SECTION I. RETURNS AND ACCOUNTS IN GENERAL.

1841. Captain's responsibility.-The Captain will take care that every officer whose duty it is to render accounts, returns, or reports, to the Admiralty or to any other Department, forwards them within the time prescribed, or within a reasonable time after they are due, and that they are signed by the proper officers ; should any delay occur in the preparation or in the due transmission of any of them, he is to require an explanation from the officer in charge, which, with any observations he may have to offer, is to be forwarded to the Department to which it relates.

1842. Periodical and Occasional Returns.-All periodical and occasional returns are to be rendered by the several officers when they are due, in compliance with the instructions contained in Appendix XVIII.

1843. Prompt replies are at all times to be given to official communications. Explanations are to be given whenever delays have been unavoidable.

1844. Forms for Accounts, &c.-When forms now or in future established are made use of for accounts, returns, or other purposes, they are to be strictly adhered to. So far as practicable all the columns are to be filled up, and any directions given on the forms are to be observed. When from any cause printed forms are not available, the returns, &c., are to be prepared in MS.

1845. Signature to Accounts, &e.-With the exception of the cash account no declarations or certificates as to the correctness of accounts of stores, &c., are required, but the signature of an officer to an account, return, or report will be taken as conclusive that the officer renders or makes it as just and true, and as accounting properly for all the stores, &c., that should be accounted for therein in accordance with the regulations in force at the time, or with any special directions he may be acting under.

SECTION II. MISCELLANEOUS BOOKS AND RETURNS.

1846. Register of Correspondence.-A register (form S. 560) of the receipt and transmission of all letters and accounts is to be kept under the superintendence of the Captain, and is to be produced at inspections.

2. Disposal on paying off.-When the ship is paid off this register and the book containing the counterparts of the schedules of accounts transmitted (form S. 558) are to be sent with the final accounts to the Accountant-General.

1847. Confidential Books.-Confidential books are supplied for the use of officers of and above the position of Commanding Officers of His Majesty's ships only, and are not to be communicated to persons below that position.

2. In respect of books issued to His Majesty's ships "for the use of officers in His Majesty's Service only," discretionary power is given to officers not

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below the position of Commanding Officers of His Majesty's ships to communicate to other persons belonging to His Majesty's Service any portion of the contents which would be necessary for them to be acquainted with in carrying out their duties. Officers exercising this power will be held responsible that such information is imparted with due caution and reserve.

3. Signal Books are issued to His Majesty's ships " for use in His Majesty's Navy only."

4. Register of Confidential and other Boob, &c.-A register of all confidential books and documents, and of all books. and documents " for the information of officers in His Majesty's Service only," and signal books, N.I.D. form R., is to be kept by the officers to whom such books and documents are supplied.

5. The record of loan and return of any of these books is to be kept and to be duly attested as provided in the register.

6. The register is to be closed and forwarded to the proper authority when a ship pays off.

7. Custody of Signal and W.T. Books.-The directions in clause 5 do not apply to signal books or Instructions for wireless telegraphy signalling, when in use for the service of the ship. At such times the Officer of the Watch is to, satisfy himself on relieving the deck and on being relieved that they are in the box provided for the purpose.

8. Loss of Confidential, &e., Books.-No officer or man is to take away from the ship in which he may be serving, any copy or copies of any of the above-mentioned books which may have been issued for the service of the ship, and the greatest care is at all times to be exercised to prevent any such. books from falling into improper hands, or being mislaid or lost. Failure on the part of a person belonging to His Majesty's Navy, to whom any such book may have been issued or lent, to produce or render a satisfactory account of the same when called upon to do so, will be regarded as a disciplinary offence indicating a grave neglect of duty, unless it can be shown that the loss of the book is due to an accident beyond the control of the person to whom it was issued or lent.

9. Receipts for Books.-A receipt specifying the numbers of the copies for, all confidential books " for the information of officers in His Majesty's Service only," and signal and other books of a confidential nature supplied for the service of the ship, is to be obtained and forwarded to the proper authority.

For books supplied for the service of the ship other than as above, the receipt is to be given on form S. 297.

10. Personal Copies.-At the discretion of the Admiralty copies of certain of the above books may be issued for the personal use of individual officers. In every such case the officer to whom the book is issued is to forward into office his receipt on form S. 302. These copies will be known as " personal " copies, and are altogether distinct from those issued for the service of the ship referred to in the foregoing clauses.

When gunnery and torpedo confidential books are issued to officers of the ship as " personal " copies, a supply note on S. 301 is to be made out and pasted inside the book issued.

A receipt is to be obtained from the officer on form S. 302 and forwarded to the Admiralty for information and notation.

The provisions contained in clause 8 of this Article apply equally to personal copies, except that such copies may be taken out of the ship by the officer to whom they are issued.

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11. Personal Copies of Officer leaving Service.-In the event of an officer quitting His Majesty's Service from any cause whatsoever, whether by resignation of his commission or warrant, or by dismissal by sentence of court-martial or otherwise, or in the event of his being placed on the retired pay or pension list, or of his dying while on active seance, or being discharged to a naval hospital, or to sick quarters, his Captain is to ascertain what personal copies of the above-mentioned books are in his possession, or among his effects, as the case may be, and is to obtain such personal copies and return them to the Secretary of the Admiralty by the first convenient opportunity.

Officers who are not employed when quitting His Majesty's Service as above described, are to return all personal copies which may be in their possession direct to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

12. Destruction of Confidential Books.-When copies of the books referred to in clauses 1, 2, and 3 have to be destroyed, either because they have been made obsolete or become worn out, they are to be destroyed by fire in the presence of two officers, who should certify that:

1. The title and number of the book having been compared with that given in the order for destroying it and in the register, it has been burnt in their presence.
2. That the book has been erased from the list of books supplied which is given in the register.
3. That the book has been entered in the list of books destroyed which is given in the register, giving its title and number (if any) and the number of the copy.

In the case of " confidential " books, which are for the use of officers of and above the position of Commanding Officers of His Majesty's ships only, the Commanding Officer should be one of the certifying officers.

In the case of books supplied for the personal use of an officer, he should be one of the certifying officers.

13. Chests for Confidential Documents.-In order to prevent the possibility of unauthorised persons having access to the keys of chests for confidential documents, the following arrangements are to be observed:

1. The chests are not to be issued to a ship until absolutely necessary, and, when supplied, the keys are to be issued personally by the Naval Store Officer to the Commanding Officer, and his receipt taken for them.
2. When a ship is paid off, the keys are to be tried in the chests to which they belong, and are then to be placed in sealed covers, and handed to the Naval Store Officer for custody until required for re-issue with the chest. Before being re-issued the keys are again to be tried in the locks in the Store Officer's presence.

14. Custody of Keys.- In the case of ships when the Second in Command is of commissioned rank, two keys are supplied with the chest for confidential documents, one to be kept in the personal custody of the Commanding Officer, and the other in the personal custody of the Second in Command ; when the Second in Command is below commissioned rank, one key only is issued, to be kept in the personal custody of the Commanding Officer, the second key being retained in the personal custody of the Naval Store Officer. In the case of torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers only one key will be supplied for use. Each officer is to give a receipt for the key for which he has been made responsible, and it is to be a strict rule that a key is never transferred to another person without written authority and a receipt being obtained.

Neither key is to be left in the box or keyhole of the box or in any place of insecurity.

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15. Loss of Key.-In the event of a key becoming lost, the box shall be treated as insecure, and an immediate investigation is to take place.

The loss of a key is to be reported to the Admiralty (ICS. Branch) forthwith and the circumstances stated. The number of the box to which the missing key belongs is to be given in the report.

16. Survey of Chests, &c.-When a survey is held, on the death or removal from any cause of the Commanding Officer during the ship's commission, a statement is to be made upon the report of survey whether the chests and their locks are in good condition and the keys complete.

17. Missing Keys.-If any of the keys are missing from a chest landed at a yard or depot, the Superintendent is to ascertain and report to the Commander-in-Chief who is responsible for the loss, in order that the cost of altering the lock and making the keys complete may be charged against the officer in accordance with Article 1373.

1848. Destruction of Rough Logs, &c.-Care is to be taken that all books and documents, such as rough signal and deck logs, which may contain confidential matter, are not thrown overboard, but are destroyed by fire when no longer required.

1849. Disposal of Logs.-Original logs received by the Captain from the Navigating Officer in accordance with Article 1028 are to be kept in the ship until she is paid off, when they are to be forwarded by the Captain to the Deputy Cashier in Charge, Royal Victoria Yard, Deptford, for custody as a permanent record.

2. The logs of sea-going tenders, on form S. 321, are to be forwarded half-yearly in original to the Deputy Cashier in Charge, Royal Victoria Yard, Deptford.

3. The log books of ships temporarily commissioned, and of torpedo boat destroyers engaged in instructional duties, are to be rendered on form S. 321a, and are also to be sent to Deptford.

4. The Captain will obtain a receipt from the Deputy Cashier in Charge, Royal Victoria Yard, Deptford, for all log books forwarded to him, which receipt is to be transmitted to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

On being superseded, he is similarly to obtain and forward to the Secretary of the Admiralty a receipt for all log books handed over to his successor.

5. Monthly copy of Log.-A complete copy of the log, on form S. 321b, is to be forwarded monthly from every ship except ships temporarily commissioned (see clause 3) and stationary ships at home and abroad.

The copy is to be made under the immediate direction and responsibility of the Navigating Officer (Article 1028), who will certify that it is a complete copy of the original log. It is to be signed by the Captain and forwarded by him to the Commander-in-Chief, by whom it is to be transmitted to the Secretary of the Admiralty as soon as it shall be no longer necessary to keep it on the station for purposes of reference.

6. Consumption of Fuel.-The Captain will cause information as to the economical consumption of fuel to be entered on the first page of the monthly copy of the log in the form there provided for the purpose.

7. Monthly Copies not sent in.-Commanders-in-Chief are to transmit to the Secretary of the Admiralty annually on 1st April a list of the monthly copies of any logs of the preceding year which have not been sent into office.

1850. Captain's Ship's Book.-While the ship is in commission the Captain's ship's book is to be kept under the immediate supervision of the officer in command as directed therein.

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2. When a ship is paid off at a home yard for refit the Captain's ship's book is to be transmitted by the Captain to the Admiralty (S. Branch) for examination. After examination the book will be returned to the dockyard at which the ship is being refitted or repaired for the insertion of any necessary forms or information previous to re-issue to the ship.

3. When the ship is docked at a private yard, or in a dock belonging to a foreign Power, the particulars are to be furnished by the officers of the ship which is docked, and a report on the state of the compositions on the bottom is to be transmitted to the Admiralty through the Commander-in-Chief by the Captain, on form S. 238.

1851. Reports on Officers are to be rendered in accordance with the instructions on form S. 206.

2. The reports by Officers in Command of stations and squadrons, on officers commanding ships under their orders, are to be transmitted (1) when a ship or the officer commanding her leaves a station or squadron, and (2) when the officer who transmits the report is relieved in his command.

3. The reports, whether on paying off or otherwise, are always to be forwarded before leaving the station through the Commander-in-Chief or Senior Officer of the station on which the ship has been employed, to enable him to add his remarks.

4. No report is required on officers who have been less than three months under the orders of the officer who makes the report, or who have already been reported on by the same officer within the preceding three months.

5. On Engineer and Accountant Officers.-Reports on Engineer and Accountant Officers other than the Engineer and Accountant Officers of the ship, are to be signed by the latter officers respectively as well as by the. Captain.

6. On Medical Officers.-The periodical reports on medical officers serving in a fleet are to be referred by the Commander-in-Chief to the Principal Medical Officer of the Fleet for his opinion of the officers' professional conduct and ability. Similarly the reports on medical officers of stationary ships and naval establishments are to be referred to the Surgeon-General or Deputy Surgeon-General of the hospital at the port for independent report.

1852. Punishment Returns.-Commanders-in-Chief, junior Flag Officers, and Captains are to be particular in ascertaining that all punishments are correctly recorded in the daily record (S. 240), and that the quarterly returns of punishments on form S. 181 are so rendered that perfect reliance may be placed in them. See 827 (Daily Record of Offences, &c.).

1853. Exceptional Payments.-A statement, on form S. 164, of all payments not directly authorised by these Regulations, in addition to those named in Article 1657 and including those for telegrams, interpreters, and stationery allowance to Senior Officers made by the Accountant Officer under the direction of the Captain, is to be forwarded by the latter at the end of the month in which such payments have taken place, to the Commander-in-Chief, who will transmit it to the Admiralty by the first opportunity with his observations and recommendations thereon. If doubt exists whether a payment is to be noted on the return it is always to be included. .See 1870 (Telegrams).

2. When necessary the Commander-in-Chief will call for further explanations before forwarding the return.

3. In regard to expenses incurred for carriage hire, he is always to express. his approval or disapproval.

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4. Payments disallowed.-To save correspondence, should he disapprove of any particular items, he will direct the officers who ordered that the expense should be incurred to pay the amount to the Accountant Officer, who will debit himself therewith in his cash account.

5. Payments disallowed an officer are to be recovered from the officers who ordered them.

1854. Men passed for Ship's Corporal.-When any man passes for Ship's Corporal, a report of passing, together with a copy of the man's service certificate, is to be sent direct to the Commodore of the depot to which the man is attached.

When a vacancy occurs for the promotion of a Ship's Corporal a report is to be made to the Commodore of the General Depot to which the ship is attached, so that the necessary promotion may be made.

2. Half-yearly Report on Ship's Police.-A half-yearly report on the character and ability of all ship's police ratings is to be forwarded, on form S. 507, to the Commodore of the depot to which the ship is attached.

1855. E.R.A. qualified for Advancement.-Whenever an Engine-Room Artificer becomes eligible by service to be rated Chief Engine-Room Artificer the fact is to be reported on form S. 507 with a special statement as to whether the man is in all respects qualified for the superior rating.

1856. Religious Denominations.-On 31st December of every year the Captain is to render a report on form S. 203 of the number of men belonging to the several religious denominations. The return is to be made out under the direction of the Chaplain, or of the Accountant Officer if no Chaplain is borne.

1857. Birth or Death.-On the birth of a child or the death of a person on board any of His Majesty's ships, the Captain is to record in the log book the particulars of such birth or death, as directed on form S. 544, and as soon as convenient shall send form 544, duly completed, to the Registrar-General concerned. See 1871 (Deaths on Special Active Service).

1858. Wills.-The mode of executing the wills of petty officers, seamen, and marines, is described in " The Navy and Marines Wills Act, 1865," and also on form S. 545, which is to be used and the directions given thereon carefully observed whenever any such person shall desire to make a will.

1859. Supersession of Captain.-When a Captain is superseded he will transfer to his successor the originals of all unexecuted orders, the receipts for which he will forward to his Commander-in-Chief.

1860. Books and Accounts on paying off.-On paying off, the Captain is to take care that all the books and accounts of the ship that are not required on the spot to close the accounts are forwarded in a perfect state to the proper offices.

1861. Circular Letters.-Admiralty circular letters to the Fleet, whether affecting the King's Regulations or not, are to be issued from the office of the Commander-in-Chief.

2. Orders in Council.-The Admiralty orders in council are only issued to Flag and other officers in command for their information.

1862. Ships serving under another Flag, &c., Officer.- All communications from a Flag or Senior Officer intended for a ship placed or serving under the orders of another Flag or Senior Officer, whether absent or present, are to be

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sent open through the Flag or Senior Officer under whose orders the ship may be serving, to be by him duly delivered or forwarded.

SECTION III. CORRESPONDENCE.

1863. By Junior Flag, &c., Officer to Admiralty.-No junior Flag or other officer in command of a squadron or of a single ship, while serving under the orders of a superior officer, shall communicate direct with the Secretary of the Admiralty, except he is specially instructed to do so; but all matters for the information or consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty are to be addressed by him to his superior officer, who, should he think fit, will forward them, with such remarks as he may see occasion to offer thereon; but if any circumstances should occur, or any intelligence be obtained which ought, in such junior officer's opinion, to be communicated to the Admiralty sooner than the report could reach if made through his superior officer, he is still to address his report to such superior, but he will transmit a copy direct to the Admiralty, by the earliest safe conveyance, informing his superior officer of his having done so. No officer, however, is to omit acknowledging direct and at once, the receipt of orders or letters from the Admiralty direct.

1864. Communications to Admiralty by others.-All officers and others belonging to the Fleet, not referred to in Article 1863, having any communications or applications to make to the Admiralty, or to the Commander-in-Chief or Senior Officer of the station on which they are employed, are invariably to transmit them through their respective Captains, who, should they see fit, are to forward them by the earliest convenient opportunity, through the proper channel, with their own observations thereon. And all officers who may have occasion to correspond with, or furnish reports or accounts to, the several departments of the Admiralty, are to submit them for the perusal of their respective Captains, who will append to them such remarks as they may deem necessary.

1865. For Admiralty, addressing of.-All letters, returns and other documents, packages, &c., for the Admiralty are to be addressed :

On His Majesty's Service.
The Secretary of the Admiralty,
Whitehall,
London, S. W.

Those for departments other than that of the Secretary should have the name of the department for which they are intended conspicuously written in the lower left-hand corner of the envelope (e.g., Accountant-General of the Navy; Director of Navy Contracts).

2. Acknowledgment of Admiralty Letters.-Commanders-in-Chief and other officers abroad, in acknowledging the receipt of letters from the Admiralty on form S. 543, will observe that letters from the branches of the Secretary's Department with the initial letters C.W., C.E., M., N., and N.L., on the first page of the letter, bear one set of consecutive numbers, and they are therefore to be included in one acknowledgment sheet.

Letters from the Accountant-General's Department (marked I.C., N.P., E., and R.), may also be acknowledged on one, sheet, but those from the remaining branches or departments of the Admiralty are to be acknowledged on separate sheets according to their distinguishing initial letters.

3. Numbering Letters.-Commanders-in-Chief, officers on detached commands, Superintendents, and other officers who are authorised to correspond direct with the Admiralty, are to number their letters, enclosing them in

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docket sheets. A fresh series of numbers is to commence on 1st January of each year.

4. Manner of forwarding.-Letters and reports on ordinary matters, forwarded through the Commander-in-Chief or Senior Officer, may be " submitted for the consideration " or " information," as the case may be, " of the Lords. Commissioners of the Admiralty " without covering letters ; but when for consideration the officers forwarding them are never to omit to state their opinion ; all such submissions must be numbered, dated, and otherwise dealt with, as part of the correspondence of the officer who forwards them.

5. Schedule.-Commanders-in-Chief and other officers having a regular correspondence with the Admiralty are to forward a schedule on S. 587 with all letters transmitted, the submissions being entered on the schedule in numerical order.

6. Duplicates, &c.-Commanders-in-Chief and Senior Officers abroad are to forward by different conveyances, as they may deem necessary, duplicates or triplicates of important letters they write, either to the Secretary of the Admiralty, or to any of the departments with which they may be directed to correspond, stating at the top of each duplicate or triplicate, in red ink, when, and by what conveyance the original or duplicate, as the case may be, was sent.

7. References.-When answering, complying with, or referring to communications from the Admiralty or from departments, whether by letter or special returns, the communication is not to be referred to as " the attached letter," &c., but the initial letters and dates of the communications are invariably to be quoted.

8. Covering Letters.-Letters merely forwarding accounts or documents to the Admiralty departments are unnecessary, but any explanation that may be requisite to elucidate or explain accounts or documents transmitted, or with regard to delay in their completion, is to be given in a special letter which is to accompany them, to prevent unnecessary correspondence and delay.

1866. Method of conducting Correspondence.-The following general regulations are to be observed by officers in their official correspondence :-

1. " Confidential."-Letters, &c., which it is considered should be treated as confidential are to be so marked, but gradations of that term, or any other terms are not to be used. When despatched they are to be enclosed in envelopes marked " Confidential " and sealed, and further enclosed in an unmarked addressed envelope. See 411 (Breach of Confidence).
2. Signature to Letters.-Letters connected with the ship are in all cases to be signed by the Captain of the ship and not by the officers in charge of the special departments. Reports from such officers dealing with special or technical details may be enclosed in the letter only if thought necessary to elucidate the subject.
3. Signatures generally.-Officers are to sign their names legibly, stating their rank after their signature in all documents.
4. Separate Subjects.-Separate letters are to be written on separate subjects and every paragraph is to be numbered.
5. Except in the case of docket sheets only one side of the paper is to be written on.
6. Clearness.-All letters are to be clearly and legibly written or typed on foolscap. Not more than 20 lines of manuscript, or 30 lines of type-writing, are to be inserted in one page.

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7. Letters at Sea.-When letters or documents are dated at sea, the latitude and longitude are to be stated.
8. Margin.-A margin of one quarter the breadth of a foolscap page is to be left perfectly blank on every page. As one of the objects of this margin is the fastening of papers, the margin is to be always at the same edge of the leaf, i.e., on the left of front pages, and consequently on the right of back pages, when it is absolutely necessary to write on the back. In forms printed across their length the top is to be the margin edge, and when writing on the back the margin will be on the right as above directed.
9. Fastening.-All pages and such forms as defect lists are to be fastened or strung in their proper order, through the left upper corner. Forms printed lengthways should be attached by their right upper corner to the left upper corner of manuscript or forms printed breadthways.
10. References to Regulations.-In every document transmitted to the Admiralty a reference to the Article in these Regulations or to the special authority under which it is rendered, is to be inserted in M.S., when not printed on the form.
11. When any special applications are made for allowances or compensations for losses, the particular Regulations under which the claims are preferred are always to be quoted, and if an official letter treats of a subject in any way provided for by the King's Regulations or other instructions they are always to be quoted.
12. Enclosures are to be attached to their covering letter, and are to be separately numbered as:

" Enclosure No.__________in________________'s letter_______No.______dated_________19 __."

13. Certificates, &c.-Original certificates are always to be forwarded with accounts. Baptismal and marriage certificates are also to be forwarded in original. No other original certificates, unless when specially called for, are to be forwarded, but certified copies only. When original papers are transmitted, it is to be understood that they will be retained in office.
14. Models, Plans, &c.-All models, plans, or specimens are to have the name and address of the person who forwards them affixed thereto, with a reference to the date of the letter, or other explanatory document, which may accompany them. Drawings, charts, tracings, &c., forwarded with letters, are to be folded and placed in an envelope, when practicable, and attached to the letter.
15. Translations, &c.-All letters and documents transmitted in a foreign language, except French, are, when possible, to be accompanied by translations, and whenever reference is made to local currencies, weights, or measures, the corresponding British equivalents are to be given, the rate of exchange of the day being also stated in reference to currency.
16. Time.-The divisions of the hour between noon and 1 p.m. are to be described as 0.5 p.m., 0.10 p.m., 0.16 p.m., and so on, and the same system is to be observed in describing the hours between midnight and 1 a.m.
17. Personnel.-The following particulars are invariably to be stated in all returns or correspondence relating to the undermentioned :

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1867. The term " Admiralty Letter " is to be applied only to letters signed by or for the Secretary of the Admiralty. Departmental letters are to be referred to as " Director of Transports' letter," &c.

1868. Sailing Orders.-Immediately on receipt, direct from the Admiralty, of either written or telegraphic sailing orders, or of instructions affecting the movements of any ship, a brief acknowledgment thereof is to be sent to the Admiralty by telegraph, using one word of the economic code or cypher, as may be most convenient.

1869. Questions relating to Regulations, &c-All questions relating to the interpretation of or departure from Regulations issued by the Admiralty, are to be addressed by Captains to the Commander-in-Chief, who, when necessary, will submit them to the Admiralty in accordance with Article 1863.

1870. Telegrams.-With a view to economy, telegrams are to be expressed as concisely as is consistent with clearness, particular care being taken to omit every superfluous word. When a letter will answer the purpose a telegram is not to be sent.

2. Copies of all ordinary telegrams received from or forwarded to the Admiralty should be sent to the Secretary of the Admiralty without a covering letter.

3. Cypher Telegrams.-The special Regulations as to telegrams sent in cypher are to be most strictly observed.

4. Payments.-A return, on form S. 547, of all payments made abroad on account of telegrams is to accompany the cash account as a voucher. See 1853 (Exceptional Payments).

5. Cost.-The cost of telegrams is not chargeable to the public unless the subject of the message relates strictly to the Naval Service. Messages of congratulation or condolence are chargeable to the senders. See 575 (Officer's grave illness and all deaths to be reported).

6. Attention is particularly directed to the certificate which officers are required to sign on form S. 647.

7. General instructions as to Telegram.-The following instructions are also to be observed, viz. :

1. Telegrams sent by, or at request of, officers applying for leave, supersession, exchange, or on other points entailing a modification of the rules of the Service for their own convenience, and the answers thereto, will be charged to such officers. The cost is not to be included in the cash accounts rendered by His Majesty's ships or establishments, but the amount paid is to be recovered at the time from the officers or private individuals concerned.

In the event, however, of an officer being at a place far distant from the ship from which the telegram is sent, the amount may be brought to account as a charge against him, but he is to be requested to refund it at once, in order that the transaction as a whole may appear in the same account.

2. Telegrams addressed to the Admiralty, or to other naval headquarters, are not to be repeated to other Departments of Government nor to

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individuals. It is to be understood that the information contained in such telegrams will be communicated to all concerned by the proper Department.

3. The form on which telegraphic messages are delivered shows the date and place of despatch, consequently the name of the ship only is necessary to show the origin of the message.

1871. Telegrams at Home.-As telegrams on the public service are sent by the post offices in the United Kingdom free of charge, officers sending such telegrams are not to make any payment on account thereof, and they will receive such messages free of charge for either transmission or porterage.

2. If from any cause the understanding between the Admiralty and the post office is not recognised, payment is to be made, but a full statement of the circumstances and of the telegram sent, is to be forwarded to the Admiralty before the amount so paid will be admitted in the officer's account or claim.

3. No telegrams are to be sent, on official forms which are not essentially on purely Service matters.

4. The Post Office Regulations printed on the back of the forms for " Inland Official Telegrams only " are to be strictly adhered to. See 1870, clauses 5 and 7 (Expense chargeable to Sender).

1872. Payments for Postage.-Payments for official postage are to be certified to by the Captain on form S. 24 in the following manner

" Approved for payment after inspection of the postage book."

1873. Mail Arrangements.-Commanding Officers of ships of the First Fleet (including First, Second, Third and Fourth Flotillas and Mine-sweeping Gunboats) and also of ships on Foreign Stations and of the Training Squadron are in all circumstances to arrange direct with the Admiralty for the despatch of their mails.

All communications on the subject from the Commanding Officers of the above-mentioned ships when in home waters are invariably to state either the latest mail by which their correspondence should be despatched from London, or the latest hour at which the correspondence should be received at the port of departure.

2. None of the above-mentioned officers are to make any arrangements direct with the General Post Office or its officials for the despatch of their mails. They are, however, before leaving a port, to arrange with local postmasters for the re-direction of any mails which may arrive after their departure, unless the port is one of the places (a list of which is issued from time to time) where the local postmaster receives information from the General Post Office as to the new addresses.

3. Commanding Officers of ships of the Second and Third Fleets and Officers Commanding other vessels in the waters of Great Britain and Ireland and the Channel Islands, with the exception of those referred to in clause 1, are to inform the local postmasters of the addresses to which their correspondence should be sent; either the latest mail by which it should be despatched from London, or the latest hour at which it should be received at the port of departure being invariably stated at the same time. Such officers are in all cases to request the local postmasters to telegraph this information to the Superintendent, Inland Section, General Post Office, London.

4. Should any ship of the Second or Third Fleets, or any vessel ordinarily employed in the waters of the United Kingdom and Channel Islands, be temporarily employed outside those waters, mail arrangements are to be made through the Admiralty, as provided in clause 1, so long as the ship is so employed.

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1874. Transmission of Bulky Documents.-All bulky documents, such as periodical returns, ledgers, and victualling and store accounts, are to he made up and sent as parcels, when practicable, instead of as letters ; and if forwarded by a mail packet or private ship they are to be sent on freight, in charge of the mail agent or master, from whom a receipt is to be taken for the parcels that may be delivered for transmission. Such parcels so sent, when for the departments of the Admiralty, are to be addressed to the department for which they are intended, instead of to the Secretary, as directed in clause 1 of Article 1885.

2. Engine-Room Registers and other Books.-Heavy expense being incurred by the practice of each ship sending to England its own engine-room registers, and other heavy documents, the charge for freight on a single book being frequently as much as if a collection of books were sent, it is desirable that, except as provided in clause 4 of this Article, each ship on a station should send its books, &c., directly they are ready, to the Naval Store Officer, or officer in charge of the naval depot, for him to collect and forward to England, in one box, on freight, by the first mail in every month, consigned to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

3. The above need not be considered as an absolute rule in cases where more expense might be incurred by carrying it out than by transmitting the parcels direct to England, and discretionary power is left with Commanders-in-Chief, Senior and Commanding Officers to make the most economical arrangements practicable to meet exceptional cases, advantage being taken of the parcel and book post for this purpose.

4. Ledgers and Accounts.-Ledgers and all accounts having to do with money, with the exception of ships' cash accounts and savings bank returns, are to be sent by parcel post when there is not an immediate direct opportunity by freight. Cash accounts and savings bank returns from ships at home are to be sent by letter post, registered if necessary, and from ships abroad by mail steamer, as it is important that they should reach office as early as practicable after completion. On paying off, however, the bank ledgers and pass books, if numerous, may be sent by parcel post.

5. Postage at Home.-Letters sent from ships through the post offices of the United Kingdom to the Admiralty, or to any of the Departments of the Government in London, are not to be prepaid; but parcels so sent must be prepaid by means of postage stamps, in accordance with the rates of postage fixed for the inland parcel post.

6. Letters from and to Officers in Ship.- All accounts and letters from the officers of a ship to the Admiralty departments are .to be transmitted by the Captain, and letters from those departments to the officers will be sent under cover to him.

7. Bulky Documents from Ships at Home.-Accounts and other bulky documents from ships at home should be transmitted in the following manner by the ship's officers responsible for them.

Parcels weighing 11 lb. and under should be posted, and those above 11 lb., should, when possible, be sent to the Naval Store Officer's shipping store, for despatch, accompanied by particulars as to contents and address to which to be sent, otherwise they may be sent by rail direct to the Admiralty.

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