The era of peace was marked, as usual, by a general reduction of
his Majesty's servants.
In the course of the year 1763, a very considerable and impolitic
diminution took place in the effective force of Marines; but as it
is a narrow system, which experience and their acknowledged utility
have subverted, at the period I now write, any discussion upon its
erroneous principle would be superfluous and unbecoming.
As I have already noticed that the Field Officers of my Corps are
peculiarly calculated for maintaining discipline and good order
throughout, it is a matter of surprize that the establishment
should have been so very low at this time, and that their
situations should have been more generally considered as posts of
sinecure than of active duty.
The meritorious services of the Marine Corps, during the late
brilliant contest, well entitled it to _some solid_ marks of public
recompence, as well as of public applause.
With this view, and striking home to the national gratitude, as
yet unallayed by time, the following proposals for increasing the
number of established Marine Field Officers were ushered in to the
Board of Admiralty in 1763:--
"Proposals for increasing the number of established Marine Field
Officers from six to fifteen, at a very inconsiderable additional
expence to the public. The Field Officers to have Companies, and to
serve on their present pay until six Companies become vacant; those
Companies to be given to the six senior Field Officers; the nine
_junior_ Field Officers have Companies already. The fifteen senior
First Lieutenants to have Brevets as Captains, or to be appointed
Captain Lieutenants, and to do all duties as Captains on their
present pay.
"This plan will cause no _present_ additional expence, and but a
very trifling one after the whole is completed, as will appear from
the following scheme:
1763
Present Establishment. Proposed Establishment.
PER DIEM. PER DIEM.
3 Lieut. Colonels a £2 11 0 3 Colonels a £3 12 0
3 Majors a 2 5 0 6 Lieut. Colonels a 5 2 0
9 Brevet Captains a 4 10 0 6 Majors a 4 10 0
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Total 9 6 0 Total 13 4 0
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