I.
If any such seaman, either in fight or by any other accident at sea, come to be disabled, he should receive from the said office the following sums of money, either in pension for life, or ready money, as he pleased:
| For the loss of | £ | or £ per annum for life |
| An eye | 25 | 2 |
| Both eyes | 100 | 8 |
| One leg | 50 | 4 |
| Both legs | 80 | 6 |
| Right hand | 80 | 6 |
| Left hand | 50 | 4 |
| Right arm | 100 | 8 |
| Left arm | 80 | 6 |
| Both hands | 160 | 12 |
| Both arms | 200 | 16 |
Any broken arm, or leg, or thigh, towards the cure £10
If taken by the Turks, £50 towards his ransom.
If he become infirm and unable to go to sea or maintain himself by age or sickness £6 per annum.
To their wives if they are killed or drowned £50
In consideration of this, every seaman subscribing to the society shall agree to pay to the receipt of the said office his quota of the sum to be paid whenever, and as often as, such claims are made, the claims to be entered into the office and upon sufficient proof made, the governors to regulate the division and publish it in print.
For example, suppose 4,000 seamen subscribe to this society, and after six months—for no man should claim sooner than six months—a merchant’s ship having engaged a privateer, there comes several claims together, as thus—
| A was wounded and lost one leg | £50 |
| B blown up with powder, and has lost an eye | 25 |
| C had a great shot took off his arm | 100 |
| D with a splinter had an eye struck out | 25 |
| E was killed with a great shot; to be paid to his wife | 50 |
| £250 |
The governors hereupon settle the claims of these persons, and make publication “that whereas such and such seamen, members of the society, have in an engagement with a French privateer been so and so hurt, their claims upon the office, by the rules and agreement of the said office, being adjusted by the governors, amounts to £250, which, being equally divided among the subscribers, comes to 1s. 3d. each, which all persons that are subscribers to the said office are desired to pay in for their respective subscriptions, that the said wounded persons may be relieved accordingly, as they expect to be relieved if the same or the like casualty should befall them.”
It is but a small matter for a man to contribute, if he gave 1s. 3d. out of his wages to relieve five wounded men of his own fraternity; but at the same time to be assured that if he is hurt or maimed he shall have the same relief, is a thing so rational that hardly anything but a hare-brained follow, that thinks of nothing, would omit entering himself into such an office.
I shall not enter further into this affair, because perhaps I may give the proposal to some persons who may set it on foot, and then the world may see the benefit of it by the execution.