Col's. Co. commanded by
Capt. Lt. Robt. Crawford, Capt. Lt. Philom. Powell
Lt. Colonel's Co.
commanded by Lieut. Edm. Yarborough Arthur Townshend
Major's Co. commanded by Lieut. Theoph. Bleehenden William Pearson
Geo. Littleton, Captain Lieut. Edmund Wilson James Man
Sir Thomas Cutler Robert Lloyd John Hill
Edward Nott Francis Hobblin Alexander Erwin
Francis Ezod Francis Butler Thomas Man
Edward Harris John Thorn William Somers
Samuel Scudamore George Rooke Gilbert Simons
Chichester Wray Henry Hewys Geo. Littleton
Charles Herbert Thomas Whaley Francis Ezord
Edmund Plowden William Oglethorpe Jo. Whaley
State Major, or the Staff Officers of the Admiral Regiment,
Richard Beauvoir, Adjutant.
Tobias Legross, Quarter-Master.
Samuel Tatham, Chirurgeon.
John Tatham, Chirurgeon's Mate.
This regiment consisted of twelve companies, without any
grenadiers, had yellow coats lined with red, and their colours
were a red cross, with rays of the sun issuing from each of its
angles. It stood the third in seniority in the line of that day;
and it may be presumed, from its subsequent reduction, that a step
was obtained in it by the 4th, _then_ the Regiment of Holland,
commanded by John, the second Lord Mulgrave, and now entitled The
Old Buffs.
Betwixt 1687 and 1698, there were several maritime regiments raised
for the purposes, and under the regulations I have stated. They
were Colonels Mordaunt, Colt, Seymour, and Brudenell's; also, Sir
Cloudesley Shovel's, my Lord Torrington's, and the Marquis of
Carmarthen's; all of which were disbanded during the currency of
1697 and 1698.
The expences incurred by the maintenance of the maritime troops
were classed with the estimates of the navy, and money was issued
from time to time, by warrant from the Lord High Treasurer to the
Treasurer of the Navy, who placed it in the hands of a person
especially appointed to receive and pay it. Under this system,
the Admiralty and Navy Boards were subjected to much trouble, in
forming and directing its different arrangements.
From the nature of the marine service, at this period, few or no
achievements occur which can be peculiarly attached to it as a
corps. We find them honourably mentioned in the operations against
St. Christopher's, and the successful attack upon Cork, under the
æra of 1690. The detail of loss upon the former occasion is thus
described, and evinces that their energies also, as soldiers, were
called forth when occasion might require them. "In this action we
had killed and wounded upwards of 130 men, and Captain Keigwin, _a
sea commander_, who was appointed _Colonel of the Marine Regiment_,
(which consisted of about 230 _seamen_) was shot through the thigh,
of which wound he died, before he could be carried on board, and
Captain Brisbane, who _acted as First Captain to the Marines_,
receiving a shot through the body, expired that night on board the
Bristol."
Embodied under similar circumstances, they of course partook in
the various services of debarkation, which the emergency of those
times might have demanded, until the peace of Ryswick, which, for a
while, closed the existence of marine forces.
The expences of King William's war, upwards of eight years'
duration, are so moderate when contrasted with these of later days,
that they merit a place in any retrospect which treats of that
period; and it is to be remarked that 40,000 seamen were maintained
during the last years of it.
Total navy estimates allowed £16,303,713 15 0
Total army do. do. £18,487,671 17 10
-----------------
£34,764,385 12 10
=================
In all, thirty-four millions seven hundred sixty-four thousand
three hundred eighty-five pounds, twelve shillings and ten pence!
I cannot bid adieu to the transactions of this auspicious reign,
which has established the happiness and the liberties of my
country, without commenting upon two events of it, that must be
materially interesting to every military man--I mean the code of
laws for the good order and discipline of our armies, and the grant
of half-pay bestowed upon disbanded officers.
The first was adopted in an hour of urgent expediency, in order
to restrain the uncontrouled outrages of a discontented soldiery,
on account of arrears due to them. This act was passed in great
haste upon the 12th day of April, 1689, and has progressively
experienced these various improvements that arise out of occasions.
It undergoes annually a legislative sanction, under the title of
the Mutiny Bill.
Half-pay was a gift decreed upon the 18th of January, 1697, and has
subsequently involved many a doubt, whether as having been intended
in the light of a retaining fee, or as a reward for past services.
Opposite decisions have authorised different constructions, while
the lapse of more than one hundred years has not yet explicitly
brought the point to an issue.
The manly and independent spirit of our judges, pure as these laws
that controul their opinions, has not been able to adjust the
question.
In the case of General Ross, which was submitted to their enquiry
and determination--they resolved that he could not be amenable, _as
a half-pay officer_, to military jurisdiction; but the discussion
extended no farther.
In 1715 a number of officers, however, who drew this recompence
from the public, most ingloriously joined the Pretender. The issue
being unfortunate for them, they were all taken prisoners, and
afterwards tried and executed by _martial_ law; although they might
have been capitally convicted _as rebels, by the common law of the
land_.
In having adduced these opposite examples, I cannot withhold a
remark, that under no one head of the articles of war is this
description of men noticed; and I can readily anticipate the answer
of an Englishman, were I to ask him if any laws should affect such
an object as I have defined, in which he is not expressly specified?
In this flourishing country, where industry and enterprize are open
to all, it often happens that an officer, when the State no longer
wants his services, turns his attention and the little capital he
may possess, to commercial pursuits. In this new profession he very
probably advances the public interests more essentially than were
he recalled to his former duties, upon every fresh emergency.
_That_ patriotism and loyalty, which I am convinced in those days
influence every soldier, who, in the smallest portion, tastes
of the bread of his King, will enforce through each quarter of
Britain a local activity, and when necessary, a military zeal. As
volunteer companies in the present, and very probably under the
future political circumstances of our country, must form a branch
of our force, who are there more capable of animating them than men
who have been trained to arms, whose allegiance is undisputed, and
whose early sentiments and ideas no change of life can extinguish?
Some legislative assurances of exemption in favour of officers of
this description, and who engage to discharge the obligations of
general association when required, would be politic and gratifying.
Half-pay might also very properly be no longer considered as a
retainder of those who have served any marked number of years; for
I would discriminate between the veteran and the stripling, who are
alike entitled to the same remuneration; though, I should humbly
conceive, to separate indulgencies. Having made this digression,
suited, I trust, to the present topic and the present times, I
return to the train of my narrative.