And to compleat our ill Luck, while we are thus contending with sinister Fate, the Rogues at home perhaps are stealing away the Hearts of our Mistresses and Wives. Are not these a hapless Race thus doomed!
A Sea-Life absolutely considered, had so much of Hardship and Danger, that in King John’s Time a national Synod ordained, no married Persons should go beyond Sea without publishing their mutual Consent; which, I apprehend, proceeded from this Foundation: That it should not be in the power of one to thrust himself on Difficulties and Hazard, that would make the other equally unhappy. The Saxons before, made a Law, that if a Merchant crossed the wide Sea three times, he should be honoured with the Title of Thane, (Rapin, p. 15.) and the Monarchs of the East shew their Approbation, by still leaving the rough Dominion of it to Christians. There are Circumstances notwithstanding, which may abate the Infelicity, and give real Pleasure: Such chiefly in the Navy, are a Defence of one’s Country, a Livelihood, being better manned and provided against Dangers than Trading Ships; Good-natur’d Officers, a mutual good Treatment, seeing the Wonders of the Deep, and at last, maimed or decrepid, a Retreat to Superannuation, or that noble Foundation of Greenwich-Hospital; to which of late Years must be added, the Satisfaction Officers receive from that generous Contribution for supporting their Widows, and consequently the Children they may leave behind them.
This charitable Project is governed by the following Articles, established by His present Majesty.
I.
That Widows of Commission and Warrant Officers of the Royal Navy, shall be reputed proper Objects of the Charity, whose Annual Incomes arising from their Real and Personal Estates, or otherwise, do not amount to the following Sums, viz.
| l. s. d. | |
| The Widow of a Captain or Commander, | 45 0 0 |
| The Widow of a Lieutenant or Master, | 30 0 0 |
| The Widow of a Boatswain, | } |
| Gunner, Carpenter, | } |
| Purser, Surgeon, | } |
| Second Master of | } 20 0 0 |
| a Yacht, or Master of a | } |
| Naval Vessel warranted | } |
| by the Navy Board, | } |
And that where any such Widow is possessed of, or interested in any Sum of Money, the Annual Income and Produce thereof, shall be computed and deemed, as annually yielding Three Pounds per Centum, and no more.
II.