CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE ARMY AND NAVY.
Sale of commissions — General practice — Its illegality — Arrears of pay — Descriptions of officers — Army chaplains — The rank and file — Description of them — Irregularity of pay — Rations — Recruiting — Bounty — Gaol birds — Vagrants — Desertions — Story of seditious drummers — Train bands — The Navy: its deeds — Unpopularity of the service — Pressing — Desertion — Rewards for capture — Pay — Description of Admiralty — Mercantile marine.
'Colonel Southwell has sold his regiment for 5,000l. to Colonel Hansam of the guards;'[616] and doubtless the latter made money by the transaction, for it seems to have been the practice then for the colonel to sell the smaller commissions in his regiment. Hear what Brown says on the subject:[617] 'We observ'd there a Colonel and his Agent, upon whom a pretty brisk Youth of about Seventeen attended at three or four Yards distance in the Rear, and made his Honours upon every occasion, we happen'd to place ourselves very near, and immediately express'd himself as follows: "This young Gentleman has a Particular Regard to your Honour, and a desire to learn the Art of War under so experienc'd an Officer; 'tis true, he can't boast of any Antiquity of Blood or Service in the Army, to recommend him to so considerable a Post, as that of Ensign to your Honour. But, Sir, he has deposited a Hundred Guineas in the hands of Sir Francis Child, which, I presume, will plead his Merit very weightily; besides an Acknowledgement to your humble Servant." The Favour was granted, and the young Beau dismiss'd to his satisfaction.'
This is not an exaggeration; the thing was openly talked about, and even advertised. 'This is to give Notice, That Whosoever has a Mind to treat about the purchasing Commissions in the Army, either in old Regiments, or others, let them apply themselves to Mr. Pyne at his Coffee House under Scotland Yard Gate, near Whitehall, and they will be further inform'd about it.'
This advertisement seems to have aroused the authorities, for in the Gazette of Oct. 23/25, 1711, is the following official notice: 'Whereas a scandalous Advertisement has been twice published in the Post Boy, giving Notice, That whoever has a mind to treat about the Purchasing Commissions in the Army, either in the old Regiments or others, might apply to Mr. Pyne, at his Coffee house under Scotland Yard Gate near Whitehall, and they should be further inform'd about it; which being directly contrary to Her Majesty's express Will and pleasure, sometime declar'd and signif'd, as well at home, as to all her Generals abroad, against the Sale of Commissions upon any account whatsoever; it is thought fit to give this publick Notice, to prevent any abuses or Impositions that might happen therefrom; and whoever shall discover to Her Majesty's Secretary at War, at his Office in Whitehall, the Authors of the said Advertisement, shall have due Protection and Encouragement.'
A colonel clothed his regiment too, and there must have been money made out of that: and a military conversation recorded by Brown throws much light on the manners of the army at that time. 'We had pass'd the Horse Guards and enter'd the oderiferous Park of St. James's, we found it a High Change on the Parade, Red Coats and Laced Hats spread everywhere.... Here is decided the Price of Commissions, which are openly bought and sold, as if a lawful Merchandize.... Here you may hear all this General's Miscarriages fully accounted for; that General's success magnify'd and describ'd; that Colonel damn'd for being put over this Captain's Head; that Agent curs'd for tricking the Regiment out of their Pay, or by raising such Contributions with the Colonel's Connivance, that Estates are now got at this end of the Town, as well as by Stock Jobbing in the City. Here honest Pain, and Potter, and divers others of that fraternity, take their mid-day's Perambulation, to Agree with Spendthrift Officers, for advancing their Money at 30 per Cent.'
The pay of all ranks in the army was always in arrear and hard to be got at, so these agents had a fine time of it.
Lord Hardy. Were you at the Agent's?
Trim. Yes.
Lord Hardy. Well, and how?