It has been the practice in the British navy to dismantle ships when out of commission, and to keep them in the state of hulks until their services were again required.
A ship is called into active service, or " commissioned," by the appointment of a captain or commander to her, and his pendant being hoisted to announce the fact of her being placed under the Articles of War, she was taken to an appointed dockyard for refitting, manning, arming, &c., and in the course of a few weeks reported ready for sea. Hence, when sudden emergency arose, considerable delay in refitment postponed the time at which the services of the ship could be available to the country. ' In 1844, however, the Firebrand, paddle-steamer, being out of com mission at Portsmouth, was advanced so as to be considered a "reserve " ship. Gradually from that period, but by very slow and unequal steps, what is now called a steam reserve had been increasing, until in 1856 such reserve became a most valuable system, and extended from Portsmouth to Plymouth and Sheerness. As our ships of war are altered for steam-power, they, as well as new ships, are placed in the nearest steam-reserve. In this reserve force the effective unemployed ships are arranged as under, in four divisions : The first division consists of such ships, of every class, as are ready for sea within a day or two after being commissioned, so far as masts and rigging and all fittings are concerned, including guns, anchors, cables, shot, tanks, &c., together with all machinery, which in trial trips and periodical examinations by an inspector of machinery afloat has been properly tested and duly reported on, through the captain of the steam reserve, and from him to the commander-in-chief and the Admiralty. But powder and provisions are only shipped when about to proceed to sea.
The second division consists of such ships of every class as are fitted with engines, anchors, cables, shot, and tanks, but have neither masts, guns, powder, nor provisions on board. These will also have been tested in trial trips.
The third division comprises ships of any class which have their engines on board, but are without masts, guns, shot, tanks, anchors and cables, powder or provisions.
The fourth division are those ships which are in mere "ordinary," being in various stages of incipient preparation for advancement.
Not only does this arrangement provide ships to meet the sudden demands of diplomacy, but it affords a reserve of available subordinate officers for immediate sea service. In no branch of usefulness is this of more importance than as regards officers of engineers and warrant officers, who are attached to the guard-ship of eacCsteam-reserve, and are subservient to all the discipline and usages of the service. Much remains to be done and is in progress, such as the providing means for the training of young engineers of the reserve, and also of boys who enter the navy ; so that instead of sending raw recruits into the sea going ships, boys are sent who, after about a year's training in the reserve school-ship, are fit to commence the career of a British sailor as " first-class boys." At present Sheerness is the only reserve port at which the educational movement has been tried on a large scale. The school ship at that port is considered a model and an example for imitation. The long-wanted means for enabling young engineer officers to prepare for their examinations, has been here met with abundant advantage to them and to the service. There is also in the ship a school for the education of the children of engineers and warrant-officers of the steam reserve.
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 Denmark and the Duke of Clarence, afterwards King William IV. At present the Board consists 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 promotions are made or approved by them; all honours, pensions, and gratuities are granted on their recommendation. All orders for the payment of naval moneys are made by them ; they prepare the navy estimates, and lay them before parliament. The civil departments of the Admiralty are directed by the surveyor of the navy, accountant-general, storekeeper-general, com ptroller of victualling, and physician-general.