpence a day, and not more than one shilling and sixpence a day. For sickness or debility, after seven years' service (and under special circumstances before that period), of not less than fivepence a day, nor more than tenpence, according as he may appear capable of assisting himself. Beyond fourteen, and less than twenty-one years' service, not less than eightpence, nor more than one shilling and threepence. After twenty-one years' service, one shilling and sixpence a day.

For Length of Service.

Every able seaman, discharged on the reduction of the fleet, who has served faithfully fourteen years, and less than twenty-one, is entitled to a pension of one halfpenny a day for every year of such service. Twenty-one years' service entitles him to a free discharge, and a pension of one shilling a day; and if he may choose to continue in the service, one halfpenny a day in addition for every additional year of service.

Ordinary seamen and landmen, entitled to four-fifths and three-fifths of able seamen's pensions. The privates of royal marines are considered as ordinary

NAVY.

Fig. 1.
Plan of the Stern.

A. N. 2 under struts, and additional
References
B. C. 2 under struts, and additional
D. E. 2 under struts, and additional
F. G. 2 under struts, and additional
H. I. 2 under struts, and additional
J. K. 2 under struts, and additional
L. M. 2 under struts, and additional
N. O. 2 under struts, and additional
P. Q. 2 under struts, and additional
R. S. 2 under struts, and additional
T. U. 2 under struts, and additional
V. W. 2 under struts, and additional
X. Y. 2 under struts, and additional
Z. AA. 2 under struts, and additional

Fig. 2.
Plan of the Bow.

PLATE C.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 1.
A Longitudinal Section.

Fig. 5.

Plan of the Gun & Upper Deck.

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