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264'HJ*»rNAUTICAL STANDARD• ‘-.-f.W.-k.-»*-«T._* 4.V,— « i-A-I- •* % «* # « ta • *mirable an Institution as the Royal TNaval .'Female School at Richmond, the otily thirrg wahting is a fund of‘which the children may avail themselves to appropriate its advantages.A SAILOR9 S WID O TV WITHO UTDA UGHTERS.At a. meeting of ladies held at Mrs. Skyring’s, in Somerset House, on the 21st February, • 1850, for theconsideration of a letter, which appeared in the NauticalStandard of the 29th January, 1850, signed “ A Sailor’s Widow, without Daughters,”It was resolved unanimously,That the lamented death of her late Majesty, the Queen Dowager, and the consequent withdrawal from the Benevolent Insiitutions of this country (more especially those connected with the Naval Service), of her powerful patronage and liberal support, will be severely felt by many Widows and Orphans of Naval Officers.That to meet this exigency, as well as to furnish a memorial appropriate to the Widow of a Sailor King, it is expedient to raise a fund, to be called the li Adelaide Memorial Fund.”That the purpose of this fund be, to provide for the Orphan Daughters of Naval and Marine Officers the means of obtaining a suitable education, and of establishing themselves in such positions in life as may enable them to secure a respectable maintenance.That this aid be extended, according to the comparative necessities of the applicants, either by special grants to meet special circumstances, or by annual grants to be continued so long as the recipients may need assistance; but in all cases to cease on marriage.That the eminent virtues of the late Queen Adelaide, and the affectionate remembrance in which she is held by all classes, will commend this “ Memorial ” to ;general attention, and that it is therefore expedient that a public subscription be opened, and that all persons be invited to contribute.That collecting-books and cards be issued, under the direction of a committee, and that the Navy-Agents and Bankers be solicited to receive the amount of thecontributions so raised.That Thomas Stilwell, Esq., be requested t© becomethe Treasurer’of the Fund.That should the amount collected, unhappily prove insufficient for this object, it be given to the “Royal Naval Female School,” to form a Fund for the gratuitous education of one or more pupils.That the patronage of benevolent and influential persons be solicited, and that a committee be formed to carry out these designs.”1: c: ENG}Hon- Secs-pro tem-On the 4th of April next, at 2 o'clock, a Fourth Meeting will be held at Mrs. Skyring’s, and the attendance of Ladies disposed to aid this cause is earnestlyinvited.Admirals SirE. Codrington, K.C.B., G.C.M.G.; Sir W. H. Gage, G C.H.; Hon. Sir T. R. Capel, K.C.B.; Sir C. Adams, K.C.B.; Sir C. Ogle, Bart.; Rear-Admiral Sir F. Beaufort, K.C.B.; Com.-Supt. Right Hon. Lord John Hay, C.B. Captains Sir B. W. Walker, K.C.B.; Sir S. Brown, K.H.; — Vincent, K.H.; H. Austin, C.B.; — Dickinson, R.N.; — Varlo, R.M.; Sir J. Liddell, Kt. M.D.; the countess of Hard-wicke; Hon. Lady Blackwood; Hon. Lady Grey ; Lady J. Hay; Lady Capel ; Lady Thornborough ; Lady Hillyer : Lady Lawford ; Lady Beaufort; Lady Parry ; - • .. . . . -w 1 A 1 • 1 f f T 1 1Lady Walker; Lady Brown; Mrs. Admiral Walpole Brown: Mrs. Basil Hall; and the Misses Codrington,* « . i « .« t « •have expressed their approbation of the plan, and intention to co-operate. The Earl and Countess Howe have also signified their intention to support the “ Adelaide Memorial Fund.”THE GROG QUESTION.To the Editor of the Nautical Standard.glH,—As there is much discussion going on about the allowance of grog in the navy, many being for its continuance as it is, and others for reducing the allowance, thinking, I suppose, that it will in a great measure prevent drunkenness, more particularly when at sea, which, if it could be accomplished would be a great good. Now, Sir, I am one who do not think that the present allowance is any too much for our seaman, if he gets no more than his gill mixed with three waters, but the evil lies with the issuing of it out. As an old mate of last war, I would suggest to the powers that be—a simple plan which would prevent anything like bartering or selling their grog to one another, and which would, no doubt, in time give general satisfaction, and having seen it in practice for some years, While serving in the West Indies, I can vouch for the system having worked well. The plan was simply this, —On the 1st of every month, the crew were piped up, and each mail was abked if he wished to have his allowance of rum serVed out to him, or to have it stopped and be paid for it; those who chose to have it, had it served out twice a day as usual, but it must be drank at the tub before leaving it. By this plan, you prevent anything like possibility of drunkenness, and what has been tried and known to work well, might again be put into practice with the same good results.OLD BENBOW.VICTUALLING THE NAVY.To the Editor of the Nautical Standard.Si^—rSince the cohtemplated reduction in the allow aqce of spirits issuedip the Navy, thany letters hav-been written on the subject, some for, and otheragainst, reducing the quantity at present issued; I therefore offer a few remarks from my own experience, and if the committee appointed to investigate, have not yet decided what steps to take, perhaps these remarks may prove useful. First and foremost, I detest drunkenness in any shape or form, either in officer or seaman, and candidly acknowledge that nine-tenths of the corporal punishment in the Navy originates in drunkenness. Then, say some, do awaywith the grog; others, how is this to be accomplished ? I will tell you. Having served before the mast, on all stations, and the major part of that time had to subsist on a man-of-war’s-man’s allowance, frequently on two-thirds, and sometimes on half, and of an inferior quality, perhaps I may be allowed to know something about it. The gill of rum, or pint of grog, as issued to the seaman, is considered by every man before the mast, to be worth 6d., and on the coast of Africa generally 13 pence per pint, and plenty there are who purchase at the latter price. I have seen four dollars (equal 17s. 4d.) very frequently given for five gills of rum1, on the coast of Africa. A gill of rum is too much for any one to drink at one time, hence the objection to serving it all out at noon. In most ships, the custom is half at noon, the other half in the evening, and here is where the evil exists, I need not explain, most of my readers understand. Now should a man’s grog be stopped, or watered (additional) as a punishment, he will, if possible, obtain more, and at any price, and often drink to excess to drown sorrow (as it is termed), when the next morning might behold him receiving three or four dozen lashes for being drunk the night before. Well, enquire others, what would you do ? The provisions as contracted for, when new, are generally pretty good for the price, but they are very frequently very inferior, and oft times very old, the provisions (salt meat in particular) are kept long in store, and when opened for use, the nature is entirely gone out of them, and the contractors are not made to supply at all times the.,provisions so good as those tendered for, and the officers not having to subsist entirely on ship’s allowance, do not not look after the quality, the seamen must not, and the petty officers, should they do so at the ship’s-company’s request, are very often marked men, and for the slightest offence are disrated: so much for the first part. New for the second, the present allowance of provisions is notenough for a man: the cocoa is enough, and generally good; the tea and sugar enough, if good, but too frequently the tea cannot be drank, and the sugar is of the coarsest sort brought to England, and can be purchased at any sugar merchant’s for 2d. per lb.,whilst the Government price is 4d. per lb. The biscuits, good when new, but instead of lib. per man per day, it should be li lbs. per day. Fresh meat 14 lbs., instead of 1 lb., salt beef and pork li lbs., instead of | lb., with flour and peas as at present, but the flour, raisins, and suet should be better than at present supplied. Give the seaman this increase of provisions, and take away half the gill of rum, and serve the other half out at noon, and any man feeling disposed to leave the other half gill behind, let the purser pay him 3d. for every half gill, then there will be no lower-deck contracts, and I think but very little drunkenness. By adding 4 lb. of biscuit and J lb. of meat daily, the cost would be 3d., and every man would consider the increase of provisions equal to the half gill of rum stopped. One lieutenant has said that a pound of bread is too much for a man per day: had he to subsist on it when on fresh beef, no vegetables, and no bread to be purchased alongside, he would find himself as I have many times, when three days’ bread have been served out, on the third day not a bit of bread was to be found on the lower-deck, and almost every ship in commission, when the crew are on fresh beef (particularly winter time) request the bread to be served out daily, in order that they may not be without bread more than one meal at a time. If a man could have a little beef or pork, and bread for his supper, with a bason of tea, few would care about grog, but with the present mode of victualling a man looks for his grog as his principal support. Some writers have remarked on the quantity of savings paid lor; true, there is much left behind, sometimes from being very bad, others where the men have been enabled to purchase a stock of provisions when in harbour, out of their monthly money, which is a part of their daily wages. Some ships’ companies are even forbid this privilege, but the generality of savings are effected by the officers, none caring to take the ship’s provisions, if they can procure other, for frequently a man’s daily allowance of salt meat when boiled does not weigh four ounces, and I have been for 14 months at one time on the Coast of Africa on salt provisions, the ship's log will prove it. I believe very few officers are competent to judge the quantity of provisions sufficient for a man’s daily subsistence, as they are very seldom, if ever, kept on a man-of-war’s-man's allow-aace, but to take avfay half the gill of rum and give each man 3s. per month (as in contemplation) will not benefit the seamen, or 'decrease drunkenness or punishment, for more means will be used to obtain liquor, and a greater price given for it, unless such measures as I propose are adopted, viz., to give each man the full value of his grog, by adding 4 lb. of meat and 4 lb. of bread daily, or increase the pay 7s. per month, the former I believe to be preferable, and then at any time if the other half gill be left behind let the payment be 3d. for every half gill, and with such a price, seamenwould not be compelled to spend their monthly money to diet themselves, which is the case at present. Iknew an instance of a man selling his shift to the bomb-boat man for bread, and receiving three dozen lashes for the same, and this is not a solitary case.BAXTER.
Newspaper Details
Nautical Standard
London, Middlesex, GB
Sat, Mar 30, 1850
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 10 May 2019
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