A military dictionary

by William Duane

Half-yearly accounts of expenditures, with general returns of the receipts and issues, and the necessary vouchers for the same, are to be made up to the 24th of June, and 24th of December, in each year, and to be transmitted, within fourteen days after the said periods, to the barrack-master-general, who is to examine and settle the same without delay.

The issue of forage to the cavalry, is to be made according to a prescribed regulation. The officer commanding in each of the cavalry barracks, where forage shall be issued, is to transmit to the barrack-master-general a weekly return of the number of horses for which it has been delivered; and also the name and rank of each officer, with the number of horses for which he has received rations of forage. And at such periods as shall be required, by the barrack-master-general, the said commanding officer shall transmit to him, a general statement of the quantity of forage received and actually issued to the troops, the said certificate to be according to such form as shall be prescribed by the barrack-master-general.

Whenever small beer is to be issued to troops in barrack, it can only be supplied by such persons as shall have been approved by the barrack-master-general; and the delivery is to be vouched by a weekly return from the commanding officer, stating the number to whom it has been issued. And at such periods as shall be required by the barrack-master-general, the said commanding officer is to transmit to him a general statement of the quantity of small beer actually issued to the troops; the said certificate to be according to such form, as shall be prescribed by the barrack-master-general.

Every instance of neglect or misconduct which may occur in the management of barracks, must be reported to the barrack-master-general by the several officers commanding in barracks; and on the representation being judged sufficiently weighty, an inspector is to be sent down for the specific purpose of seeing every matter of complaint removed.

The barrack-master-general is authorised to take cognizance of all matters relative to accommodation, disposition, and supply, of the troops stationed in barracks, reporting thereupon, whenever it may be requisite, to the secretary at war, for the king’s information. And all officers, and barrack-masters, are directed and enjoined to obey such orders and directions as the barrack-master-general shall find necessary to be given thereon.

The barrack-master-general is from time to time to receive imprests of money, for the current services of each year, upon estimates signed by him, and delivered into the office of the secretary at war. And at the end of each year, he shall make up and deliver into the said office, a general account of barrack expenditures for the preceding twelve months. The half-yearly accounts of the several barrack-masters, and the accounts of other persons to whom monies shall have been paid within the period on behalf of the barrack department (for the propriety, justness, and accuracy of which, as also for their strict conformity to the regulations, he shall be held responsible,) together with their acquittances, shall be the vouchers upon which the said general accounts shall be passed, and warrants shall be made out according to the royal sign manual. See pages 69 to 80, General Regulations.

Quarter-MASTER of the victuals. The person who had the chief care and management of the provisions belonging to an army was formerly so called. See [Purveyor].

Scout-Master-general. A person, formerly so called, under whose direction all the scouts and army messengers were placed. The appointment does not exist at present.

MASULIT, a boat used in the East Indies, which is calked with moss.

MATCH, in artillery, a kind of rope slightly twisted, and prepared to retain fire for the use of the artillery, mines, fireworks, &c. Slow match is made of hemp or tow, spun on the wheel like cord, but very slack; and is composed of three twists, which are afterwards again covered with tow, so that the twists do not appear: lastly, it is boiled in the lees of old wine. This, when once lighted at the end, burns on gradually, without ever going out, till the whole be consumed. It is mounted on a lint stock.