The Sun.
London, England, 1832-04-16 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 16, 1832

PARLIAMENTARY PAPER.

CIVIL DEPARTMENTS OP THE N..4.ry,
A BILL (as amended by the Committeel to 'AM:ND ',the
LAWS relating to the BUSINESS of the CIVIL DEPART.
:VENTS of the NAVY, and to Make other Regulations for-
more effectually carrying on the Duties of the said Depart-
ments.

[N.B.—The Clause marked (A.) was added by the Committee,

READ A Mum TPMF, AND PAS!inD, ON WEDNESDAV, APRIL

Whereas his Majesty, by firs Royal letters patent under
the Great Seal, bearing date the 2d day of November,
1831, was pleased to constitute and appoint certain per-
sons therein named to be principal Officers and Commis-
sioners of his Majesty's navy ; and by other letters patent
under the Great Seal, bearing date the 25th day of Fe-
bruary,.lB3l, was pleased to constitute and appoint cer-
tain other persons therein named Commissioners for vic•
tualling his Majesty's navy, and for the care of sick and
wounded seamen : and whereas it has been deemed expe-
dient that the number of offices in the civil departments
of the navy should be reduced, and to that end that the
offices or departments of the principal Officers and Corn..
missioners of his Majesty's navy, and of the Commis-
sioners for victualling his Majesty's navy and for the care
sick and wounded seamen, should be abolished : and
whereas various duties of the said Commissioners being
established and regulated by divers Acts of Parliament, it
is requisite that such Acts should in some cases he al-
tered, and new provisions made for the due execution of
the said duties; be it therefore enacted, by the King's
Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons,
in this present Parliament as,embled, and by the autho•
rity of the same, that in case his Majesty shall be pleased
to cancel and revoke the said letters patent by which the
said several persons were rasp.ctively constituted and ap-
pointed principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy,
and Commissioners for victualling his Majesty's navy and
for the care of sick and wounded seamen, as aforesaid,
all the interests, titles, authorities, power, and duties
vested in the said respective Commissioners by any Act or
Acts of Parliament, and every matter relating to them and
their respective offices, shall from and after such revoca-

tion be and the same are hereby declared to be transferred
to the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord
High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland far the time being, and shall be vested in and
exercised by them in as full and ample a manner to all in-
tents and purposes as if they bad lie-n named in ti,e said
Acts instead of the Commissioners of his Majesty's Navy,
and the Commissioners for victu Wing his Majesty's navy
and for the care of sick and wounded se tmen respec-
tively ; subject, however, to the provisions hereinafter
established: provided always, that such transfer shall not
he deemed to confer on the said Commissioners for exe-
cuting the office of Lord High Admiral aforesaid any new
office within the meaning of an Act passed in the sixth
year of the reign of her Majesty Queen Anne, intituled,
" An Act for the Security of her Majesty's person and
Government, and of the Succession to the Crown of
Great Britain in the Protestant line ;" nor shall any such
Commissioner last mentioned, by taking upon himself,
under any new letters patent which his Majesty may think
fit to cause to he issued, the duties of the offices so abo-
lished, be disqualified from sitting and voting in Parlia-
ment, or thereby vacate the seat in Parliament which
any such Commissioner may then hold ; any thing con-
tained i❑ the said Act of Queen Anne, or in any other
Act, or any usage of Parliament to the contrary notwith-
standing ; but it is nevertheless hereby declared, that
from and after the passing of this Act, no greater number
than five Commissioners of the Admiralty 811,111 be compe-
tent at any one time to s:t and vote in the Commons
House of Parliament.

And be it further enacted, that from and after the revo-

cation of the said letters patent, all manors, messuages,
lands, tenements, hereditaments, erections, buildings, and
"property whatever, heretofore purchased, taken, held, or
in any manner occupied by or in the name of his Ma-

jesty, or his Royal Progenitors, for the use of the
naval or victualling departments, or which by an Act
of the first and second years of the reign of his late Ma-
jesty King George the Fourth, intituled, "An Act for
vesting all Estates and Property occupied by or for the
Naval Service of this Kingdiim, in the principal Officers
and Commissioners of his Majesty's navy, and for grant-
ing certain powers to the said principal Officers and Com-
missioners ;" or by an Act, passed in the same Session
of Parliament, for vesting certain lands and heredita-
ments at Gillingham, in the county of Kent, to trustees,
to he appropriated to the public service in the department
of the navy ; or lay an Act, passed in the fifth year of the
reign of his said Majesty, for enabling the Commissioners
for Victualling his Majesty's Navy to purchase certain
premises for completing a victualling establishment at
Cremill Point, near Plymouth, in the county of Devon,
and fur supplying the said establishment with water; or
by an Act, passed i❑ the sixth year of the Stine reign,
for enabling the Corporation of Pembroke to convey to the
Commissioners of the Navy the right of letting the stalls,
sittings, and other conveniencies in the market established
in the town of Pembroke Dock, and the right to the
rents, tolls, and fees thereof; or by an Act, passed in the
same year, for enabling the Commissioners of the Navy to
acquire certain portions of the docks and shoreground at
Leith for a ❑aval yard ; or which by any other Act of Par-
liament or by any deed or deeds have been conveyed to or
vested in the principal Officers and Commissioners of the
Navy, or the Commissioners for Victualling his Majesty's
N ivy, according to their respestive estates and interests
therein, and titles thereto, with their appurtenances and
all rights, capacities, powers, authorities and duties vested
in the said Commissioners of the Navy and Victualling
respectively by any of the said Acts, shall be and the same
are hereby declared to be transferred to and vested in the
Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Ad-
miral aforesaid for the time being, to be held, enjoyed and
executed by them and their successors in office, in trust for
his Majesty, his heirs and successors, for the public
service ; and every clause, covenant, matter and thing con-
tained in the said Acts of Parli anent and deeds respi-c-
-lively, shall extend and be applird to the said last-men-
tiuned in as full and ample a manlier to all
intents and purposes as if they ha I been named therein
instead of the Commissioners of ihe Navy and Victualling
respectively.
And be it further enacted, that front and after the re-
vocation of the said letters patent, all contracts, covenants
and agreements made between the said Commissioners of
the Navy and Victualling. respectively, or any person on
their behalf, and any other person or persons whomsoever,
for the supply of any stores, goods or other things for his
Majesty's service, or fur the performance of any work, or
on any other account in anywise relating to the naval and
victualling departments respectively, or in which the said
Commissioners are in any manner interested or concerned,
shall in like manner be transferred to and vested in the
Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High
Admiral aforesaid for the time being, and shall he exe-
cuted and enforced by them in the same manner as if they
had been natn.i therein.

And whereas by an Act passed in the eleventh year of
the reign of his late M:jesty King George the Fourth, for
amending and vonsolidaing the laws relating to the pay
of the royal navy, divers provisions and regulations are
established in relation to various duties of the Treasurer
of the Navy and his officers ; and it is deemed expedient
tleat such duties should be transferred from the said Trea-
surer, and that other provisions and regulations should be
established in lie thereof ; be it therefore enacted, that
from and after the commencement of this Act, as herein-
after mentioned, all authorities, powers, duties, matters
and things which by the said recited Act or by any other
Act or Acts of Parliament are conferred upon or vested in
the said Treasurer, save and except as to the receipt and
payment of money, and also except as to the management
of Greenwich out pensions, shall be exersised and per-
formed by or under the immediate directions of the Com-
missioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral
in be full and ample a manner as the said Treasurer is
by any of the said Acts empowered to exercise and per-
form the same ; and that all wills, powers of attorney,
vouchers, and other documents, and all accounts, prize
and other lists, returno, notifications, reports, petitions,
certificates, documents, and papers, which by the said last
tecited Act or by any other Act of Parliament are required
to be addressed, transmitted, or made to the said Treasurer,
except as aforesaid, shall be addressed, transmitted, and made
to the Secretary of the Admiralty, in order that the Com-
missioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral
aforesaid, may cause the necessary seeps to be taken thereon,
in conformity with the intentions of the said several Acts,
or otherwise, as by this Act is provided.
And be it further enacted, that from and after the
passing of this Art, it shall be lawful for the Commis.

:inners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral
aforesaid for the time being, or any one or more of them,
and ►hey and each of them are and is hereby empowered
to administer an oath or-oaths in any cases touching of
concerning his Majesty's naval monies, stores, victuals or
provisions, or the accounts thereof, or in any other matter
relating to his Majesty's naval service; and also from
time to time, in all places whatever, to execute the office
and authority of a Justice of the Peace in as full and ample
a Manner as any Commissioners of the Navy or Victualling
are by any Act of Parliament now in force, or any Justice
under any Commission, is authorised to execute the same ;
and all keepers of gaols, and all constables and other peace
officers, are hereby respectively required from time to time
diligently to execute and obey all such warrants as shall be
lawfully made, directed or given to them or any of them by
any one or more of the said Commissioners for executing
the office of Lord high Admiral aforesaid ; and all the
laws made or to be made for the ease, safety, and protec-
tion of Justices of the Peace in the execution of their
office, shall extend to the said last-mentioned Commis-
sioners, and to all constables and other peace officers and
persons acting under the warrant or authority of any such
Coramisssionerst, as fully anti effectually to all intents and
Purposes as if they were herein enacted.
And whereas an Act was passel in the third
year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the
Fourth, for enabling two or more Commissioners
for executing the office of Load High Admiral, when
the number of such Commissioners is less than six, to do
certain acts theretofore done by three or more of the same
Commissioners : and whereas, considering the additional
duty to be performed by the said Commissioners, in con-
sequence of the abolition of the said offices as aforesaid, it
is expedient to authorise the execution of any of their du-
ties by two Commissioners only, even whe❑ such Commis-
sioners shall be six or mere in number ; be it further
enacted, that from and after the passing of this act,, the
said last recited act shall be and the same is hereby re-
pealed ; and that from thenceforth it shall be lawful for
any two or more Commissioners for executing the office of
Lord High Admiral aforesaid, and they are hereby em-
powered to execute all powers, authorities, and duties, and
to perform and do all acts, matters, and things appertain-
ing to their office, which by any act or acts of Parliament
are authorized or requited to be executed or done by three
or snore of them, or by the Commissioners of the Navy
and Victualling respectively ; and all such authorities,
duties, matters, and things executed and performed by
two or more of the said Commissioners of the Admiralty
shall be valid and effectual to all intents and purposes.
And be it further enacted, that in all deede, convey-
ances, leases, contracts and other instruments touching
any estate, property, matter or thing relating to the naval
service, or to any department under the control of the
Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Ad-
miral aforesaid, or whereto they or any of them shall be
parties, it shall be sufficient to describe them generally by
the style and title of " the Commissioners for executing
the office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland," without expressing their
names ; and that all such deeds, conveyances, leases, con-
tracts and other instruments wherein the said Commis-
sioners shall be so described, and the execution thereof by
any two of them, shall he as valid anti effectual to all in-
tents and purposes as if they or any of them had been ex-
pressly named therein.

And be it further enacted, that all hills for payment of
money, all allotment bills and all remitt ince bills, hereto-
fore made out or signed by the Commissioners of the
Navy or Victualling, or any of them, or by tne Treasurer
of the Navy, except bills for Greenwich out-pensions, or
by the Paymaster of Marines, or any of their clerks re-
spectively, shall from and after the commencement of
this Act, as hereinafter mentioned, be made out and
signed by an officer to be called the Accountant-General
of the Navay, or by an officer to be for that purpose
appointed by the Commissioners for executing the office of
Lord High Admiral ss aforesaid, and shall be in such form
and countersigned and approved in such manner as the said
last-mentioned Commissioners shall from time to time
order or establish ; and that all bills to be drawn by offi-
cers of the Navy, or by any other persons under the au-
thority of an Act made in the eleventh year of the reign of
his late Majesty King George the Fourth, for consolidating
the laws relating to the pay of the Navy, which bills shall
fn future be made payable at three day., instead of (as
provided by the said act) at ten days' sight; and all other
bills which have heretofore been usually drawn upon
the Commissioners of the Navy and 'Victualling respec-
tive!, shall be drawn upon the said Accountant-General,
and shall be accepted by him or by such other officer as
aforesaid, and such acceptance shall be countersigned and
approved in manner aforesaid ; and all the several hills so
countersigned and approved as aforesaid, shall, when paid
by tile Treasurer of the Navy, be deemed good and suffi-
cient vouchers for such payment on the passing of his
accounts.

And be it further enacted, that from and after the revo-
cation of the said letters patent, all applications, 'eommuni-
cations, and notices, and all prize and other lists and ac-
counts, and all hills, tickets, books, documents and papers,
which by any Act of Parliament are required to be made,
given, or transmitted to the Commissioners of the Navy or
Victualling, shall be made, given and transmitted to the
Secretary of the Admiralty, in order that the Commissioners
fur executing the office of Lord High Admiral aforesaid,
may thereupon cause the necessary measures to be taken
for efrrying into effect the intentions of the said acts ; and
that all certificates, tickets, vouchers, and other docu-
cumenta heretofore by any act or acts authorised to be
given or made out by the Commissioners of the Navy or
Victualling, shall be made and given by the Secretary of
the Admiralty, or by such other person as shall for that
purpose be directed by the said Commissioners for execut-
ing the office of Lord High Admiral aforesaid.
And whereas it is deemed exiled ent that the duties
hitherto performed by Commissioners at the several dock
yards and other naval and victualling est iblishments, at
home and abroad, shall in future be executed by officers
to be called superintendents ; be it therefore further en-
acted, that from and after the revocation of the said letters
patent, such superintendents from time to time to be ap-
pointed shall have full power and authority to do, execute
and perform all and every the duties, matters and things
which by any Act or Acts of Parliament now in force
any Commissioner of the Navy or Victualling resident at
any naval or victualling yard or establishment, or at any
naval hospital, at home or abroad, is authorised or re-
quired to do : Provided always, that in the absence of
such superintendent, his duty as to the signing of bills, cer-
tificates, and vouchers, and in other respects in which the
acts of a Coinmis,ioner have been required, may be exe-
cuted by the officer next in seniority to him, such officer
noticing, after his signature, the fact of the superinten-
dent's ab•ence.

And be it further enacted, that the superintendents so
to be apisointed shall have and they are hereby invested
with toil power and authority to administer oaths,
and to exercise the duties, powers, and authorities of jus-
tices of the peace in all pl ces whatever, and in all
matters relating to his 'Majesty's naval service, and to the
stores, provisions, aminuniti,n and the accounts thereof,
and in all o' her cases whatever in which any Commissioner
of the Navy or Victualling is empowered to act as a Jos--
tee by any Act or Acts now in force, in as full a manner to
all intents and purposes as if such superintend:nts had
been named in any such Act or Acts, or in any commis-
sion of the peace for any such places; and that all the
laws made and to be made for the ease, safety and protec-
tion of Justices of the peace in the execution of their of-
fice shall extend to such superintendents, and to all con-
stables and other peace officers and persons acting under
the warrant or authority of any such superintendent, as
fully and effectually as any such laws can be deemed to ex-
tend to any justice or justices of the peace, and to the
persons acing
under them.
And whereas by the said Act of the eleventh year of
King George the Fourth, for consolidating the laws relat-
ing to the pay of the Navy provision is made for the pay-
ment, without probate or administration, in cases of sums
not exceeding thirty•two pounds payable on account of pay,
half-pay or pension of deceased officers of the navy and
10:11 ines, and of pensions of deceased widows of officers,
and on account of allowances from the compassionate fund
and whereas, by reason of the abolition of the office of pay-
r aster of au *rifles,
and of the transfer of part of the duties
of the Treasurer of the Navy, it is become necessary to make
further provision in such cases, and also in the cases of
sums not exceeding twenty pounds due to any deceased
persons, on account of any prize-money, and for the ser
vices of deceased non-commissioned officers and marines;
he it therefore further enacted, that from and after the
passing of this Act, the investigation of all claims to the
effects of any such deceased persons shall be made by the
inspector of seamen's wills in the manner required by the
said recited Act in cases of similar claims to pay for