The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-28 00:00:00

Landsmen.

The pay and duties of second-class ordinary seamen and
landsmen being identical, the latter rating is to be abo-
lished

Good-conduct Badges.
Time served as second-class ordinary seamen, is, pro-
spectively, to count as time served as ordinary seamen, for
the good-conduct badge and pay.
.3len absent without Leave or imprisoned.
Men and boys who have absented themselves without
leave, or who have wilfully overstayed their leaVe more
than 4S hours, are to forfeit their pay ; but the allotment
is not to be stopped during the period of their absence ; and
men or boys sent to gaol by the sentence of a civil magis-
trate for my offence committed within the United King-
dom or British colonies, aro likewise to be mulcted of their
pay, during the period of their confinement ; the amount of
pay forfeited is to be charged against them on the ship's
books by the captain; unless under special circumstances,
to be represented by the captain, the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty, or the commander-in-chief on a foreign
station, should think proper otherwise to direct. In all
cases of mulct of pay, the circumstances are to be duly
noted in the ship's log, and in the quarterly return of pun-
ishments. This regulation is not to interfere with the
directions contained in the Queen's regulations, Art. 5,
page 103, relating to men absent without leave when a
ship is about to proceed to sea.
Conveyance of Seamen to their Homes when Paid of
On ships being put out of commission every facility is to
be given, consistently with the convenience of the service,
for conveying the men paid off to such of the ports fre-
quented by her Majesty's ships, as may be nearest to their
places of residence.
Commander's Servant.
Commanders, under captains in rated ships, aro to be
allowed a servant, to be borne and paid as a second-class
ordinary seaman.

Seamen Gunners.
My lords are of opinion that the system under which
seamen gunners aro now entered requires modification,
with a view both to its increased efficiency and extension.
They are therefore pleased to direct that men who may
hereafter enter as seamen gunners be divided into two
classes. Ist class men are to be entitled to an additional
pay of 2d. a day, and the 2d class to an additional pay of
ld. a day each ; the pay in question to be granted accord.
ing to their qualification, and irrespective of length of ser-
vice. The Ist class to be eligible to be promoted to the
situation of gunner's mates and gunners ; the 2d class
should bo held qualified to perform tho duty of captains of
guns.
The existing regulations relating to seamen gunners who
have already been entered for five years are to remain in
force, except as regards men who volunteer for continuous
service, and who may be deemed eligible for either of the
above classes.
In entering men hereafter for the Excellent preference is
to be given to those who volunteer for continuous and ge-
neral service.

PETTY OFFICERS.
My lords consider that it would improve the discipline
of her Majesty's ships, and bo in other respects advanta-
geous to the service, to establish a class of petty officers ;
they therefore direct that the following be established ac-
cordingly :

Chief Petty Officers.
Master at arms.
Chief gunner's mate.
Chief boatswain's mato.
Admiral's coxswain.
Chief captain of forecastle.
Chief quartermaster.
Chief carpenter's mate.
Seamen's schoolmaster.
Ship's steward.
Ship's cook.
Chief potty officers will be allowed tho rates of pay
shown in the table attached hereto.
The annexed table of complements shows the number of
petty officers, seamen, and others, who are for the future
to be borne in her Majesty's ships ; those ratings being dis-
tinguished where command should not be assumed, in the
event of the charge of her Majesty's ships devolving on
petty officers.
Petty officers who enter for continuous service are to
carry their denominations as chief, first, or second class
petty officers from ship to ship ; it being loft open to the
captains of the ships which they may join, to assign the
specific rating best suited to the character and abilities of
the individuals.
Examination of the Rating of Petty Officer.
Seamen, before being promoted to the rating of petty
officer, are to be examined by the following officers :—the
commander or senior lieutenant, master, gunnery lieuten-
ant, and the warrant officer of the class required. In rating
potty officers, a preference is to b© given to men who have
entered for continuous service.
The above officers aro to sign the ticket of examination,
which should be retained in the captain's office appended
to the description book, to be produced to any flag or other
officer who may muster or inspect the ship.
Petty officers are, as far as possible, to bo selected from
the leading seamen.
As an encouragement to deserving petty officers, an in-
crease is to be made, as follows, in the number who aro eli-
gible to be recommended for good-conduct gratuities, when
ships are paid off after three years' service, or in propor-
tion for a loss period, as at present regulated.

Chli
Ist CI

and
a £7.

2d Clas3
X 5.

Present'
No.

"resent Fut
No. N