The National Register.
London, England, 1814-05-08 00:00:00

" ADMIRALTY OFFICE, 30TII APRIL, 1814.

" The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty cannot announce
to the fleet the termination of hostilities with France, without ex-
pressing to the petty officers, the seamen, and royal marines of his
Majesty's ships, the high sense which their Lordships entertain of
their gallant and glorious services during the late war.
" The patience, perseverance, and discipline; the skill, courage,
and devotion, with which the seamen and marines have upheld the
best interests, and achieved the noblest triumphs of the country,
entitle them to the gratitude, not only of their native Jaw], which
they have preserved inviolate, but of the other nations of Europe,
of whose ultimate deliverance their successes maintained the hope, •
and accelerated the accomplishment.
" Their Lordships regret that the unjust and unprovoked aggres-
sion of the American Government, in declaring war upon this
country, after all the causes of its original complaint had been re-
moved, does not permit, them to reduce the fleet at once to a peace
establishment ; but as the question now at issue in this war is the
maintenance of those mai itime rights, which are the sure founda-.
tions of our naval glory, their Lordships look with confidence to
that part of the fleet, which it may be still necessary to keep in
commission, for a continuance of that spirit of discipline and gal•
lantry, which has raised the British navy to its present pre-eminence.
a In reducing the fleet to the establishment necessary for the
American war, the seamen and marines will find their Lordships
attentive to the claims of their respective service!.
" The reduction will be first made in the crews of those ships
which it may he found expedient to pay off, and from them the
petty officers and seamen will be successively discharged, according
to the length of their •ervices ; hes,inning in the first instance, with
all those who were in his 'Majesty's service, previous to the 7th •
March, 1803, and have since confirmed in it.
" When the reduction sball have been thus made, as to the ships
paid off. their Loidsinps will direct their attention to those which
it may he found nt cessary to keep in commission, awl, as soon as
the circumstances of the war will admit, will bring home and dis-
charge all persons having the same standing and periods of service,
as those before discharged from the ships paid off: so that, in a few
months, the situation of individuals will be equalized ; all men of a
certain period of service will be at liberty to return home to their
families; and the number which it may be still necessary to retain,
will be composed of those who have been the shortest time in the
sea vice.
a An arrangement in itself so just, cannot, in their Lordship's
,tpinion. fail to give general saiisfaction ; and they are induced to
make this communication to the fleet. because they think that the
exemplary good conduct of all the petty officers, seamen, and ma-
rines, entitle them to every confidence, and to this full and candid
p:anatioir of their Lordships intentions.
" Their Lordships cannot conclude without expressing their hope,
that the vahair of his Majesty's fleets and aiiries will speedily bring
the American contest to a conclusion honourable to the British
name, safe for British interests, and conducive to the lasi!"..iprepose
e: the civilizt a world.
" By command of their Leed4iivq,
"3. W. CROKER.''