Whereas Application has been made to Us, in order to prevent Disputes
arising among the Flag Officers, who have been or may hereafter
be employed in Our Service, upon the Construction of that Part of
the Proclamation of Our Lords Justices, during Our Absence, on
the Nineteenth Day of June, One thousand seven hundred and forty,
appointing a Distribution of the Spanish Prizes and Bounty Money, which
relates to the Shares granted to the Flag or Flag Officers, who shall
be actually on Board at the taking any Prize, or shall be directing or
assisting therein: And whereas We having taken the Opinion of Our Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty, do judge it expedient to make such a
Regulation, as may explain and settle the Right of Flag Officers, and
Commanders, in all Cases of Prizes taken from any of Our Enemies at
Sea; We therefore, with the Advice of Our Privy Council, do by this
Our Proclamation[1] publish, order, and declare, That the following
Regulations be observed: First, That a Flag Officer commanding in
Chief upon Service, shall have One Eighth Part of all Prizes taken by
Ships under his Command: Secondly, That a Flag Officer sent to command
at Jamaica, or elsewhere, shall have no Right to any Share of Prizes
taken by Ships employed there before he arrives, within the Limits of
his Command: Thirdly, That when an inferior Flag Officer, or Private
Ships, are sent out to reinforce a superior Flag Officer at Jamaica,
or elsewhere, the said superior Flag Officer shall have no Right to
any Share in Prizes taken by them, before their Arrival within the
Limits of his Command: Fourthly, That a Chief Flag Officer, returning
home from Jamaica, or elsewhere, shall have no Share in Prizes taken
by the Ships left at Jamaica, or elsewhere, after he has got out of
the Limits of his Command: Fifthly, That if a Flag Officer is sent
to command in the Out-ports of this Kingdom, he shall have no Share
in Prizes taken by Ships that sail from that Port, by Order from
the Admiralty: Sixthly, That when more Flag Officers than one serve
together, the Eighth Part of all Prizes taken by any Ships of the Fleet
or Squadron, shall be divided in the following Proportion, viz. If
there be but Two Flag Officers, the Chief shall have Two Third Parts,
and the other shall have the remaining Third Part; but if the Number of
Flag Officers be more than Two, the Chief shall have only one half, and
the other half shall be divided equally among the other Flag Officers:
Seventhly, That Commodores, with Captains under them, shall be esteemed
as Flag Officers, with respect to their Right to an Eighth Part of
Prizes, whether commanding in Chief, or serving under Command.
Given at Our Court at Kensington, this Fourteenth Day of June, 1744,
in the Eighteenth Year of Our Reign.