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Regulations established by His Majesty's Order in Council of 15 August 1805,
in respect of
Masters in the Royal Navy.
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| Article I |
| His Majesty's Order in Council of the 19th January, 1803, to far as the same respects the examination of Persons to serve as Lieutenants who have been employed in the capacities of Masters, or Second Masters, and Pilots, to be suspended, and in future such Persons as shall have acted in the abovementioned capacities may be considered eligible to be promoted to the Rank of Lieutenant in His Majesty's Navy, if from meritorious conduct in the performance of their duty, a case should arise which in the opinion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty it may be proper to distinguish by such advancement, although the individual who shall have so distinguished himself may not have been rated as a Mate or Midshipman in His Majesty's service, provided he shall have served Six Years therein ; and the period which any Person may serve as Acting Master, or Second Master will be considered, upon presenting himself to pass his Examination for a Lieutenant, as equivalent to his having served so much time in the capacity of Mate or Midshipman. |
| Article II |
| In order to ensure that all Persons entering into the office of Master in His Majesty's Navy may be men of experience and judgment, no person in future will be allowed to pass an examination for being qualified to serve as Master therein, until he shall have attained the age of Twenty One Years, and have been at least Seven Years at Sea, two of which must have been served in His Majesty's Navy, in the quality of Acting Master by order, Second Master, Master's Mate, or Midshipman ; or being of the aforesaid age, and having served Seven Years at Sea, shall have been actually One Year or more Chief Mate, and Two Years Master, or Two Years Chief Mate, and One Year Master of a Merchant Ship, and shall produce Certificates of diligence, sobriety, and good conduct from the Owners for the time he served as Master, and from the Owners and Master for the time he served as Mate, |
| Article III |
| As Second Masters and Pilots of Gun Brigs are not required by the old Establishment, to pass any examination previous to their appointment, and it being essentially necessary that all Officers who undertake the charge of His Majesty's Ships sad Vessels of every description should possess a competent knowledge of Navigation for that purpose; all Masters and Second Masters are in future to pass an examination, and will not be appointed to any Vessel unless they shall have been previously reported qualified to perform that duty, by the Master and Wardens of the Corporation of the Trinity House. |
| Article IV |
| In order to encourage Masters employed in its Majesty's Navy sedulously to apply themselves to the acquirement of knowledge in Pilotage abroad and at home, they will be universally allowed Half Pilotage for taking upon them the sole charge of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels, in all cases where the Commanders thereof shall be well satisfied of the capacity of such Masters to perform the said duty. |
| Article V |
| The Commanders in Chief of His Majesty's Fleets who are allowed a First Captain, are in future to be respectively allowed an additional Master to be borne on the Books of the Ship on board which their Flags may be flying, to be called First Master, whose duty will be to attend to the Navigation of the Fleet, agreeably to the Orders which he may receive from the Commander in Chief, or his First Captain: and the Person so appointed First Master to a Commander in Chief most be qualified for, and will be allowed the pay of a Ship of the First Rate. |
| Article VI |
| The full pay of Masters will be as follows, commencing from 24 Aug 1805 : |
| |
Per Month |
|
| |
� |
s. |
d. |
|
| 1st Rate |
12 |
12 |
0 |
With a servant or compensation for one. |
| 2nd Rate |
11 |
11 |
0 |
| 3rd Rate |
10 |
10 |
0 |
| 4th Rate |
9 |
9 |
0 |
| 5th Rate |
8 |
8 |
0 |
| 6th Rate |
7 |
7 |
7 |
| Sloops |
6 |
6 |
0 |
| Brigs and Cutters with Complements above 50 Men, bearing a Master |
| Gun Brigs and small Vessels having a Second Master and Pilot |
5 |
5 |
0 |
| Second Masters of Line of Battle Ships |
5 |
5 |
0 |
Without a Servant, or compensation for one. |
| Article VII |
| The half pay of Masters will be as follows, commencing from 24 Aug 1805 : |
| |
Per Day |
| |
s. |
d. |
| Masters qualified for 1st and 2nd Rates |
The first 50 on the List unemployed |
5 |
0 |
| Ditto |
The next 50 ditto |
4 |
6 |
| Masters qualified for 3rd Rates |
The next 100 ditto |
4 |
0 |
| Masters qualified for 4th and 5th Rates |
The next 100 ditto |
3 |
6 |
|
All the rest having passed from the 6th Rate |
3 |
0 |
| Such as have served two years in His Majesty's Navy as acting Master, second Master, Master's Mate or Midshipman, previously to receiving an Appointment as Master, will be entitled to Half-Pay after having served as Master in any of His Majesty a Ships or Vessels in Commission three years, and such as shall have been appointed Master without having previously served is the Navy will be entitled to Half Pay after having served as above-mentioned five years. But no Master is to be permitted in time of War, on my account whatever, to receive Half Pay during such time he shall be employed in the Merchant Service, or in my other occupation, unless sufficient proof be adduced to the Commissioners of the Navy, that such person is, from infirmity of body, absolutely incapable of performing the duty of a Master in His Majesty's Navy. |
| Article VIII |
| Such Masters as have not served during the present War, or who are now considered to be unfit for further Duty at Sea, are to be superannuated on the Half-Pay to which from their Services and qualifications they may be respectively entitled by the Old Establishment, provided unquestionable testimony be produced that they have not at any time declined to serve when capable of performing their Duty, and such as may not have it in their power to produce such testimonials (except in case where by misconduct they have forfeited all Claims to remuneration for past Services) will be also superannuated at the farmer established allowance of Superannuation. |
By the Commissioners for Executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
|
His Majesty having been pleased by His Order in Council of the 28th ultimo (a Copy of which is annexed) to confer upon Masters of His Royal Navy the rank of Lieutenant, according to the following Regulation, viz. That they shall take Rank in the Ships of which they shall be Warranted Masters, immediately after the Junior Lieutenant of such Ships ; and shall have Precedence in Rank of Surgeons ; You are hereby required and directed to cause the said Regulation to be duly observed.
Given under our Hands the 1st October, 1808.
R. Bickerton,
Wm. Johnstone Hope,
Wm. Domett.
To the respective Flag, Officers, Captains, Commanders, and Officers commanding His Majesty�s Ships and Vessels.
By Command of their Lordships,
W. W. Pole. |
|
At the Court at the Queen�s Palace,
28 September, 1808,
Present,
The King�s Most Excellent Majesty in Council.
Whereas there was this day read at the Board a Memorial from the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated the 27th of this instant, in the Words following, viz.
"May it please your Majesty,
"The several Masters of the Royal Navy, who have had the misfortune to become Prisoners of War in France, by the Ships to which they belonged having been captured, or cast away upon the coasts of the Enemy, have represented to us that they are classed with, and in all respects subject to the treatment of Foremast-men, in consequence of their not possessing the rank of Commissioned Officers in your Majesty's Service ;
"The Memorial presented to us on this subject has been referred to the Commissioners for Transports, for the purpose of such measures being taken by them, as might tend to redress. the evil complained of ; the said Commissioners have in their Report to us, relative to this matter, stated, that they had many months since made, a full representation on the subject to the proper Officer in the Department of the French Marine; and that they are of opinion, nothing effectual can be done in favour of the Masters of British Men of War, while Prisoners in France, unless they shall have professional rank conferred on them by your Majesty in Council.
" We do therefore most humbly propose to your Majesty, in order to secure the Masters of your Majesty's Navy from the improper treatment beforementioned, that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to confer upon this useful Class of Officers, the rank of Lieutenant, according to the following Regulation, viz. That they shall take rank in the Ships of which they shall be warranted Masters, immediately after the junior Lieutenant of such Ships.
" And as your Majesty was pleased, by your Order in Council of the 23rd January, 1805, to direct,' that the Surgeons in your Majesty's Naval Service should have a similar rank with Officers of the same class in the Land Service, subordinate however to that of the Lieutenants of your Majesty's Ships and Vessels, we do further propose that Masters may have precedence in rank, of Surgeons, which, from the nature of the duty a Master has to execute, is essentially necessary."
His Majesty, having taken the said Memorial into consideration, was pleased, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, to approve of what is therein proposed ; and his Majesty is hereby pleased to order, that the Masters of the Royal Navy do take Rank in the Ships of which they shall be warranted Masters, immediately after the Junior Lieutenant of such Ships ; and that they have precedence in Rank of Surgeons. And the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty are to give the necessary directions herein accordingly.
W, Fawkener. |
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