STATE PAPERS. 



S37 



Exchequer fees, your committee 

 observe, with much satisfaction, 

 that in consequence of the late 

 generous and patriotic conduct of 

 the distinguished nobleman who 

 holds the only telleiship which 

 continued upon the old establish- 

 ment, the wliole produce of tiiese 

 fees, with some inconsiderable ex- 

 cejitions, is now applicable to na- 

 tional purposes, in conformity to 

 the act for regulating the Exche- 

 quer, ySd of the King, c. 83, 

 without affording an increase of 

 emolument to any individual 

 whatever. 



marches, 1817. 



PROPOSALS AND REOI'LATIONS RE- 

 LATIVE TO THK ROYAL NAVY, 



Made by the Board of Jdmiralty, 

 and sauctioned by Order in Conn- 

 ed, commencing cm the Ist of 

 January, iHl?- 

 It was to be expected, that, intlie 

 natural lapse of time, and still 

 more, in the course of a war, un- 

 exampled in duration and extent, 

 teveral variations from the old 

 establishment and regulation'^ of 

 the Koyal Navy shouM have taken 

 place ; and however desirable, in 

 the view eitlier of economy or con- 

 venience, uniformity may be, it 

 was impossible, during the pres- 

 sure of war, either to resist the 

 innovations which temporary cir- 

 cumstances rendered nece-sary, or 

 to remould and reform the whole 

 eystem of the navy, on every oc- 

 casion on which some alteration 

 was introduced. 



We therefore find that there 

 have grown up several inconsis- 

 tencies, irregularities, and depar- 

 tures from the establishments, in 

 particular articles of the naval 

 Vol. LIX. 



service ; and as we think this a 

 favourable occasion for enileavour- 

 ing to remedy the inconvenience 

 which arises from these irregu- 

 larities, and to reduce, as far as 

 may be piacticable, the several 

 alterations which have been made 

 into one regular system, we most 

 htunbly beg leave to submit to 

 your Royal Highness 's gracious 

 consideration, the following ob- 

 servations and propositions, on the 

 rates, classification, and schemes 

 of arming and manning His Ma- 

 jesty's ships ; and on the pay, 

 ratings, and numbers of the officers 

 and warrant and petty and non- 

 commissioned officers of His Ma- 

 jesty's navy and royal marines, 

 and tiie establishment of the com- 

 panies of Royal Marine Artillery. 



1 . The postsiiips of the Royal 

 Navy are divided into six rates ; 

 besides which, there are the vari- 

 ous classes of sloops, fire-ships, 

 bombs, gun-vessels, yachts, schoo- 

 ners, and cutters. 



The division of the Royal Navy 

 into six rates took place in the 

 reign of King Charles I. and at 

 that period, and for several yeai 9 

 afterwards these rates included 

 the whole navy. 



In the reign of King Charles II. 

 the sloops, fire-ships, and yachts, 

 became distinguished from the 

 sixth rates. 



At the Revolution, the rates 

 comprised nearly the same classes 

 of ships which they now do, ex- 

 cept that the sixth rate still in- 

 cluded vessels of a less number of 

 guns than twenty. 



In the year 1719. a general 

 establishment for building was 

 adopted, which however was not 

 long adhered to. 



In 1733, aacheme of ujaoning 



Z and 



