The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-01 00:00:00

System of Periodical Returns.

Quarterly Returne.—Using the forms that have been
already adopted, you will direct each leading man to pre-
pare, in his own handwriting, a quarterly return of the
conduct of the men composing his gang, which he will
hand over, when completed, to his inspector, stating in it,
on the one hand, any causes of complaint that he may see
reason to make against the men for waste of stores, neglect
of work, insubordination, or insobriety, and, on the other,
his opinion of their respective merits.

In-spector's Report toForeman.—The inspector will trans-
mit these returns, when completed, to the foreman of the
yard, under whom he is more immediately serving, accom-
panied by remarks, also in his own handwriting, and stat-
ing whether, in his judgment, the leading men have done
their dirty satisfactorily ; and the foreman, whose business
it is to make themselves personally acquainted with the cha-
racter and conduct of all who work under them, will in like
manner transmit the inspector's reporLs and returns, so
soon as they have reported on them, to the master ship-
wright, stating how far their own opinion confirms the
character given of the gangs by the leading men and
inspectors.
Both the foremen and the inspectors will include in these
returns the single station men placed under their orders,
who, with the artificers, form the class out of which the
leading men are to be selected. Other single station men
are to be reported upon in like manner by the officer under
whose immediate orders they are serving.
The superintendents are to take care not to permit these
returns to lapse into a matter of form. The superior ship-
wright officers must investigate them closely at the end of
every quarter ; and the inferior officers and leading men
will be noted by the Surveyor of the Navy, for the infor-
mation of the Admiralty, according to the ability displayed
in them.

Mode of Recommending for Promotion as Leading Man.
—lt is their lordships' direction that the quarterly return
made originally by the leading man, should pass on to the
master shipwright, with the remarks of the inspectors and
foremen attached to it ; and whenever a vacancy for a lead-
ing man occurs, the superintendent will direct the master
shipwright, with his assistants, to lay before him the three
names which they recommend for promotion, stating, in
writing, the grounds of their recommendation, and produC-
ing the returns upon which it is founded. It is the duty
of the superintendent to make strict inquiry, and to inves-
tigate closely these retinas and recommendations, and if he
see reason to suppose that they have not been prepared
with pel.Zect impartiality, to report the same to the Ad-
miralty..

Examination.—He will also-direct the candidates to be
examined, in his presence, by the master shipwright and
his assistants, in those matters which are essential to the
proper performance of their duties.
Qualifications of a Leading Man.—To a leading man, an
artificer should, in addition to a thorough practical know-
ledge of his trade, be able to m rite a legible hand ; he
should understand arithmetic, as far as vulgar and decimal
fractions; and he should be well acquainted with the de-
tails of forming and combining the different parts of a ship,
and the various methods used in trimro,n,g and fastening
them. Upon all these points the superintendent will draw
up a report, which he will transmit through the Surveyor
of the Navy to the Admiralty, with the original documents
annexed to it, submitted to him by the master shipwright.
The surveyor will report his opinion of the claims of the
respective parties ; and from the list of candidates one of
the names thus sent up will be appointed by board order
to fill the vacancy.
Promotion from Leading Man to Inspector.
Half-yearly Report of Foremen on Conduct of Inspectors
and Leading Men.—My lords regard it as the peculiar
duty of the master shipwright, his assistants, and the fore-
men of the yard, to watch over the conduct of the leading
men and the inspectors ; and they desire that on the Ist of
January and July the foremen will prepare a report upon
tthheemeffi,
wcihiencchyisotor inefficiencybekeptin
of the officers serving under
the master shi
t which
pwright's office
stating any grounds of complaint that they may have
against them, and any particular cause of satisfaction, such
ehtetrer circumstance
conduct
rhey
as the increased efficiency of labour, a greater economy 'ln
for
mayth euts use
think
kf
conducivestores, o
to
r
antyheobt
which they are responsible.

The original Reports of Foremen on Offiters to be sent at
the end of the Year to the Admiralty,-1y lords desire that
these reports be submitted through the Sul eeyor of the
Navy for their information. They are to be sent up on
the er
ship of January and July, with the remarks of the
shipwright
tattached to them ; and the promotion
masterh
of the foremen to the rank of master shipwright's assistants
will depend very much upon the impression thus given of
their intelligence and capacity.
Mode of
Recommending for an Inspectorship.—When a
vacancy for an inspector occurs the superintendent will
direct the master
shipwright to, select from the leading
men, and from the draughtsmen in the mould loft, the
names of the indiN Iduals whom he thinks most comperent
to fill it, and submit them to him, with the reports of the
foremen upon which his recommendation is founded. The
superintendent, in addition to these, will call for the re-
ports made by the inspectors to the foremen, and pay par-
ticular attention to the returns prepared by the leading
men, as well as to the qualifications of the draughtsmen,
who are put in nomination, as these ought to furnish proof
of their zeal and intelligence as subordinates ; and having
satisfied his own mind as to the fitness of the individuals
submitted to him for the office of inspector, and as to the

fairness with which they have been selected, he will, as in
the case of the leading men, direct them to be examined,
in his presence, by the master shipwright and his assistants.
Qualification of an Inspector.—To be an inspector, a man
should write well , he should understand arithmetic, as far
as vulgar and decimal fractions, and be able to measure
plain surfaces and cubes. He should likewise understand
laying off ships on the mould-loft floor, and the details of
forming and combining the different parts of ships, the
various modes of fastening them, and the correct methods
of taking account of work.
Report of Superintendent.—The superintendent will ad-
vert to all these points in his report, stating his own
opinion of the capacity of the candidates, and one of the
names this sent up will be selected to fill the vacancy.
Pays and Duties of Inspectors.—The claims of the in-
spectors having been taken into consideration by their
lordships in 1847, and increase of pay granted—viz. to
first-class inspectors 1501. per annum, and to second-class
inspectors 1251., their lordships fully expect these officers
will take their proper place as a class of intelligent and
independent officers, upon whose exertions the discipline of
the yard will be maintained ; and they have it in their
power to repay the public for the encouragement which has
been given to them, by increased vigilance and attention in
the discharge of their duties; but if they should prove to
be negligent or inattentive in the fulfilment of their duties,
it will be the duty of the superintendent to make the same
known to their lordships, that the party may be reduced
to the second class.

Shoaling of the Yards.

Three Leading Men under each Inspector. Twenty ship-
wrights, including Apprentices, under each Leading Man.
—My lords have already given orders to place three lead-
ing men under each inspector, and to assign to each lead-
ing man a gang of 20 artificers, with the proper proportion
of apprentices. _ _ _

Measurer's Office.
Their lordships, as a check to extravagance in the use of
materials, and in order to bring the work actually done to
a proper standard, re-established the " Measurer's" Office,
as introduced in 1809, by order in Council, upon the re-
commendation of the Board of Naval Revision, assigning
to it, what it had not before, a control over the expendi-
ture of materials, as well as over the application of labour,
and placing the office itself upon a more economical foot-
ing. They are convinced of the necessity of having in the
dockyards, where the works are so extensive and the busi-
ness so complicated, a system of keeping accurate accounts,
and of checking the issue of stores and materials ; and
they conceive that the means of effecting this may be found
by employing in each of the larger wards four measurers,
who, with four shipwright writers, will form, under the
master shipwright, an office for the measurement of work
done—the forrirmithm of ootimaktoo for rapolto, tradthe state-
ment of actual expenditure. It will be the duty of the
superintendent, as well as the professional officers, to watch
the working of this system, and to see that the intention
and views of their lordships are fully carried out.

Foremen of Yard.
The foremen of the yard are to be selected from tho
whole body of inspectors, assistant timber converters, mea-
surers, and first-class draughtsmen, giving a preference,
ander ordinary circumstances, to inspectors of the first
class, but reserving the right promote from the second
class, upon a special report, in cases of extraordinary ser-
vices or merit.

Vacancies, how filled.—When a vacancy for a foreman
occurs, the superintendent will direct the master ship-
wright to submit the names of all the candidates to him,
who will follow, in all respects, the rules laid down for the
promotion of inspectors and leading men, taking care,
however, that the examination is conducted with due
reference to the higher qualification required in this class
of officers.

Qualifccation4 of Foreman.—To be a foreman, a man
should have a competent knowledge of simple equations in
algebra, and be able to work problems deduced from the
three first book of Euclid. He should also have a thorough
knowledge of the mode of laying off ships upon the mould-
loft floor, and understand all the different modes of form-
ing and combining them. These qualification are to be
stated in the report made by the superintendent to the
surveyor for the information of the Admiraltry, accompa-
nied by his own remarks as to the manner in which the
candidates have discharged their duties as inspectors, and
by the reports which they have themselves drawn up as to
the conduct of the lending men and artificers working
under them, during the preceding 12 months ; and my
lords will then, on having a report from the surveyor,
select one of the candidates to fill the vacancy.

Good Service Grants.

My lords, having, in 1847, recommended to Parliament
that, in consideration of the important duties performed
by the foreman, and the unavoidable slowness of their
promotion, a gratuity of 501. should be given annually to
one foreman in each of the yards, who will• be selected by
their lordships, on consultation with the Surveyor of the
Navy, in Aprfl of each year, with due reference to length
of service and general character, as well as to the intelli-
gence and integrity with which, upon the examination of
the half-yearly reports, he may appear to have discharged
the duties with which the foremen have been intrusted
since 1847. They regard this grant in the light of a good-
reward, to be given up upon promotion. But the foremen
are to be informed that this gratuity is given for the year
only, but that it may be repeated where any special ser-
vice is rendered in the ensuing year, such service being
specially reported by the superintendent.

Master Sh,ipwright's Assistant.

Examination at Somerset-house.—When a vacancy for
a master shipwright's assistant occurs, the Surveyor of the
Navy will be directed to select for examination the three
foremen whom he may consider the most competent and
deserving of promotion, who must be prepared to undergo
an examination in algebra, as far as quadratic equations ;
in geometry, as far as the sixth book of Euclid, and prob-
lems depending thereon, and in the elementary principles
of mechanics and hydrostatics. These candidates will be
also subjected to an examination of practical ship-build-
ing, laying-off, and the general principles of the construc-
tion of ships.

These examinations are to take place at Somerset-house,
in presence of the Surveyor of the Navy_ t. h.
uffluers as their lordships may appoint.
The superintendents of the yards from which the candi-
dates have been selected will investigate carefully the
manner in which each candidate has performed his duty
as an officer of the yard, and they will transmit to the
Admiralty the original reports sent in by him to the master
shipwright's, in order that their lordships, with the assist-
ance of the Surveyor, may judge of his fitness for higher
duties. The decision of the board will rest upon a full con-
sideration of all the circumstances of the case ; and one of
the three examined will be selected to fill the vacancy,
unless it shall appear that none of them possess the requi-
site qualifications.

OTHER PROMOTIONS.
Caulkers, Joiners.--Qualijications as Inspector and Lead-
ing Man, &c.—The forms to be observed in recommending
for promotion and inspectors and leading men, of caulkers
and joiners, are to be precisely similar, every recommen-
dation being founded upon the quarterly reports, which
are to be transmitted to the master shipwright. But as
there is not the same scope or necessity for instruction
amongst these classes of artificers, the examination required
for a leading man of shipwrights will be sufficient for an
inspector of caulkers or joiners ; and a man will be qualified
to become a leading man who can read and write well,
and keep accounts correctly, provided the quarterly reports
bear testimony to his industry, sobriety, and good conduct
in other respects. The same will be required of the fore-
men and leading men of painters, and of the master smith,
who, with a salary of 2501. a year, ought to be a man of
soma education. His foreman should also be able to read
and write, and to keep accounts correctly ; and my lords
intend to require this in all future appointments, both in
the smitheries and as leading men of labourers.

Timber Inspectors.
Their lordships having, by their order of the 27th of
February, 1847, appointed timber inspectors to the yards,
with salaries from 400/. to 3001. per annum, and instruc-
tions for their guidance having been issued on the 21st of
January, 1851, my lords expect a zealous and faithful per-
formance of their responsible duties, and in the future pro-
motion to this class of officers my lords will select candi-
dates from the foremen or converters, or from such other
persons as my lords on examination may find to be specially
qualified, from their practical knowledge of the qualities
and judicious conversion of timber.

Removals upon Promotion.
Promotion of Foremen and Inspectors.—More liberal
remuneration by increase of pay having been made since
1847 to the foremen and inspectors, and a field of honour-
able exertion being now open to them, in which merit is as
certain to lead to preferimint as any written reehegulilrev,eattioopnatshvieciasno.
make it, my lords conceive themselves entitled to hold
the services of these officers as absolutely at the disposal of
the Crown, whenever and wherever they may be required.
They will lay down no general rule respecting age or
removals at the time of promotion, but it is their intention
only to fill up the vacancies upon the list of foremen and
inspectors when the returns from all the yards will be before
them, and they reserve the right of transferring all offizers
upon promotion to any yard where it is thought that they
may prove most useful. My lords except from thlivsilrleghulmae-
tion the foreign yards, as good grounds may be assigned,
from family circumstances or health, nor declining to serve
iu them ; but the officers who volunteer for this duty
theirwlctbtoi
time
ase foremen,and ran (in inspectors,addition ortmo
yltehal
%din:I:Iso increasednrm their
if employed in her Majesty's yards at home, and will be
most favourably noted for promotion when their conduct
abroad has proved satisfactory,
this country, to the list of candidates sent up by
selves the right of adding their names, irarenytiyairnrdts
upon their the
fpi
onco
poterwid
eeelrxv
aet to
ninsure
s . theirs
prie)ere-
late
nin)rtttsr yt
iNov
uilipassing
will he required to serve
before their appoint-
ments are confirmed.

PART
SELECTION OF OTHER PERSONS FOR ADMISSION TO THE
UNDO.

In the admission of Police.
men for this force, the superin-
tendent will take care that strict inquiry is made into the
character and pre N. ions habits of candidates who may be
nominated by the board, and he will be at liberty to re-
commend candidates for selection whom he may consider to
be peculiarly well qualified for these appointments. No
person is ever to be entered who is not in every respect
fitted for the high trust to be imposed on him. Quickness
and intelligence, thorough respectability of character, and
sound and vigorous constitution, are to be considered in-
dispensable.
Preference is generally to be given to eligible candidates
from remote counties, over those belonging to or connected
with the immediate vicinity of the town.
Roperies.
Care is to be taken in the selection of proper and efficient
men for the roperies, both by constitution, ability, and
character.

men who have performed their duties in a satis-
factory manner, and proved themselves in every respect fit
for the service, will be selected to fill vacancies on the esta-
blishment. House boys are not to be entered below the
age of eleven years ; and they will, if attentive, and in
every respect eligible by ability and conduct, be selected
for ropemakers' apprentices. The superintendent is there-
fore to recommend to the board the most efficient persons
for entry.
Established Riggers.
The established riggers are to be selected by the superin-
tendent, assisted by the master attendant, from the best
qualified candidates among the seamen riggers serving in
the dockyard, or from seamen serving in the yard craft,
but if no sufficiently qualified person be found, then they
may be selected from the ships in port ; none, however,
are to be entered above the age of 45 years, or who have
not served at least six years in the Royal Navy with the
ratings of petty officers, able-bodied, or ordinary, and with
general good character. Pensioners are not to be consi-
dered eligible.
Seamen riggers will only be entered from volunteers
from her Majesty's ships paying off, as vacancies arise in
the yards; but none are to be appointed with less servitude
than six years in the ratings of petty officer, able-bodied,
or ordinary, with general good conduct, but especially in
their last ship. Artificers are not eligible as seamen riggers,