The “Belvidere,” known as the “Royal Alfred Aged Seaman’s Institution,” was established, soon after the abolition of the “Merchant Seaman’s Fund,” mainly through the exertions of the late Mr. William Phillipps, Mr. George Marshall, and other philanthropic shipowners. The laudable object of this excellent institution is to provide for the “relief of aged and worn out merchant seamen of the United Kingdom.” It was started by a grant of 5000l. from the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, and is now maintained entirely by legacies, donations, and annual subscriptions from charitable persons. These amounted, in 1874, to somewhere about 7600l., though, out of this sum, the annual subscriptions were only 1600l. Its inmates were then 105 decayed seamen, whose ages ranged from 63 to 85. There were, besides, in that year 110 persons receiving from its funds 12l. per annum in out-door pensions. The inmates are provided with comfortable cabins, clothed, a good mess, and have every comfort, with pleasant grounds for exercise, overlooking the River Thames. All their physical and spiritual wants are well supplied; and, so far as its limited funds permit, it has proved of great service, being well and economically managed. When its claims on the public—I might say on the country—become better known, its means of doing good will thus, I hope, be largely extended. Indeed, the Board of Trade having now in hand upwards of 200,000l., arising from the unclaimed wages and effects of deceased merchant seamen, from the surplus fees of the mercantile marine, and other similar sources, the question suggests itself if a portion of these surplus funds could not be appropriated to the benevolent purposes of the Royal Alfred Aged Seaman’s Institution?
[19] In 1859, when a member of the Royal Commission on manning the Royal Navy, I proposed to my colleagues the establishment of a merchant seamen’s fund, under Government supervision, as a means of raising a large portion of the reserves of seamen we were then considering. Though my views on this and other points were not adopted, they were published by order of the House of Commons, and accompanied the report; and as the question is still one of much public importance and still requires solution, I furnish extracts from these “remarks”:—
Mr. Williams, observations by, on the advantage of general Seaman’s Fund.
“‘Experience has shown,’ says Mr. H. R. Williams, of the Board of Trade, in his sensible paper on the subject, ‘that any attempt to establish a merchant seamen’s fund upon the principle of voluntary payments would not be supported by a large body of seamen. The working of the Seamen’s Fund Winding-up Act has proved that seamen generally, whatever advantages may be offered to them, will not voluntarily contribute to a fund. However great may be the objections, therefore, to compulsory payments, there is no probability that a fund can be established with any chance of success upon any other principle.’
“I admit that there is something repugnant to the feelings of the sailor, and, in fact, to all Englishmen, in the word ‘compulsory,’ when applied to the management of his own affairs; but, in general practice, that which would be termed compulsion, if sanctioned and regulated by the Legislature, is already a voluntary act cheerfully undertaken by large masses of the people. There is scarcely a handicraft trade in the kingdom the members of which have not formed themselves into a society, the object of which is, by means of periodical subscriptions, to secure a pension or payment in sickness or old age. Both individually and nationally, every such institution is in the highest degree commendable. If, therefore, these benefit societies deserve encouragement and support, when formed for artisans and others whose occupations are on shore, they merit encouragement and support still more when their object is to relieve those whose occupation is at sea. Seamen have no means of forming such associations, as they are scattered over the whole world, having no organization, no central power, and no machinery to put such a system into operation. Whatever incentives they may have to combine together for such a purpose, they have not the means of carrying into effect their wishes. This appears to be generally conceded; and we have arrived at the conclusion that it is the duty of Government to step forward to aid those who, from their peculiar calling, are incapable of acting themselves.
“Commander Brown, the Registrar, Mr. Baker and Mr. Williams, of the Board of Trade, together with Captain Pierce, of the Liverpool Sailors’ Home, all concur in the opinion that the time has arrived when a new seamen’s fund should be established on sound principles under Government supervision, and upon such a basis as shall offer to the seaman a strong and powerful inducement to preserve that test which secures to him substantial maintenance in old age, or when prematurely worn out. The whole of the machinery necessary to effect this object is now established at the shipping offices, and in the existing departments of the Board of Trade, and already in operation upon 12,000 masters and seamen who have contributed to the fund under the Winding-up Act of 1851.
“... I am of opinion that such an institution would be highly popular, even with the shipping interest. I say this, with the knowledge that a seaman may calculate his wages at only 2l. 9s. instead of 2l. 10s. per month; and with the possibility, that the difference of 1s. per month may fall upon the shipowner, to which class I belong. But if the incidence of this extra shilling should, in point of fact, fall absolutely upon the shipowners, they would be gainers thereby, as it is of the highest importance to them that the seaman should have some substantial tie to bind him to this country. At present no such tie exists. The British-born seamen become citizens of the world, and find themselves quite as much at home in the United States as in their native country. The higher rate of wages paid in the American ships presents a temptation to them to enter that service in preference to that of England. Now if some special inducement were offered to them to remain at home, it would operate to diminish the number of British seamen in the service of foreign states. The sailor would thus have also ‘his stake in the public hedge.’ At present, the exceptional use of savings banks furnishes almost the only link, for the beneficial use of money-order offices, however great their advantages, is rather a ready facility given than a permanent benefit enjoyed.
“With those views, I should propose to make a seamen’s fund the basis of raising the remaining 18,000 men for a reserve. I think that the fund should be a general one, to which both seamen in the Royal Navy and in the mercantile marine should be called upon to subscribe. I think it would be desirable to break through the line of demarcation which has so long existed between the two services, and this would be one step towards effecting that object. I would give seamen of all classes a common interest in this one great fund, which might be designated as National.
“I am aware that objections will be raised to any compulsory fund. I would much prefer to have it a voluntary one; but knowing the character of the seamen as I do, I am thoroughly convinced that any fund established even under the auspices and with the guarantee of the Government, on the voluntary principle, would be a failure.
“... So far as the nation was concerned, the salutary effects of such a fund would operate in three different ways: it would prevent the seamen from being objects of charity or claimants upon the poor rates during their old age; it would be a permanent tie to bind them to their native country, founded upon a common bond of self-interest; while it would form the groundwork of a system whereby the reserve of 18,000, still wanting, might be raised.”