At a period when the commerce of this Country bore no proportion
to its present state, the supplies of Seamen, under a system of
impress, were extremely precarious, and often inadequate to the
public emergencies. Experience had also shewn, that raw landsmen
were most improper substitutes for this want, as the sudden
change of life rendered them subject to immediate disease, and
sea-sickness, at a time when their active services were required.
These united causes originally suggested the expediency of forming
an establishment of Marines, who were raised and embodied with the
sole view of being a nursery to man our fleets. They were always
quartered in the vicinity of our principal sea-ports, where they
were regularly trained to the different methods of ship fighting,
and to these various manœuvres of a vessel, in which numbers were
necessary. Being thus locally placed, their value was early felt
by their exertions in equipping the squadrons fitted out, when
but little confidence could be placed in the sailor, perhaps just
impressed into the service.
The general principles and regulations that were instituted for
the conduct of the Marine regiments, from their formation, to the
close of the reign of King William III. evidently shew that they
were entirely devoted to naval purposes. As each individual became
properly qualified to act on board of ship as a foremast-man, which
was uniformly encouraged, he was discharged from his regiment,
entered upon the books as such, and levy-money was granted to the
officers of his corps, in order to supply the vacancy of him who
was thus transferred.
The first authentic instance of any regiment of this description
appears in the Army List of 1684, and from the return of the
general review on Putney Heath, upon the first day of October in
that year. Neither the exact æra of its establishment, or that of
the other maritime forces, is clearly ascertained; and it would be
absurd to speculate upon dates which can yield no material result.
The return which I have mentioned runs thus, and is annexed at
large: "The Lord High Admiral of England, his Royal Highness the
Duke of York and Albany's _Maritime Regiment of Foot_, commanded
by the Honourable Sir Charles Littleton, called also the Admiral
Regiment.
Sir Charles Littleton, Colonel.
Oliver Niclas, Lieutenant Colonel.
Richard Bagett, Major.