"Our pleasure is, that this establishment of six regiments
of Marines, and six other regiments, for _sea service_, do
commence and take place from the respective times of raising.
And our farther pleasure is, That the order given by our
dearest Brother the late King deceased, and such orders as
are or shall be given by us touching the pay or entertainment
of our said forces, or any of them, or any charges thereunto
belonging, shall be duly complied with, and that no new charge
be added to this establishment, without being communicated to
our High Treasurer, or Commissioners of our Treasury for the
time being.
"Given at our Court at St. James's, first day of June in the
first year of our reign.
"By her Majesty's command,
"GODOLPHIN."
I annex, also, the expences incurred by one regiment of this
description, which will be a guide to the total charge for the
whole of them.
One Company, _per day._ _per year._
FIELD and STAFF OFFICERS.
Colonel as Colonel £0 12 0 £219 0 0
Lieut. Col. as Lieut. Col. 0 7 0 127 15 0
Major as Major 0 5 0 91 5 0
Chaplain 0 6 8 121 13 4
Adjutant 0 4 0 73 0 0
Quartermaster 0 4 0 73 0 0
Chirurgeon 0 4 0 73 0 0
One Mate to ditto 0 2 6 45 12 6
-------- ----------
£2 5 2 £824 5 10
======== ==========
One Company, _per day._ _per year._
Captain £0 8 0 £146 0 0
First Lieutenant 0 4 0 73 3 0
Second Lieutenant 0 3 0 54 15 0
2 Serjeants, each 1_s_ 6_d_ 0 3 0 54 15 0
3 Corporals, each 1_s_ 0 3 0 54 15 0
2 Drummers, each 1_s_ 0 2 0 36 10 0
59 Privates, each 8_d_ 1 19 4 717 16 8
-------- ------------
£3 2 4 £1,137 11 8
======== ============
Pay of 10 Comp. more of the }
like number and same rates } 31 3 4 11,375 16 8
--------- -------------
34 5 8 £12,513 8 4
========= =============
One Company of Grenadiers to complete this Regiment, as follows:
1 Captain £0 8 0 £146 0 0
1 First Lieutenant 0 4 0 73 0 0
1 Second Lieutenant 0 4 0 73 0 0
3 Serjeants, each 1_s_ 6_d_ 0 4 6 82 2 6
3 Corporals, each 1_s_ 0 3 0 54 15 0
59 Grenadiers, each 8_d_ 1 19 4 717 16 8
---------- -------------
Total this Regiment 39 15 8 £14,520 18 4
========== =============
Pay 5 Regiments more, at }
the same rates, &c. } 198 18 4 72,604 11 8
---------- -------------
Total for Marines £238 14 0 £87,125 10 0
========== =============
The six regiments of Foot for _sea service_ were exactly the same
numbers and same denominations, excepting as to officers, who
among these corps, were detailed as Ensigns instead of Second
Lieutenants. Classed under one general head, the twelve regiments
cost the public £238 14 0 _per day_, and £174,251 0 0 _per year_.
The idea of this class of men being raised with a view of becoming
a nursery for the Navy, seems to have been now relinquished, and
the following articles for their government and conduct were
framed, and adopted, by her Majesty in council, upon the 1st of
July, 1702.
1st. They were to be employed on board her Majesty's ships as there
should be occasion, and quartered at, or as near as might be to the
dock-yards, when on shore, to guard them from embezzlements, or any
attempts of an enemy.
2d. In all matters relating to their subsistence and clearings,
when on board and on shore, they were to be paid in like manner as
the land forces, and the same deductions to be made from them for
clothing, and one day's pay, once a year, from each officer and
soldier for the hospital.
3d. They were to be allowed an equal proportion of provisions with
the seamen, without any deductions from their pay for the same.
4th. And to have the same allowance for short provisions (when
circumstances render the issue of full allowance imprudent) as the
seamen, to be paid to themselves, or their assigns.
5th. Such regiments, or parts of them as should be on shore, were
to be mustered by a commissary or commissaries in the same manner
as the land forces, excepting in this case, that they, the said
commissaries, were obliged to allow at each muster on his or their
rolls, all such officers and soldiers as should appear to him or
them by authentic vouchers, or certificates, to be put on board
any of her Majesty's ships or vessels, and that such part of the
aforesaid regiments as should be at sea, might be paid while they
were so, it was directed, That the commanding Marine Officer with
them should, every two months, return to the Commissary General
of the Musters a perfect list of all the officers and soldiers on
board each ship, signed by himself, and all the Marine Officers,
expressing the times of entry, death, and discharge of each man,
that so the Commissary might compare the said lists with the
monthly books sent to the Navy Office, and allow such of the
officers and soldiers as should appear to him fit to be so allowed.
6th. To prevent confusion, not less than fifteen Marine Soldiers,
and with them an Officer, were to be put on board a ship, at any
one time, unless in cases of necessity.
7th. And for the ease of the whole a particular Pay-master was
appointed, with power to solicit the arrears of the regiments,
and to receive all sums of money from the Treasurer of the Navy;
and immediately upon the receipt thereof, to issue the same to
the respective Colonels, or their Agents; he was also required,
diligently and carefully to adjust all accounts relating to the
regiments, according to such muster rolls as should be delivered to
him by the Commissary, or Commissaries; and those muster rolls were
to be allowed of, as sufficient vouchers for the charges in the
accounts, and for making out debentures and warrants.
8th. To enable the aforesaid Pay-master to keep an Office, and to
defray the charge thereof, and of Clerks and other contingencies,
he was allowed sixpence in the pound, pursuant to the subscription
of the respective Colonels, which he had power to deduct out of
all monies issued to him, in the same manner as the poundage was
deducted from the land forces.
9th. For rendering such parts of the regiments as should be on
shore the more useful, her Majesty declared it should be left
to herself, or the High Admiral, to dispose of them at such
places nearest to the several dock yards, as might be judged most
convenient: And since there might be occasion for Labourers to
dispatch necessary works, her Majesty empowered her High Admiral,
or the Commissioners for executing that office, to cause to be
employed in the aforesaid dock yards, so many of the Marine
Soldiers as might be judged fitting, and to make them such daily
allowance for the same, besides their ordinary pay, as to him or
them should seem reasonable.
Thus placed under the controul of the Lord High Admiral, he was
pleased to nominate Brigadier General Seymour to superintend the
whole; whose peculiar duties were to observe, that the men were
comfortably quartered, that the officers were attentive in their
respective departments, and that the Marine Soldiers, when embarked
on board of ship, were supplied with proper sea clothes, and other
suitable necessaries.
During this reign also, a number of independent companies of
Marines was raised for the express purpose of defending our
different West India possessions, to which quarter they were sent,
were embodied into three regiments, and where they remained many
years.