Admiralty Circular No 121 dated 14th June 1853

My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have had under their consideration the question of the entry of men for the Royal Navy, together with a report from a committee of naval officers appointed to enquire into the subject.

Their Lordships are of opinion that it is highly important to give the Royal Navy a more permanent organization, both as a means of increasing efficiency and discipline, and of substantially promoting the welfare and comfort of the petty officers and seamen of the fleet.

My Lords are desirous that the change in the existing system should be accomplished wholly by voluntary means. Seamen are therefore to be permitted, as at present, to enter for the customary period of service, and for particular ships; but by the future entry of boys for longer terms of continuous and general service, and by holding out the inducement of increased pay and other advantages, to men who volunteer to serve under the new system, their Lordships contemplate that a gradual and beneficial change will be introduced in the present mode of manning Her Majesty's Ships.

With this view they are pleased to direct that the following measures be carried into effect.

BOYS

All boys under the age of 18, who hereafter enter the Navy, are to be required to enter into an engagement, according to the form, No 95, to serve Her Majesty for a period of ten years continuous and general service from the age of 18, in addition to whatever periods may be necessary till they attain that age. If above the age of 18 when entered, they are to be required to engage for 10 years continuous service and general service, from the date of first entry.

No boy is under any circumstances to be entered under the age of 14, or below the following standard of height:

Weight, though dispensed with as a qualification, is to be inserted, for information, in the reports of survey.

All officers entrusted with the important duty of entering boys, are strictly enjoined to use the greatest care and circumspection in ascertaining that they are in all respects fit for Her Majesty's Service, before they are entered. Previous to such entry being confirmed, a survey is to be held on them by two Captains or Commanders, or one of each rank, and two Medical Officers; who are to certify, according to the form No 95, to the boys being of perfectly sound and healthy constitution, free from any physical malformation, or other defect, and to their being in all respects fit for the service.

A similar course of proceeding, as far as circumstances admit, is to be followed in the case of boys entered on foreign stations.

Outfit The sum of 40s which is now required as an outfit for boys on their first entry, is, for the future, to be dispensed with.

Employment as servants: All boys of the 2nd Class, including boys from the school ships and from the Greenwich schools, may be employed as servants, when required, according to the usage of the service; but all officers in command are to take care that the employment of boys in this capacity does not, on any account interfere with their systematic schooling, instruction in gunnery, exercise aloft, and other branches of a seaman's duty; or in useful trades of which they may possess a knowledge.

Promotion to 1st Class: If a boy should be more than ordinarily active and well conducted, he may, at the discretion of the Captain, be promoted to the first class at the age of 16, provided he shall have been at least one year at sea.

Entry of 1st Class Boys: Although it is desirable that all boys who are entered in the 1st Class should have been at sea, or accustomed to boats, such qualification is not to be considered indispensable, in the case of promising lads who are found in all other respects fit for Her Majesty's Service. The existing regulation for the instruction and training of 1st Class boys, to qualify them for seamen, is to be strictly enforced.

Promotion: Boys who produce proof of having been at least two years at sea, may, in special cases of good conduct and ability, be rated 2nd Class Ordinary, or Ordinary Seaman, according to their qualifications, after the age of 18. No person is to be retained in the rating of boy after the age of 20.

Discharge by purchase: All boys of good character and conduct, whether entered for continuous service or otherwise, may be permitted to purchase their discharge according to the following scale; the amount being graduated according to their length of service, and the consequent expense that has been incurred on their education and training:

Under 3 years service �8
After 3 and under 5 years �10
After 5 years service �12

Discharge of ineligible boys: When a ship is inspected, or paid off, the Captain or Commanding Officer, is to report the names of such boys as he may consider, from inferior stature, want of physical strength, or other valid cause, to be unfit to be retained in the service, in order that, after a special survey, they may be discharged.

Advantages of Continuous Service: All the advantages granted for continuous and general service, as hereafter shown, are to be fully explained to the boys now serving, the option being left to them of accepting such advantages, or otherwise.

Increase of Pay: Boys who have entered for continuous and general service, are, when advanced to any of the under-mentioned ratings, to be allowed the following rates of pay, in addition to the present pay of the Royal navy:

They will also be eligible to be granted pensions after shorter terms of service than at present, as hereinafter specified.

The above additional rates of pay are also to be allowed to all the petty officers, and seamen, as shown in the table of pay under the following conditions:

1 To all men who volunteer for ten years continuous and general service.

2 To men who may hereafter enter the Navy for the first time for the usual period for which a ship is commissioned, and who afterwards volunteer, at any time before the ship in which they are serving is paid off, for such further periods as may be necessary to complete ten years continuous and general service from the date of their first entry. The increased rates of pay to commence from the date of their so volunteering.

3 To men who have already served in the Navy, or who are now serving, and who volunteer for not less than seven years further continuous and general service.

4 To men who have already served 10 years and upwards, from the age of 18, provided thy volunteer either for seven years further service, or for such periods as may be necessary to make up 20 years service from the age of 18; provided in the latter case, such period of continuous and general service to be completed be not less than five years.

5 To men who have already served 16 years and upwards in the Navy, from the age of 20, and who volunteer to complete, by general service, such periods as may be necessary to make up 21 years from the age of 20.

6 Men who have once completed an engagement under any one of the foregoing conditions, will be entitled to the higher rates of pay by re-entry for the periods of service shown in the table in the appendix. It is to be understood in every case, that the additional rates of pay are only to be given for continuous and general service; and that pensions after 20 years total service from the age of 18, will be awarded only to men who have served under any of the foregoing conditions.

All men who engage for continuous and general service are to sign an agreement to that effect, according to the form, No 95. They are to be distinguished on the ship's book by the letter C.S. (continuous service) being placed in Red Ink, immediately under their ratings, and the date of entry for continuous service is to be entered in the column for that purpose in the Ship's Books.

Servants, musicians, bandsmen, butchers, barbers, tailors, and sick berth attendants, and others, as stated in the table of pay in the appendix, are to be entered as at present, and are not to be considered as forming a part of the permanent Navy. No Pensioners are to be entered for continuous service.

Allotments: The allotments of seamen who enter for continuous and general service, will remain in force during the period of their engagement, unless cancelled by themselves under the existing regulations. All seamen riggers joining Ships are now to be allowed to make allotments on the day of entry.

Exchange of Seamen: In carrying out the arrangements of the Naval Service under the new system of continuous service, the Commander-in-Chief at home and abroad will afford facilities for the exchange of seamen to different ships whenever the public service will admit, but in all cases the sanction of Captains in command must be obtained; and such exchange will be permitted only to men of good character.

Extension of term of service: The term of service for which a seaman shall hereafter enter may, as at present, be temporarily extended, in the event of any emergency, or necessity, which, in the opinion of the Lords of the Admiralty, or a Commander-in-Chief on a foreign station, may render such temporary extension requisite; and any man so detained beyond the term of his agreement, is to be entitled to 2d a day, in addition to the pay of the rating which he may hold.

Period of service and leave: It is to be generally understood, that when the public service will admit, the customary period of service abroad will not be exceeded; and that six weeks leave of absence will usually be granted on the return of ships to England, and further leave during each year, whenever the service will permit. When ships are put out of commission, or paid off, the continuous service men are to be entered as disposable supernumeraries on the books of the Flag Ship of the port: unless, prior to going on leave, they have been entered on the books of a sea going or other ship as part of complement.

In hospital at home: Petty officers, seamen and boys, entered for continuous service, who may be sent to hospital or sick quarters at home, will not be checked as formerly for time and pay at the end of 30 days, petty officers and able seamen will be subject to the deduction of 10d per day from their pay, ordinary seamen and 2nd class ordinary seamen 8d a day and boys 4d a day, to be charged against them on the Ship's books; and men in hospital, when a ship sails for Foreign Service, are to be discharged to the Flag Ship's Books.

Leading Seamen: As an inducement to seamen to render themselves proficient in all branches of their duty; my Lords are pleased to direct that a higher class of able-seaman be established, under the denomination of "leading seaman," and with an addition pay of 2d a day each. To consist of men who are thorough helms-men, and leads-men, able to assist in repairing sails, and who are practical riggers, capable of doing duty as such in any part of a ship; to undergo an examination for rating, conducted by the Commander, Senior Lieutenant, Master and Boatswain; wear a badge of distinction, (according to pattern); to be exempted from corporal punishment, except by sentence of court martial, or for mutiny, to be reduced for the committal of any grave offence in the same manner as petty officers, having been first deprived of any good conduct badges they may possess. The number of leading-men in each ship to be according to the schemes of complement annexed hereto. The increased pay of 2d a day is to be allowed without reference to a man entering for continuous service. Seamen-gunners of both classes, if duly qualified as leading seamen, are to receive the above 2d a day, in addition to their pay as seamen-gunners.

Shipwrights: A new rating of "shipwrights" is to be established. One-third of the carpenter's crew is to be composed of this class. Shipwrights are to be granted 2d a day each in addition to the pay of the carpenter's crew, and tool money as at present, irrespective of their term of service. Their qualification is to be ascertained by examination, previous to their being so rated: if at a home port, the examination is to take place at the dockyard by such competent officers as may be selected by the superintendent; if on a foreign station, by three carpenters, when practicable.

Landmen: The pay and duties of 2nd Class ordinary seamen and landmen being identical, the latter rating is to be abolished.

Good Conduct Badges: Time served as 2nd Class ordinary seamen is, prospectively, to count as time served as ordinary seamen, for the good conduct badge and pay.

Men Absent without leave or imprisoned: Men and boys who have absented themselves without leave, or who have wilfully overstaid their leave more than 48 hours are to forfeit their pay; but the allotment is not to be stopped during the period of their absence; and men or boys sent to gaol by the sentence of a civil magistrate for any offence committed within the United Kingdom or British Colonies, are likewise to be mulcted of their pay, during the period of their confinement; the amount of pay forfeited is to be charged against them on the Ship's Books by the Captain; unless under special circumstances, to be represented by the Captain, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, or the Commander-in-Chief on a foreign station, should think proper otherwise to direct. In all cases of mulct of pay, the circumstances are to be duly noted in the ship's log, and in the quarterly return of punishments. This regulation is not to interfere with the directions contained in the Queen's Regulations, Art 5, Page 103, relating to men absent without leave when a ship is about to proceed to sea.

Conveyance of seamen to their homes when paid off: On ships being put out of commission, every facility is to be given, consistently with the convenience of the service for conveying the men paid off to such of the ports, frequented by Her majesty's Ships, as may be nearest to their places of residence.

Commander's Servant: Commanders, under Captains in rated ships, are to be allowed a servant; to be borne and paid as a second class ordinary seaman.

Seamen-Gunners: My Lords are of the opinion that the system under which seamen-gunners are now entered requires modification, with a view both to its increased efficiency and extension. They are therefore pleased to direct, that men who may hereafter enter as seamen-gunners, be divided into two classes. 1st Class men are to be entitled to an additional pay of 2d a day and the 2nd Class to an additional pay of 1d a day each; the pay in question to be granted according to their qualifications and irrespective of length of service. The 1st class to be eligible to be promoted to the situation of gunner's mates and gunners; the 2nd class should be held qualified to perform the duty of captains of guns.

The existing regulations relating to seamen-gunners who have already been entered for five years are to remain in force, except as regards men who volunteer for continuous service, and who may be deemed eligible for either of the above classes.

In entering men hereafter for the "Excellent" preference is to be given to those who volunteer for continuous and general service.

My Lords consider that it would improve the discipline of Her Majesty's ships and be in other respects advantageous to the service, to establish a class of chief petty officer; they therefore direct that the following be established accordingly:

Chief Petty Officers:

Master-at-Arms
Chief Gunner's Mate
Chief Boatswain's Mate
Admiral's Coxswain
Chief Captain of the Forecastle
Chief Quartermaster
Chief Carpenter's Mate
Seamen's schoolmaster
Ship's steward
Ship's Cook

Chief Petty Officers will be allowed the rates of pay stated at page 215.

Petty officers who enter for continuous service are to carry their denominations as chief, first, or second class petty officers from ship to ship; it being left open to the captains of the ships which they may join to assign the specific rating best suited to the character and abilities of the individuals.

Examination for the rating of petty officers: Seamen before being promoted to the rating of petty officer, are to be examined by the following officers: the commander or senior lieutenant, master, gunnery lieutenant, and the warrant officer of the class required. In rating petty officers, a preference is to be given to men who have entered for continuous service.

The above officers are to sign the ticket of examination, which should be retained in the captain's office, appended to the description-book; to be produced to any flag or other officer who may muster or inspect the ship.

Petty officers are, as far as possible, to be selected from the leading seamen.

As an encouragement to deserving petty officers, an increase is to be made, as follows, in the number who are eligible to be recommended for good-conduct gratuities, when ships are paid off after three years' service, or in proportion for a less period, as at present regulated.

The long service medal-gratuity to 2nd class petty officers is to be increased from �7 to �10.

Petty officers and seamen who enter for continuous service may be permitted to purchase their discharge according to the following scale:

Men who have obtained Good Conduct Badges may be allowed to purchase their discharge at a reduction of �2, upon the foregoing rates.

All men and boys who enter or re-enter the Navy, under the conditions and for the periods of continuous and general service, already stated, will be allowed pensions after 20 years service from the age of 18, instead of after 21 years service from the age of 20, as at present. Their Lordships also reserve to themselves a discretionary power of awarding pensions of 6d a day each, after ten years service, from the age of 18, and pensions of 8d a day each, after 15 years service from the same age, to all men now in, or who may hereafter enter the Navy, whenever their Lordships may think proper to do so. All men who may be thus granted pensions after 10, 15 or 20 years' service will be held liable, under the 13th clause of the Pensions Regulations (dated the 1st January 1849,) to serve again in the Navy if required, in the event of an armament, or war; and when so serving, will be allowed their Pensions, and the Pay of the ratings they may hold.

The time any continuous service man may serve after the age of 18, will count for pension without reference to the rating held.

Time served in the Navy under the existing system will be allowed to count with time under the new system, in awarding the above pension.

The circumstances of a man not having completed the specific term of continuous service under the new system for which he entered, will not preclude his being granted a pension after 10 or 15 years combined service, whenever their Lordships shall think proper to grant pensions after those periods.

Petty officers who have completed 15 or 20 years' service will, when pensioned, be granted double the present allowance for the time they have served as a petty officer, provided they shall have entered, and served for one continuous period of not less than ten years, unless invalided for wounds or hurts received on duty; that they shall have been discharged with the rating of petty officer; and that their character in such rating shall have been "very good". Under this rule a chief or 1st class petty officer would be granted an allowance of �1 10s 5d a year (in lieu of 15s 2�) for each year he may have served as such; and a 2nd class petty officer 15s 2�d a year (in lieu of 7s 7�d) for each year served as such.

Summary: In order that seamen may avail themselves of the advantages contingent upon the new terms,, my Lords desire that these advantages be distinctly explained to them. They may be briefly recapitulated as follows:

Pay: Continuous service men will be entitled to the rates of pay stated at page 211.

Pensions: Pensions will be granted after 20 years' service from the age of 18, instead of after 21 years from the age of 20; and as leave will be allowed when Ships are paid off, during which time and pay will be continued, it follows that seamen entering under or about the age of 18, will receive the same amount of pension for less than 19 years actual service than they would have received under the present system for 23 years actual service.

Pensions may also be awarded after 10 and 15 years' service from the age of 18. Thus seamen may be granted pensions at the ages of 28, 33 and 38 respectively, instead of 43 or 44, the average age at which long service pensions are now awarded.

These pensions will range from �9 4s a year to �40 a year.

The allowance for time served as a petty officer will, in awarding pensions, be doubled to men who ender for 10 years continuous and general service.

Greater permanency will be given to a man's connexion with the Naval Service. On returning from leave he will be entered on board a Flag-ship without the loss of a day's time or pay, instead of being frequently exposed to inconvenience and distress from his not being able to enter a ship fitting out.

GUNNERS, BOATSWAINS AND CARPENTERS

My Lords highly appreciate the valuable services rendered by the warrant officers of the Navy, and the zeal with which their important duties are usually performed; and as a mark of their approbation of such services, they are pleased to direct that the pay of these officers be increased as follows:

Warrant officers who are still paid for particular rates of ships according to the regulations in force prior to the Order in Council of 28 April 1836 will be allowed the following increased scale of harbour service pay:

My Lords desire it may be distinctly explained to the warrant officer, individually, that in awarding the above liberal scale of pay, their Lordships have been desirous not only of adequately rewarding their services, but also of enabling them to make provision, by insurance or otherwise, for their widows; and my Lords confidently rely upon the Warrant Officers giving effect to their Lordships' intention in this respect.

In the cases of officers of exemplary character and conduct, two years harbour service are, prospectively, to be considered, in awarding pensions, as equal to one year's sea service; in lieu of the proportion of three to one, as at present.

As a further mark of their approbation of the service of this deserving class of officers, my Lords are pleased to direct that warrant officers of exemplary conduct, who have distinguished themselves by acts of gallantry and daring in the service, be considered eligible to hold commissions in Her Majesty's Fleet, in such rank or position as their Lordships may deem them, after undergoing examination, entitled to receive, and competent to fill; and all warrant officers so promoted will be granted, respectively, the sum of �100 as an outfit.

The additional pay of warrant officers, is to commence on the 1st July next; and if those officers who may draw bills shall, before the receipt of this circular, have drawn them for the period commencing the 1st of July, the difference of pay may be added to the next bills they may draw.

Having reference to the increased responsibility attaching to the situations of chief and commissioned boatmen, their Lordships are pleased to direct that men appointed from the Naval Service shall, when pensioned, be allowed to count service in the former capacity as 1st class and in the latter as 2nd class petty officers time upon the present scale. Coast-guard men from the Naval Service, when granted gratuities instead of pensions, are to be placed on the same footing as seamen.

Time in the Coast-Guard, after a combined service of twenty-one years, is to count towards higher rates of pension, as if served in the Royal Navy; time served as chief and commissioned boatmen being subject to the rule laid down in the foregoing clause.

Ten years' service in the Navy, from the age of 18 (instead of 7, in man's rating as now regulated), is to be the required term of service, previous to admission into the Coast-guard; appointments thereto are to be open to ordinary seamen, of thoroughly good conduct.

Coast-guard men are to be permitted to wear the good conduct badges or other distinctive marks they have obtained in the Royal Navy, but are not entitled to the additional pay.

The several distinctive badges referred to in the preceding regulations, will be forwarded to the out-ports, and will be a follows, embroidered in gold:

These regulations are to take effect on and after the 1st July next; except as regards men entering for continuous service on Foreign Stations, where they are to commence so soon as they are understood by the men, and they volunteer for continuous service; and all existing regulations not cancelled or modified by those now promulgated are to remain in force.

Great care is to be taken that no men of indifferent character are received for continuous service, or who are constitutionally or otherwise unfit, and in the rating of men strict attention is to be given to their qualifications.

In every case in which a man enters for continuous service under the foregoing regulations, the form No 95 is to be filled up and forwarded, with as little delay as possible, to the Secretary of the Admiralty, for the Accountant-General of the Navy

[See Circular No. 130 below for some subsequent questions received from the Fleet, and answers from Their Lordships. Ed.]

By Command of the Lordships

R OSBORNE

To all Commanders-in-Chief, &c

The Royal Naval Service

The seamen of the present day are greatly improved in intelligence compared with those of any former period in the services of this country. Every new measure and every Admiralty Circular is now carefully perused, and seamen will not now enter to serve in the fleet until they fully comprehend the duty they are to perform, the remuneration they will receive, and the treatment they will experience on board the ships of war or war steamers in which they may have to serve on joining the Royal Navy. A Circular No. 121 was recently issued which has been much criticised by the seamen, and they framed certain questions relative to it for transmission to the Admiralty. Their Lordships have instructed their Secretary to answer the said questions, which have been done in the following:-

Circular No. 130
Admiralty,
3 Oct 1853,

Questions raised on Circular No. 121 by certain seamen of the fleet, with their Lordships answers thereto:-

Q. 1. Whether men entering for continuous service would interfere with their entering for the Excellent [RN gunnery training ship at Portsmouth]? Whether men can now enter?
A. 1 Men entered for continuous service will be eligible to be received into the Excellent as seamen-gunners, in preference to those entered for limited service. The periods of service for the Excellent will terminate with the periods of continuous service.

Q. 2. Whether 3 years' service, in ship then in would reckon as part of 40 years' service, or other period ?
A. 2 It would not ; but men now in the Service may enter for 7 years, or under clause 3, page 4, circular 121, and receive the higher rates of pay and pensions from the age of 18. The time to be so served must reckon from the date of volunteering for continuous service. The higher rates for petty time, when pensioned, can be given only to men who enter for 10 years, and serve for that period of continuous service.

Q. 3. Whether on paying off they would be allowed to join the guardship nearest their houses at the expiration of their leave?
A. 3. Continuous service men, when paid off, may choose the port to which they will return at the expiration of their leave. Continuous service petty officers will retain the ratings of their class, but all such men will be sent to ships afterwards as required.

Q. 4. Whether putting their names down for continuous service would make them liable to be draughted into other ships on the station, so as to be kept longer abroad ?
A. 4. All men, whether entered for continuous service or limited service, are already liable to be draughted to other ships when the exigencies of the service require it ; but continuous service men will not in general be kept longer abroad than at present.

Q. 5. Whether any time served as boy, after the age of 18, would reckon for pension ?
A. 5. Time served in boy's rating, after the age of 18, will reckon as time for pensions to continuous service men and no others.

Q. 6. Whether continuous service men, on paying off, will receive all their wages, or only a portion ?
A. 6. Continuous service men, on paying off, will receive the whole of the wages due to them.

Q. 7. Whether seamen on old system will require 7 or 14 years' service for Coastguard?
A. 7. Seamen whether entered under the old or new system will in future require 10 years' total service from the age of 18 to be eligible for the Coastguard.

Q. 8. While on leave, after paying off, can a man volunteer for any particular ship ?
A. 8. Continuous service men when on leave in England will not be entitled to volunteer for particular ships, but must return to the ships on which their names are borne. Facilities for exchange may be given when the service will admit.

Q. 9. Whether continuous service men before their service expires could enter for riggers in dockyard or Coastguard ?
A. 9. Continuous service men may be discharged by special order to be entered as riggers in a dockyard, or to serve in the Coastguard, but in general they will be expected to complete their engagements.

Q. 10. Seamen gunners now serving as formerly, if they volunteer for continuous service, will they be retained on the books of the Excellent, and can they volunteer for a second 5 years as seamen gunners on expiration of the first ?
A. 10. Seamen gunners now serving, and volunteering for continuous service, will be retained on the books of the Excellent until the expiration of their continuous service.

Q. 11. Whether any petty officers or seamen, who has less than 10 years to serve to complete 20, will be, if volunteering for continuous service, receive any increase in pension to what he would receive if remaining on the old system to complete 21 years ?
A. 11. No increased rate of pensions will be given to men who do not enter for and complete 10 years' continuous service, but men now in the service, and entering for 7 years longer, or under clause 4, page 5, of circular 121, will be entitled to the present rate of pension at the end of 20 years from the age of 18, instead of 21 years from the age of 20.

Q. 12. A seaman having 9 years' sea service and 9 years Coastguard service, will it reckon for 18 years full service ?
A. 12. 9 years' sea service and 9 years in the Coastguard, will reckon as 18 years service as time for pensions, but men entering the Coastguard only receive their pensions on being finally discharged from that Service.

Q. 13. Will seamen, not continuous service men, have the same privilege of entering the Coastguard service as formerly ?
A. 13. The regulations for entry into the Coastguard will be the same for all men, and in future no men will be eligible with less than 10 years service from the age of 18.

Q. 14. Whether clause, 5, page 13, under head of pensions, will include petty officers who have already served 13 years, and are only required to volunteer for 7 years further service ; and, if not, whether they will be obliged to volunteer for 10 years, so as to come under the scale ?
A. 14. All men must enter for and complete 10 years continuous service to become entitled to the higher rates of petty time, unless disabled by hurts in the service during the time.

Q. 15. Whether seamen gunners who may volunteer for 7 years' further service, will belong to the Excellent for that period, as at present, and return to her after being paid off from a ship ?
A. 15. Seamen gunners who may volunteer for 7 years' further service, will be retained on the books of the Excellent till it expires, and from the date of volunteering.

Q. 16. Whether apprentices are allowed to enter for general or continuous service ?
A. 16. Apprentices may enter for continuous service from the age of 18.

Q. 17. Whether a man entering for continuous service from abroad can pass for a seaman gunner, as formerly, receiving the increase of pay at once ?
A. 17. Continuous servicemen may pass for seamen gunners abroad, and will belong to the Excellent during their term of continuous service.

Q. 18. Men from the Excellent wish to know if, on volunteering for a term of 10 or 7 years, they will be considered to belong to the Excellent for that time, and if service to commence at once or only when discharged from the Excellent ?
A. 18. Seamen gunners entered for 5 years may volunteer for continuous service without continuing to belong to the Excellent beyond the original 5 years, but should state their intention at the time of volunteering.

By command of their Lordships.

R. Osborne.

To the Commanders of Her Majesty's ships and vessels.

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