MARINES are soldiers that serve on board ships of war. The men are drilled' in al! respects as soldiers (light infantry), and therefore on shore are simply ordinary land forces. On board ship they are trained to seamen's duties, but still preserving their inilitary organization. Their ordinary functions are as sharpshooters in time of action, and at other times to furnish sentries for guarding the stores, gangways, etc. They are useful as exercising a good control over the less rigidly disciplined sailors, and, having always firearms and bayonets ready, they have often been instrumental in suppressing the first outbreaks of mutiny. The royal marines are divided into three divisions of light infantry and one of artillery. Promotion goes by seniority throughout the artil lery and infantry respectively. In rank marine officers correspond with army officers of similar grades according to seniority; as a corps the marines take place between the 49th and 50th regiments of infantry of the line. Every ship, on being cotnmissioned,
has her complement of marines drafted into her. The uniform is red, with blue facings and white belts. On their colors the men proudly bear the word " Gibraltar," in the famous defense of which fortress they bore an heroic part.
_Marines were first established, as a nursery from whence to obtain seamen to man the fleet, by order in council of Oct. 16, 1664. Their utility becoming conspicuous, other regiments of marine forces were raised, so that by 1741 there were 10,000 men, and in, 1759 as many as 18,000. During the great French war the number rose above 30,000, but a great reduction took place after peace was concluded. By the navy estimates of" 1875-76, 14,000 marines were provided, including 2,900 artillery, at a cost for the y2ar of £940,417. Their government rests solely with the admiralty.