PAY-MASTER, :MILITARY AND NAVAL.—Military pay-masters are either "control " or " regimental." Of the hitter, who constitute by far the more numerous class, there is one to every brigade of artillery, regiment of cavalry, and battalion of infantry. The ply-master holds no other commission, but the appointment is nearly always conferred upon some person who has previously held a combatant rank in the army. The func tions of pay-master comprise issuing and accounting for the pay of officers and men, and Having charge generally of all the finances of the corps. In discipline, the pay master is responsible to the officer commanding the regiment: but in all money matters he looks for orders to the war office alone. He commences with a pay of 12s. Gd. a day, with the relative rank of captain; and after 20 years' service attains the pay of £1, 2s. Gd. a day and relative rank as major. Regimental pay-masters were first appointed during the French war.
Control pay-masters have financial charge in the military districts or sub-districts. They form a separate department under.the surveyor-general of the ordinance, compris ing pay-masters, deputy pay-masters, and assistant pay-masters.
The NAVAL PAY-MASTER is for a ship what the military pay-master is for a regiment; but lie adds to these ditties some of those performed in the army by the quartermaster, commissariat, and military store-keeper, for lie has charge of the provisions, clothing, and miscellaneous stores, as well as of mere money. Pay-masters are commissioned officers, receiving from 14s. to £1, 13s. a day, and ranking, according to service, with lieutenants, commanders, and captains. Up to the year 15344, pay-masters were styled pursers, and were paid by profits they made on certain of the slop's charges. At a still earlier period these pursers had been warrant-officers.