The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-09 00:00:00

THE NAVAL SER VICE.

A little tract has just been issued by Messrs. Brad-
bury and Evans, entitled "Advice to the Mariners of
England and? enterprising Youths inclined for the Sea
Service, by a Seaman's Friend." It sets forth so clearly
the advantages to be derived from service in the Royal
navy since the new regulations respecting pay, provi-
sions, and prize money, that in publishing a considerable
extract from it we shall be doing real service to those
who wish to choose an occupation which will secure a
permanent provision for them :
"A general impression prevails that, wages being much
greater in the merchant service than in the Royal navy,
seamen naturally prefer the former ; and it is also sup-
posed that remote advantages in the shape of pension, &e.,
do not influence the mass of seamen, who look more to
present gains. But, in truth, there is no great disparity
of wages, for, with the exception of that inconsiderable
portion of our mariners who are settled down and adhere
to one employment in the coasting trade, the wages ac-
tually earned in the Royal navy are greater than in any
other sea service. It has been proved by a careful inves-
tigation, when estimating the income to be derived from
a monthly levy upon wages for the support of the Merchant
S,amen's Fund, that the average employment of the mer-
chant seamen in foreign-going ships, being that branch in
which the greatest portion are engaged, is nine months in
the year; for the other three months, during which he is
waiting for a settlement, or for a new engagement, or
spending his money, he earns no wages, and is, moreover,
thrown upon his own resources for food and lodging ; and,
taking the average of wages at the present inordinate rate
to be 60s. per month, the merchant seaman earns 271. in
the year, supposing that he has incurred no fines during
the voyage for misconduct, and made no sacrifice in cash-
ing his advanced note. The seaman in the Royal navy- is
subject to no such deductions ; for even when sick or on
leave of absence his pay, and also his time for pension, go
on accruing during the whole term of his engagement. In
the rating of able seaman he earns in the year 28/. 17s. 11d.,
while superior conduct will insure him good conduct pay,
as hareafter shown, and improving capacity will assuredly,
advance him to higher ratings, when he will earn con-
siderably more. Having pointed out this delusion respect-
ing the disparity of wages, which is the only reason that
can be assigned why the Queen's service (where the berth-
ing, victualling, comfort, and treatment of the crew are
admitted to be infinitely better) is not generally preferred
to the merchant service, I kppend a table showing the
wages of working petty officers and seamen in the Royal
navy, so that the seaman may contr ist them with those
obtainable in trading ships, and also become acquainted
with the advantages held forth by the new as compared
with the old regulations :
A TABLE OF THE RATE OF WAGES IN THE ROYAL NAVY
PER MONTH AND PER YEAR, UNDER THE OLD AND
NEW REGULATIONS.

NEW REGULATIONS.
Continuous ~.. n
Under the Old Service, or Entry o
Enthes. for 10 yetrs.
.z., u 2
Rating. ~... ,-
0 0 4,0
•.5.0; 4
g P% 14
4.5.
g : .4 t
- -1
~., ,> dL 4 , -.,
tr)''' a ',Li' At A ,c 5
Cr P..,
----..........--- —_—_ -...----- ..----
£ s. d. £ s. d £ 1. d. £ s. d. £ s. d.
Chief petty officers •• 3 2 036 10 0 3 9 941 1 3 4 11 3
First-class working
petty officers ...... 2 14 031 18 9 3 2 036 10 0 411 3
Second-class working
petty officers•• .... 2 9 128 17 11 2 16 10 33 9 2 4 11 3
Leading seamen .... 2 6 627 7 6 2 14 331 18 9 4 11 3
Able seamen.. •• .... 2 1 424 6 81 2 9 126 17 11 4 11 3
Ordinary seamen . 1 13 719 15 5 118 922 16 3 3 010
Second-class ordinary
seamen .. •• ...... 1 8 516 14 7 1 11 018 5 0 1 10 5
Boys (Ist class) and
naval apprentices , 018 11012 11 018•110 12 11 No diff.
Boys of the second
class ............. 0 15 6 9 2 6,1 0 15 6 9 2 6 No diff.

" Seamen gunners, who are men trained in the Excel-
lent, receive 2d. per day in the first class, and ld. per day
in the second class, in addition to all other pay of their
ratings. Mechanics and artificers have higher rates of pay
than the first and second class petty officers, and have also
from 2d. to 3d. per day additional for tools. Petty officers
of all classes wear distinctive badges on the left arm, and
are entitled, on their ship paying off, to gratuities varying
from 11. 13s. 4d. to 71., depending on the rating and the
time the ship has been in commission. Badges for good
conduct not only distinguish the most efficient and best
conducted, but give thm substantial advantages in the
shape of pay. Thus, with one badge or gold stripe on the
arm, an able seaman would be entitled to 2s. 7d.; with
two badges, to ss. 2d. ; and with three badges, to 7s. 9d.
per month, or 41. Us. 3d. per year, which, in addition to
the wages of a continuous service man, would be alto-
gether 33/. 95. 2d. per year. It is the continuous service,
or entry for 10 years, that henceforth offers such induce-
ments for entering the navy, for it enables the seaman to
embrace that branch of his profession which hold out the
most advantages without risk of disappointment.
reclTheude
re-
gulations for continuous service do not, however, p
the entry of seamen for the usual period in particular
ships ; but all who enter can be retained for five years, and
in the latter case it will he seen by the annexed table that
the wages are loss. At the end of 10 years' service-rec-
koning from 18 instead of 20 years of age as heretofore-
the continuous service man may, or discharge, receive a
pension of 6d. a-day, or 91. 4s. per year ' • after 15 years'
service, a pension of Bd. a-day, or 121. 4s. per year ; and
after 20 years' service, a pension of from 10d. to ls. 2d. a-
day (average ls.) or 181. or 19/. per year. Petty officers
and leading seamen's pensions are proportionally greater ;
so that the man-of-war's man may, at the ages of 28, 33,
and 38 respectively, have earned a pension varying from
9/. 2s. 6d. to 401. per year, according to his rating ; and if i
called on to serve in the fleet, in the event of ' an arma-
ment or war,' he will receive his pension in addition to his
pay ; and he will enjoy this for life, being at the same time
at liberty to earn what he can in the merchant service, or
any other employment. The pension, after 20 years' ser-
vice, is certain; but the pensions for 10 and 15 years' ser-
f vice are granted at the discretion of the Admiralty ; and as
it is to be expected that, with the inducements now offered,
the navy will never henceforth want volunteers, the oppor-
tunity will occur for maintaining a reserve of some thou-
sands of these short-service pension-men well skilled in
naval duties, under obligation to serve when called upon,
should the necessity arise, but at liberty to follow their
inclination in all other respects. Let us now consider the
naval victualling. It will be seen by the scale annexed,
that it is most liberal ; and stringent measures have lately
been adopted by the Board of Admiralty to insure that the
articles supplied shall be of good quality :-
"PRESENT SCALE OF VICTUALLING.
"There shrll be allowed to every person serving in her
Majesty's navy the following daily quantities of provisions
-viz., biscuit, 11b., or soft bread, lid. ; spirits, i gill ;
fresh meat, 11b. ; vegetables, 41b. ; sugar, lioss. ; choco-
late, loz. ; tea, ,'{oz. N.8.-Naval cadets, and second-
class boys are not allowed spirits.
" When fresh meat and vegetables cannot be issued there
shall be allowed in lieu thereof-Salt pork, 11b. ; peas, i
pint-every alternate day ; salt beef, 11b. ; flour, 9 oz. ;
suet, ioz. ; currants or raisins, 4 oz.-every alternate day.
" And weekly, whether fresh or salt meat be issued-
oatmeal i pint ; mustard, oz. ; popper, ioz. ; vinegar, i
pint per man.
" The man-of-war's man's provisions are well cooked, and
his meals regular. If he cannot consume his provisions, he is
paid for them ' • if the salt meat boils away, he has an extra
allowance. He obtains clothing of the best description at
the same price that it costs the admiralty ; his berthing-
place is dry, clean, and comfortable ; his work light, as
compared with that of any other seaman. He has the aid
of an instructor, access to a library of nautical and other
books calculated to interest him ; and ample time and
opportunity to improve his mind, and so qualify himself
for promotion to warrant-officer, or even to the highest
rank. His share of prize-money has been increased ; and
the distribution is now so graduated, that men in the
higher ratings receive proportionably more than the un-
skilled-a great improvement upon the regulation that
formerly existed. Compensation is allowed for loss of
clothes or effects by shipwreck or otherwise. If maimed
or hurt, the man-of-war', man has a gratuity or a pension
-according to circumstances-the best advice and attend-
ance in sickness, and provision in Greenwich Hospital if
crippled or worn out. The children of a man-of-war's
man are educated in the schools of Greenwich Hospital,
and receive, free of expense to him, a training which fits
them for any employment. He has six weeks' leave of
absence whenever his ship is paid off, wages and term for
pension being continued, and leave to go en shore from
his ship for shorter periods, at other times, whenever the
nature of the service will permit. Ho is eligible for ap-
pointment to the coastguard, if one of those recommended
by his captain for this servics when his ship is paid off, or
to become a rigger, or seaman-rigger in the dockyards.
He may allot a portion of his wages for the support of his
family, with the full assurance of its being punctually
paid, which is not always the case with his brother seaman
in the merchant service, who cannot have the same secu-
rity for the punctual payment of his allotments, particu-
larly where advices may not have been received from his
ship. The man-of-war's-nian may also remit a portion of
his pay. Notwithstanding the allotment, the man-of-
war's man may receive 4s. monthly the first six months,
and 108. monthly after 12 months, out of his pay, and 235.
monthly if he does not allot, while the merchant seaman
has no claim for any portiun of his wages until the termi-
nation of the voyage.
" Now, there is no craft or trade in which the artisan or
labouring man can engage in this or any other country
that possesses such advantages as I have enumerated-
where a man may, whsn in the prime of life, after a few
years' service, become possessed of an income sufficient to
provide a home and ample maintenance for his family when
he is absent and following his calling. and where he can,
by good conduct, nearly double the amount of his pay and
elision.'
--......--a----....,.....

THE ARACY.

ANOTHER SHOCKING SHIPWRECK ON BARRA ISLAND.
___..-4,-----
Great activity prevails in recruiting for the army, to —ALL HANDS LOST, EXCEPT ONE. The iron bound
augument the regiments to 1,000 rank and file. A large coast of the island of Barra, off the western coast of
number of recruiting parties have been recently sent to Scotland, has again been the scene of another heart-
theleo to Ireland and Scotland,shipwrech in the total loss of the Liverpool
manufacturing towns, a
and ther rendingswhliipif
to raise recruits, besides beating up at headquarters. the "W. H. Davis," Captain Carling, master,
Many fine young lads have offered themselves, e on her voyage to New Orleans,.. with every soul
is no doubt but the required number will soon be on board (except one man), numbering in all no fewer
than N sufferers. The ship had become unmanageable
acquired.
Lieu
Lieutenant-Colonel Morris, R.A., has been ordered in the course of the recent fearful westerly gales,
and in
from Woolwich to Portsmouth, to do second field- attempting, on the night of the 27th of last month, to
officer's duty in the latter garrison. weather Barra Head, she went ashore on the rocks of
Coss, Fen. 7.—Cork Barracks and Elizabeth Fort Vatersay, within a short distance of the spot where the
are crowded with troops destined for foreign service, 1 Anne Jane,.em. emigrant ship, Was lost, with 300 lives, s
consisting of three companies of the 9th, tahnedservice ! few monthstshince. The moment the ill-fated ship touched
companies of the 38th and 89th Regiments, nume- I the. rocksl I,e master and crew took to the rigging as
roue drafts from several depots ; in fact, the entire forces theirony c lance of escape, expecting, no doubt, as the
in garrison are awaiting transports. The Surge, tram- wreck
Iheeled over. they would be able to gain the rocks.
sport, with Government
Shestorev;,illforHong Kong, has Alas, iowever, in a few minutes afterwards the ship was
arrived in Queenstown.take on., board a large dashed to pieces, and the whole of the poor fellows fell
draft of the 59th Regiment, lying in Cork Barracks, , amidst the crumbling wreck, and perished. Only one
consisting of 120 rank and file, under the . command of ; escaped to disclose their fate, the steward, a young man,
Captain Charles Kendal. Bushe, with Ensign! Richard , named Robert William Rushmore, of 48, Devonport-
Spofforth. and Isaac Bomford
rii Bomford, to joinb thet ser-ns , street, Toxteth-park, Liverpool. He, it appears, took
vice companies in that colon The Canterbury rLkerabut refuge on the bowsprit, and as the vessel went to pieces
port, from London, has alsoy. arrived, he sprang forward, and succeeded in reaching the rocks
three companies of the 9th Regiment, andstati_:ned in bar- .in safety, although very much bruised. He suffered in- ,
racks, under command of Major F. D. Lister.— Cork tensely during the night, and was almost insensible when
Constitution. , assistance arrived the next morning. Several bodies of
The transport-ship Sir George Pollock, of and from the crew were discovered among the rocks by the fisher-
London, to embark troops, has also arrived in Queens. men who conveyed them to Vatersay for interment.
town. , ,
' The inhabitants apprehend that another wreck has hap- •
BELrAsT, FEB. 7.—The first division of the 2d bat- pened off the island, from the circumstance of the bodies
talion of the 12th Regiment (at present stationed here), of f a gentleman and a lady, apparently about three weeks
under the command of Captain Hutchins, proceeded or a fortntht in the water, having been washed up in
yesterday morning en route to Cork, whence they will the bay. Some property was found on them, but no
• embark for Van Diemen 's Ld. We believe the 77th thing to lead to their identity, or the ship they cams
an
\
will succeed the 12th in this garrison.—Northern Whig. from.