The twenty active members, on whom the real burden of the work of the Corporation rests, are experienced captains of men-of-war or merchant-ships, who have retired from service. They are formed into six committees, each of which has its separate functions; for, in addition to its superintendence of the lighting of our coasts, the Trinity Board examines our pilots, and delivers them their certificates; watches over the ballasting of ships in the Thames; establishes and keeps in order the various sea-marks; examines the scholars of Christ’s Hospital, who are intended for a maritime career; collects the revenues; and superintends the boarders in the houses of refuge which belong to the Corporation. Its charters, moreover, confer upon it the right of punishing seamen for mutiny, ill conduct, or desertion; but this power is now-a-days never exercised.
The story of our two other Corporations may be briefly told. The Commission of Northern Lights, incorporated in 1786, by an Act of George III., is composed of two magistrates appointed by the Crown, of the sheriffs of the sea-board counties, of the provosts of certain royal burghs, and of the provost of Greenock.
The Board of Ballast of Dublin, which has under its charge the lightage of the Irish coast, consists of merchants, bankers, magistrates, railway directors; and the only seaman associated with them is a coast-guard officer. It is subordinate to the Board of Trade.
The Trinity House, Northern Lights, and Ballast Board are under the control of the Board of Trade. Before new lighthouses are erected by the Trinity House, they must be sanctioned by the Board of Trade; and before Scotch or Irish lighthouses are erected, the Trinity House are consulted, and in the event of that Board differing with the Irish or Scotch, the Board of Trade give their decision, which is final. It is to be regretted that there should still exist a considerable number of lighthouses which are under the control of about one hundred and seventy local authorities;[13] and every person who appreciates the importance of securing a vigorous and able administration will join us in expressing a hope that before long the lightage of the United Kingdom may form the subject of efficacious legislative action.
The number and nature of the lights of the United Kingdom are as follows:—