BOARD OF ORDNANCE, a government department formerly having the management of all affairs relating to the artillery and engineering corps, and to the materiel of the British army, Under this precise designation, the board no longer exists; a having been made which requires brief explanation. The board existed from the tin of Henry VIII. until 1833, when it was abolished, its functions being, vested in the seer- tary of state for war as regarded materiel, and in the commander-in-chii f as concerned the military command of the artillery and engineers. The B. of 0., until 1834, com prised the master-general of the ordnance, the surveyor-general, the clerk of the ordnance, and the principal storekeeper, all of whom were usually members of parliament. There was no chairman at the meetings, and the board often consisted of only one officer Tho master-general laid a veto, and was in that respect more powerful than the chief MOTH her of the board of admiralty; although, not having necessarily a seat in the cabinet, lie had less political power. The board days were thrice a week; and each of the four members had control over certain departments—the patronage of which was generally vested in him. Scarcely any improvements were made from 1828 till 1854, and the gen eral arrangements were very defective. Of the four members, the, master-general. besides
his veto, had a general authority; the surveyor-general had control over the artillery, engineers, sappers and miners, ordnance medical corps, contracts, laboratory, gunpow der, barracks, and navy gunners; the clerk of the ordnance managed the estimates, money-arrangements. civil establishment, pensions, superannuations, and ordnance property; while the principal storekeeper had charge of stores, store-rooms. naval equip ments, and naval war-stores. In matters relating to coast-defenses, it was often difficult to decide the admiralty and the ordnance. each board claiming authority. When the Crimean disasters took place in 1834, the defects of the 13. of 0. became fully apparent: it could not work harmoniously with the other government departmenn. The board was dissolved, and the office of master-general abolished. By the war office act of 1870, the post of surveyor-general of the ordnance was revived as one of the prin cipal officers of the secretary of state for war. He is responsible for the materiel and gupplies of the army.