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

Allotments.

The allotments of seamen who enter for continuous and
general service will remain in force during the period of
their engagements, unless cancelled by themselves under
existing regulations. All seamen riggers joining ships are
now to be allowed to make allotments on the day of entry.
Exchange of Seamen.
In carrying out the arrangements of the naval service
under the new system of continuous service the commanders
in chief at home and abroad will afford facilities for the
exchange of seamen to different ships whenever the public
service will admit, but in all cases the sanction of captains
in command must be obtained, and such exchange will be
permitted only to men of good character.
Extension of Term of Service.
The term of service for which a seaman shall hereafter
enter may, as at present, be temporarily extended, in the
event of any emergency, or necessity, which, in the opinion
of the Lords of the Admiralty, or a commander-in-chief
on a foreign station, may render such temporary extension
requisite ; and any man so detained beyond the term of
his agreement is to be entitled to 2d. a day, in addition to
the pay of the rating which he may hold.
- - - - -

Period of Service and Leave.
It is to be generally understood that, when the public
service will admit, the customary period of service abroad
will not be exceeded ; and that six weeks' leave of absence
will usually be granted on the return of ships to England,
and further leave during each year, whenever the service
will permit. When ships are put out-of commission or
paid off, the continuous service men are to be entered as
disposable supernumeraries on the books of tho flag-ship
at the port, unless, prior to going on leave, they have
been entered on the books of a sea-going or other ship as
part of complement.
In Hospital at Home.
Petty officers, seamen, and boys, entered for continuous
service, who may be sent to hospital or sick quarters at
home, will not be checked as formerly for time and pay at
the end of 30 days, but will continue to have both ; but,
after the expiration of the 30 days, petty officers and able
seamen will be subject to a deduction of 10d. per day from
their pay, ordinary seamen, and second-class ordinary sea-
men, Bd. a-day, and boys 4d. per day, to be charged against
them on the ship's books; and men in hospital, when a ship
sails for foreign service, are to be discharged to the flag
ship's books.

Leading Seamen.
As an inducement to seamen to render themselves pro-
ficient in all branches of their duty, my lords are pleased
to direct that a higher class of able seamen be established,
under the denomination of "leading seamen," and with an
additional pay of 2d. a day each. To consist of men who
are thorough helms-men, and leads-men, able to assist in
repairing sails, and who are practical riggers, capable of
doing duty as such in any part of a ship ; to undergo an
examination for the rating, conducted by the commander,
senior lieutenant, master and boatswain ; to wear a badge
of distinction (according to pattern) ; to be exempted from
corporal punishment, except by sentence of a sourt-mar-
tial, or for mutiny ; to be reduced for the committal of
any grave offence in the same manner as petty officers,
having been first deprived of any good conduct badges they
may possess. The number of leading seamen in each ship
to be according to the scheme of complement annexed
hereto. The increased pay of 2d. a day is to be allowed
without reference to a man entering for continuous service.
Seamen-gunners, of both classes, if duly qualified as lead-
ing seamen, are to receive the above 2d. a day, in addition
to their pay as seamen-gunners.
Shipwrights.
A new rating of "shipwrights" is to be established. One-
third of the carpenter's crew is to be composed of this
class. Shipwrights are to be granted 2d. a-day each in
addition to the pay of the carpenter's crew, and tool money
as at present, irrespective of their term of service. Their
qualification is to be ascertained by examination, previous
to their being so rated; if at a home port, the examination
is to take place at the dockyard by such competent officers
as may be selected by the superintendent; if on a foreign
station, by three carpenters, when practicable.

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.

Men absent without Leave or imprisoned.
Men and boys who have absented themselves without
leave, or who have wilfully overstayed their leave more
than 48 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-any offence committed within the United King-
dom or British colonies, are likewise to be mactea 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
'lip is about to proceed to sea.
Conveyance of Seamen to their Homes when Paid off.
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, are 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 are 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 -nf
Id. 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 be held qualified to perform the duty of captains of
guns.
The existing regulations relating to seamen gunners who
have already been entered for five years are to remain iu
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 be in other respects advanta-
geous to the service, to establish a class of petty officers ;
they therefore direct that the following bo established ac-
cordingly ;

Chief Petty Officers.
Master at arms.
Chief gunner's mate.
Chief boatswain's mate.
Admiral's coxswain.
Chief captain of forecastle.
Chief quartermaster.
Chief carpenter's mate.
Seamen's schoolmaster.
Ship's steward.
Ship's cook.
Chief petty officers will be allowed the rates of pay
shown in the table attached hereto.
The annexed table of complements shows the number of
potty officers, seamen, and others, who are for the future
to be borne in her Majesty's ships ; those ratings being dis-
tinguished whore 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 left 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
petty officers, a preference is to bo given to men who have
entered for continuous service.
The above officers are 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 be 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 are 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.

Chief and 2d Class
UM ist Class £7. £,5.
Present Future. Present Future
No. No. No. No.
-----..----- -- -
Rates Ist and 2d .................. 4 6 3 4
•3d ................ 4 5
~ ............. 3 4
~ 4th .......................... : . 3 5 2 3
~ sth ............................ 2 4 1 2
Gth A 2 4 1 2
Steamers Ist and 2d class • 2 4 1 2
•, 3d class 1 3 1 1
Sloops. ............... .
Small vessels ....... :

The long service medal-gratuity to second-class petty
officers is to be increased from 7/. to 101.
Petty officers and seamen who enter for continuous sor
vice may be permitted to purchase their discharge accord
ing to the following scale :
Under 5 years' service in man's rating
After 5 and under 7 years „
After 7 and under 9 years ~
After 9 and under 10 years „
After 10 and upwards, from the age of 18 free
Men who have obtained good-conduct badges may be