Art. 100, p. 37, of Addenda to Queen's Regulations.

Entry.-Writers are to be entered at the following Home Ports when required:

1. Sheerness,
2. Portsmouth and
3. Devonport,

and all applications for entry are to be addressed to the Commanders-in-Chief at those Ports.

Qualifications.-Candidates must be between 18 and 25 years of age, and must produce a certificate of respectability and good character.

They are to be examined on board the Flag Ships before the Captain or Commander, Paymaster, and Naval instructor, in

1. Reading ;
2. Writing-a good, clear hand indispensable ;
3. Arithmetic-first four rules, Simple and Compound ;
4. Keeping Accounts neatly and correctly.

The Surgeon of the Flag Ship is to certify as to their fitness for service.

They will be eligible for Pensions, Gratuities, or other beneficial payments, in the same manner as other Petty Officers.

On being entered they will be drafted to Ships, as required, and in the mean time they are to be borne in the Flag or Receiving Ships to learn their duties.

Writers are not to be entered for Continuous Service, and they will be liable to be reduced to a lower class or discharged in case of misconduct.

On being paid off from Ships, they may be discharged to the Flag or Receiving Ships, as Supernumeraries for disposal.

Seamen and Marines of good character may be entered as Writers, with the sanction of their Lordships, although upwards of 25 years of age, and if Pensioners, they may retain their Pensions while serving as Writers.

Writers are to rank and mess with Naval Schoolmasters, and to wear a similar Uniform.

They are to be employed entirely under the direction of the Paymaster, with the approval of the Captain.

Circular No. 14.-N.

Admiralty, 8th March 1873.

BOY WRITERS AND WRITERS IN HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS.

Her Majesty having been pleased by an Order in Council to sanction the establishment of the rating of "Boy Writer" in Her Majesty's Ships, the following are to be the Regulations for the Entry, &c. of Boy Writers, and their advancement to the rating of "Writer."

Entry.

" Boy Writers " to be selected principally from Greenwich School, where they will be trained for the Navy, and to be entered for Continuous Service.

Age for entry to be 15� and pay to be 1s. a-day.

As Candidates from Greenwich School will be medically examined by the School Authorities, assisted by the Surgeon of the "Fisgard," before leaving, no Medical Examination will be requisite on their entry in the Navy.

Advancement.

Mess.

Boy Writers and Writers are to Mess with Naval Schoolmasters and Master-at-Arms.

Uniform.

Boy Writers and 3rd Class Writers.-Blue jacket and waistcoat, with black anchor buttons and cloth or white trousers as directed ; white or check shirt, blue cloth cap with peak, and plain mohair band, without, device.

2nd Class Writers.-Ditto, but with gilt naval button., 1st Class Writers.-Same as Naval Schoolmasters, viz., blue frock coat, single breasted, with gilt Naval buttons but none on cuffs ; blue cloth jacket without button, on cuffs; blue cloth cap with peak, and plain mohair band, but without device.

They are to be employed entirely under the direction of the Paymaster with the approval of the Captain ; as in the case of Writers entered under their Lordships' Circular of the 28th February, 1867 (No. 10).

By command of their Lordships,

Robert Hall

To all Commanders-in-Chief, &c.

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