INFIRMARY without the walls of the Hospital, in order that more pensioners might be added to the establishment, and the sick taken care of with greater convenience and more comfort to themselves.

A work so necessary was immediately concluded upon, and a building ordered to be crected for that purpose; which was designed by Mr. Stuart, the late surveyor, and completed under the direction of Mr. Robinson, then clerk of the works.

As nothing has been omitted which was judged necessary to render this building convenient and comfortable to the patients, so all possible care is taken that the dict is adapted to their particular cases; the drugs and medicines are bought of the Apothecaries Company, in order that they may be the best of their kinds; and, when it is necessary for any of the patients to go to Bath, or the salt-water, or, in cases of insanity, to Bethlem or other places of confinefinement, they are immediately sent thither; the hospital paying all necessary expences.

The SCHOOL. Agreeable to the tenor of king William's commission, and the Register Act, which direct some provision to be made for the maintenance and education of the sons of seamen, is solely under the management of the directors, who in rotation nominate the boys for admission; prior to which it must be made appear, by proper certifi cates, that they are sons of seamen, between eleven and thirteen years of age, objects of charity, of sound body and mind, and able to read; and their parents or friends. must give security that they shall be at the directors dis posal, and to indemnify the hospital for the value of their clothes, &c. if they should run away with them.

The boys are lodged, clothed, and maintained, at the expence of the hospital, for three years. Five nurses are appointed to keep them clean, to take care of their clothes, to make their beds, attend at their micals, &c. And a guardian and four assistants, are appointed to superintend them when out of school. They are instructed in the principles of religion by the chaplains, and in writing, arith

2

metic

metic, and navigation, by a schoolmaster appointed for that purpose; who also instructs those in drawing who shew a genius for it. Each boy, on his admission, is supplied with a Bible and Common Prayer book; and with all necessary books and instruments for his instruction, which he is allowed to take with him when he is bound out.

All the boys attend the directors, once a year to be viewed, when they bring specimens of their several performances; and three of them who produce the best drawings after nature, done by themselves, are allowed the following premiums, according to their respective degrees of merit, viz.

A Hadley's quadrant,

1st prize. A case of mathematical instruments, 2d ditto.

Robertson's Treatise on Navigation, 3d ditto.

They are bound out for seven years, to the sea-service only, for the better improvement of their talents, and that they may become able seamen and good artists.

In 1783, it was recommended by the directors to the general court, to build a school and dormitory for the boys, without the walls of the hospital, which was built from the designs of Mr. Stuart. This building is one hundred and forty-six feet in length, and forty-two in breadth, exclusive of its Tuscan colonade, intended for a play place and shelter for the boys in bad weather, which is one hundred and eighty feet long, and twenty feet broad. This excellent charity is calculated for the double purpose of providing for the sons of poor seamen, and making them useful to their country, by training them up to a seafaring life, is solely supported by money arising from the following incidental funds, viz. Shewing the Painted Hall, chapel, and other parts of the hospital. Mulcts, absences, cheques, &c. of pensioners, and nurses. visions purchased of the pensioners *.

Profits on proSale of old hous

* By this excellent plan, those who find it more convenient for their families to have money in lieu of their provisions, are prevented from exposing them to sale elsewhere; and though the hospital derives a profit, are allowed full as much if not more than they can otherwise make of them.

VOL. V. No. 106.

hold

hold stores. Unclaimed property of deceased pensioners and nurses. Interest of money in the stocks, being savings from the above-mentioned funds. The clothing of the boys, as well linen as woollen, is of the same quality as that of the pensioners; and when bound out, are supplied with two complete suits, and other necessaries.

The following Table shew the number of wards and beds in the several parts of the buildinga

We shall conclude this article with an account of the respective sources whence the whole revenue of the Hospital is at present derived, and also the principal articles of its expenditure.

REVENUE.-1st, Sixpence per man per month for all seamen and marines belonging to his majesty's ships, including those in ordinary. 2d, Ditto for all seamen employed in the merchants' service. 3d, The duties arising from the North and South Foreland lighthouses. 4th, The half-pay of several of the officers of the hospital who are entitled thereto. 5th, The wages, with the value of provions and other allowances, of the two chaplains of Woolwich and Deptford dock-yards. 6th, The rents and profits of the Derwentwater estates, including lead mines. 7th, The rents of the market at Greenwich, and of the houses there and in London. 8th, Interest of money invested in the public funds. 9th, Fines for fishing in the river Thames with unlawful nets, and other offences. 10th, Forfeited and unclaimed shares of prize and bounty money.

EXPENDITURE. 1st, Cloathing, victuals, necessaries of all kinds, and weekly allowance of money to the pensioners and nurses; together with salaries and allowances to the officers and clerks, and wages and allowances to cooks,

scullery

scullery men, and other inferior officers and servants. 2d, Ordinary works and repairs of the hospital, including the infirmary, boys school, brewhouse, and other buildings, and salaries to the officers, &c. in that department. 3d, Contingent expences for directors attendances, law charges, stationary, and various other articles, including the Derwentwater estate. 4th, Pensions to out-pensioners, including salaries to clerks, and other expences incident to that service.

Present Establishment of Officers, &c.

three* clerks at 50l.

A master and governor, 1000l.; one clerk at 501. A lieutenant-governor, 400l. Four captains, cach 2301. Eight lieutenants, each 1157. A treasurer and receiver, 200/.; A secretary, 160.; two clerks, one at 60%. and one at 50%. An auditor, 100l.; one clerk at 50l. Two chaplains, each 1307. A physician, 10s. per diem, 182/. 10s. A steward, 1607.; four clerks, one at 601. and and three at 401. each. A surgeon, 150.; two assistants at 401. each, one servant at 30l. A clerk of the checque, 1607.; four clerks, one at 60l. and three at 401. each. A surveyor, 2001. A clerk of the works, 5s. per day, 911. 5s; one clerk at 601. A dispenser, 50l.; one assistant at 30%. Three matrons, each 40l. A schoolmaster, 1507. A master brewer, 601. An organist, 601. A butler, 257.; two mates at 157. each. Two cooks, each 30l.; four mates, two at 201. and two at 157. A sculleryman, 201.; two mates at 15/. each, A messenger, 30l. Two porters, each 157. Barber, 127. +

The

* One of them was appointed on account of out-pensioners; and the first clerk has 501. more on the same account.

+ On account of improper persons having obtained lucrative situations in this establishment, and who had not been in the sea service, it was moved in the House of Commons, on the 22d of March, 1808, by viceadmiral Sir Charles Morice Pole, member for Newark, that some regulations were necessary to be adopted. He observed, that "as a member of parliament, and one of the late members of the late Board of Admiralty, he found it necessary to make a motion on the subject of the charter 0 2

of

The number of pensioners maintained in the hospital is two thousand three hundred and fifty; every boatswain is allowed

of Greenwich Hospital, and to correct a repetition of the errors which had crept into that meritorious establishment. The noble lord who presided at the head of that board (earl St. Vincent) was ever anxious to see ample justice done to the navy, and every man connected with it, and therefore was of opinion with him, and with every disinterested man in the country, that the strict spirit of the charter should be adhered to, and that all offices should be filled in Greenwich Hospital by seafaring men, who were competent to the task. The honourable member then proceeded to read the commission issued by William III. by queen Anne, by George II. and the subsequent charter. From all these it appeared, that the Hospital was established for the comfort of those who were wounded or maimed in the navy, as being an industrious and laborious set of men, who ought to be invited, rather than forced, into his majesty's navy, whose glory, from their exertions, reached the remotest parts of the world. He then proceeded to read an abstract from the fourteenth Report of the Commissioners of Naval Enquiry, page 549, stating that they had enquired into the state of Greenwich Hospital, and that they found a number of persons had been admitted of a description and class that ought not to have been. It was to remedy this evil that he would submit some resolutions, which he had prepared, to the house, as it was the duty of every naval officer to anticipate the legitimate wants of every seaman, who suffered great privations while serving his country, and by which he ought ever to be cherished and protected. For these reasons he moved the following resolutions :—

"Resolved, That it appears the commission granted by king William for the benefit of Greenwich Hospital was since enlarged, by a subsequent act and charter,

Resolved, That it appears to the house that the rules and regulations were strengthened by an act of William, Anne, aud Geo. II.

Resolved, That it appears, by the fourteenth Report of the Naval Commissioners, that a number of offices were filled by a description of persons, in violation of his majesty's gracious intention, as expressed in his charter.

Resolved, That an humble address be presented to his majesty, that he be graciously pleased to give direction, that in conformity to the said charter, its regulations may be complied with, as far as was convenient, according to the intention of the said charter."

The chancellor of the exchequer (Mr. Percival) said he was very desirous of giving every facility to the wishes of the hon. baronet, on a subject which so justly excited the feeling of a gentleman, particularly of his pro

fession,