Marigold street, Rotherhith Wall.*
Marine Society, for furnishing the navy with sea boys and landmen, in order to increase the number of our mariners. This society was founded soon after the breaking out of the present war, by a number of gentlemen animated by a generous love of their country, and an ardent desire to increase its glory, as well as from compassion for the many ragged and miserable objects seen in our streets. This noble scheme was chiefly conducted by a gentleman distinguished by those accomplishments which most adorn human nature; who, besides a generous subscription, joined his indefatigable industry in promoting this noble scheme, and even wrote a very judicious pamphlet to shew the public advantages that would result from it. He presented the first impression, consisting of a thousand copies, to the society; and by his assiduity, and that of a famous magistrate, great numbers of the lowest of the people, who would probably have ended their days ignominiously at Tyburn, have filled the court of France with terror, and revived the drooping glory of their country. From this pamphlet we shall give an account of this society.
It must be observed, that every man of war, privateer, and merchant ship, is obliged to take a certain number of boys, which are considered both as necessary to the ship, and a nursery for seamen; thus in every sixty gun ship of 400 men, the Captain and officers require thirty servants.
These it was impossible to obtain at the breaking out of the war; the society therefore sought for them among the vagrants, the pilferers, and those whose extreme poverty and ignorance rendered them pernicious to the community; and also endeavoured to assist the Captains and officers in the sea service, by encouraging the industrious poor to send their children to sea; and by inviting all who were fit for the sea service to enter into it: stout lads who were covered with nastiness and had no means of support, were cleaned, well fed, and provided with lodgings; and if any of the men or boys were distempered, as sometimes happened, by mere wretchedness, filth, hunger, or the use of bad food, they were properly physicked and put in a condition to go on board; while those who were more happy in having friends to provide for them, were appointed to come to the office, where they were to be cloathed, and all were fitted with cloathing and bedding by the society, and sent clean, as well as properly dressed, on board his Majesty’s ships.
Of these boys they took some of thirteen years of age; but chiefly invited stout lads of sixteen and upwards, because they would soon become able seamen; and now they take none who are less than four feet four inches in height.
The greatest care imaginable is taken not to give any master, mistress, or parent, the least reason to complain. These have been always invited to see the boys when they are cloathed, on Thursday mornings at Mr. Fielding’s house; and again when they are examined and sent to their respective ships by the society, at the Seamens office over the Royal Exchange; and if any apprentice or son is required by his master or parents, he is delivered up immediately.
As to the landmen, they are required to be hardy, active, and robust; these, to prevent their being despised by the sailors, are immediately cloathed as seamen, and so divided among the messes of the mariners, as will soonest enable them to learn their language and duty, and they are completely fitted out without being obliged to expend any part of the bounty of thirty shillings, granted by his Majesty to all the landmen who enter into the service.
What gives the higher idea of this society, is, that several of its members are active, and particularly Mr. Fielding, in collecting many of the boys who are in the most abject condition: they assist and relieve each other in a task by which they are to gain nothing, but the applause of their own hearts.
To prevent imposition, the society keeps a sample of the cloathing at their office, which is sealed with the seals of several of the committee, and shewn to the men and boys when they are cloathed, that the society may be sure the slopseller keeps up to his engagement. Besides, as it is the steady purpose of the society to preserve the health of the men and boys whom they clothe, as far as it depends on such raiment, they are not contented with such manufactures as they find in the shops, but buy them of the manufacturer in Yorkshire, which being well wetted and milled on the spot, make what is called pea jackets, that last twice as long, and resist the weather four times as much as the common sort of pea jackets. And as they think the severity of the winter season renders common thin flannel waistcoats insufficient, they make waistcoats of white or other coloured kerseys, that are of the greatest service and duration. The breeches or drawers for the men and boys are made of half thicks or thin kerseys, which the society also provides from Yorkshire. In order also to make the most of the money, and provide the best things, these jackets, waistcoats, and breeches are brown instead of blue, the former being found the most durable colour; and such jackets cost ten per cent. less than blue, on account of the excessive price of indigo.
The cloathing and bedding given each of the boys, are a felt hat, a worsted cap, a kersey pea jacket, a kersey pair of breeches, a striped flannel or kersey waistcoat, a pair of trowsers, two pair of hose, two pair of shoes, two handkerchiefs, three shirts; a bed, pillow, blanket, and coverlet; a pair of buckles and buttons; thread, worsted, and needles; a knife, a Prayer Book and Testament to those whose Captains desire them, and a bag to put their cloaths in.