The government of the navy is vested in the lord-high-admiral, which office has been in commission since the Revolution, with the exception of two short periods, 1707-8 and 1827-8, when it was held respectively by Prince George of Den mark and William IV. when duke of Clarence. At present the Board con sists of a First Lord, who is a member of the cabinet, and five junior lords. By their orders all ships are built, sold, or broken up ; commissioned, employed, and paid off. All appointments and pro motions are made or approved by them ; all honours, pensions, and gratuities are granted on their recommendation. All orders for the payment of naval monies are made by them ; they prepare the navy estimates, and lay them before parliament. The civil departments of the admiralty are directed by the sur veyor of the navy, accountant-general, storekeeper-general, comptroller of victu alling, and physician-general.
The navy is composed of two bodies of men—seamen and marines.
There are commissioned, warrant, and petty officers.
The commissioned officers are flag officers, captains, commanders, and lieu tenants.
Flag-officers are divided into the fol lowing classes, and rank and command in the order here following :— Admirals of the fleet.
Admirals of the red, white, blue squad rons.
Vice-admirals of the red, white, blue squadrons.
Rear-admirals of the red, white, blue squadrons.
There are superannuated and retired rear-admirals, who enjoy the rank and pay, but do not rise.
The admiral of the feet, when in command, bears the union flag at the main-top-gallant-mast. The other flag officers bear a square flag of the colour of their squadron at the main, fore, or mizen top-gallant-mast, according to their rank.
The flag-officer holding the chief com mand of a fleet or squadron employed within certain geographical limits, termed a station, is called a commander-in-chief. He is responsible for the efficiency and conduct of the fleet under his orders ; be disposes of the vessels composing it in such manner as will be most advan tageous for the service ; but without some especial necessity he is never to send one beyond the limits of his station. All vacancies in ships under his orders which are caused by death or dismissal from the service by the sentence of a court martial, are in his gift. As to the various officers of the navy see ADMIRAL, CAP. TAIN, &c.
On the 1st January. 1846, the number of officers of the royal navy was as fol lows :—Flag, 154; captains and retired captains, 769; commanders and retired commanders, 1137; lieutenants, 2528; marine officers, 741; masters, 432 ; medi.
eal officers, 970; pursers, 485; naval in structors, 46 ; chaplains, 97 ; mates, 172; second mates, 129; acting assistant sur geons, 59; qualified clerks, 216: total 7985.
The crew of a ship consists of petty officers, able seamen, ordinary seamen, landsmen, boys, and marines. In time of peace the whole crew are entered voluntarily ; during war, men are liable to impressment. The following persons are exempt from it, and no seaman can be impressed except by an officer having a press-warrant :— Masters of merchant vessels ; Mates of those above 50 tons; Boatswains and carpenters of those of 100 tons and upwards ; Men belonging to craft of all kinds employed in the navy, victualling, ord nance, excise, customs, and post-office ; Watermen belonging to the insurance offices in London and Westminster ; All men above 55 or under 18 years of age ; Apprentices not having used the sea before the date of their indentures, and not more than three years from the said date ; Landsmen not having served at sea full two years ; Harpooners, line-managers, steerers, and all seamen and mariners who have entered the Greenland and southern whale-fisheries.
The best seamen are rated petty officers by the captain ; they are of two classes, distinguished by a crown and anchor for the first class, and an anchor for the second, worked in white cloth upon the left arm ; they have an increase of pay, and are not amenable to corporal punish ment while holding that rank.
There is a supply of boys to the navy from the asylum at Greenwich and from the Marine Society, but many more are brought into the navy by volunteering. Every ship, according to her rate or class, bears a certain number of marines as part of her complement [MARINE.P.) For the due maintenance of discipline, the captain or commander of every ship or vessel is authorised to inflict corporal punishment on any seaman, marine, or boy, by warrant under his hand. Courts martial are ordered by the Admiralty and commanders-in-chieŁ The idea of establishing an hospital for infirm and disabled seamen originated with Mary, wife of William III., and Sir Christopher Wren was employed to build an additional wing to Greenwich Palace. The king granted 20001. a year towards it, large subscriptions were added by noble and wealthy persons, estates were willed to it by individuals, all mari ners were made to subscribe 6d. per month, forfeited and unclaimed prize money, and various grants were given. The forfeited estates of the Earl of Der wentwater, the net rental of which is now between 30,000/. and 40,0001. a year, were given. The revenue of the hospital is about 150,000/. a year. The establish ment consists of a governor, a lieutenant governor (both flag-officers), four cap tains, and eight lieutenants, residing in the hospital. There are about 2710 in pensioners, and 120 matrons and nurses, all of whom must be seamen's widows.