APPENDIX.
No. 6.1

19th. No individual of this matricula, on whom punishment for robbery or other infamous crimes, may be inflicted, shall have right to the benefit granted by the Gremio, and their families shall also be deprived thereof.

20th. He who may desert, being in service or called upon, loses all the rights and benefits of the Gremio. RAMON ABANGO, Secretary.

(Signed)

SARDINIA.

Regulations for admission of Seafaring Men to the benefit of the Chest for the Marine Invalids.

A pension shall be allowed out of the chest of the Marine Invalids to such individuals who, having reached 65 years of age, effectively served 15 years, having contributed during the full period to the said chest or fund.

The pensions for masters of the 1st and 2nd class, who will prove an effective service with contribution to the said chest for full 20 years, the same shall be increased

Pensions to widows and orphans of the above will be regulated upon the aforesaid basis, pursuant to the contents of Article 271 of the Merchant Shipping, with the difference that there being only one orphan, the pension to be allowed shall be one-third instead of one-half.

Widows and orphans of seafaring men, who have perished in a shipwreck, may be allowed a pension, provided the deceased served the full period with contribution as aforesaid prescribed, although the deceased had not reached 65 years of age.

Masters and seafaring men, who having reached the aforesaid age, proving an effective service of 12 years, with contribution to the chest, may be allowed a subsidy, renewable, to the amount from one-half to two-thirds of the pension.

A subsidy from one-third to one-half may be allowed to those whose age is from 61 to 64, after an effective service of 15 years, with contribution to the fund.

Individuals from 50 to 60 years of age, after an effective service of 20 years, with contribution, may be proposed for a subsidy, renewable, equal to one-third of the pension.

To admit such subsidies, based upon the pension allowed to the respective rank of 15 years' service, it is to be understood that the principal condition is, that the individual applying therefor be unfit for service either by age or infirmity. Such subsidies give no right to widows and orphans to succeed thereto; but, upon peculiar circumstances, the Board for the Marine Department may take such determinations as they may deem fit.

Widows and orphans, whose husbands or fathers perished in shipwreck, may obtain a subsidy in such a proportion fixed for the pension when a pension is not allowable.

In any other case of individuals not having the age or service above mentioned, except the cases in Article 265 of the aforesaid regulations, no other allowance shall be given but as a charitable grant, and not to exceed one-third of the one-year pension fixed to each rank and class.

It is enacted that service on board a man-of-war will be reckoned as in the merchant service for admission to pension or subsidy upon the invalid chest of the Marine.

These regulations are transitory; they shall be in force for three years; after which period the aforesaid Board may suggest such change as they may consider fit.

Articles of Regulations alluded to in the aforesaid dispositions.

265. Masters, Seamen, and workmen, who not being in the active service of our navy, become maimed or mutilated in consequence of wounds received in defence or in the service of their respective ship, or on the coast of the State, shall be admitted to a pension or allowance in proportion to the merit, circumstance, and situation of the individuals, as it may be fixed by the Board of Admiralty. 271. Widows of the invalids of the merchant shipping, admitted to pension as per Article 259; and in default of them, their children under 15 years of age will be entitled to one-half of the pension allowed to the deceased. As to the rest, the regulation above mentioned will be applied to them in equal case for the widows and orphans of the individuals of our Navy (Royal).

ROMAN STATES.
From Consul Moore.

Ancona, July 3, 1847.

I have the honour to acknowledge Despatch of May 28, with Enclosures, on matters relating to the commercial marine; and with reference to the first part of the subject, I beg leave to state, that the only Merchant Seamen's Fund existing in this district is exclusively for the benefit of the Sailors belonging to this port.

It is based on the following principles :

The Chamber of Commerce contributes annually to the fund five per cent. of the landing dues on merchandise. Every vessel registered in this port (with the exception of fishing-boats) contributes

one halfpenny per day when engaged on a voyage. Every master contributes one halfpenny per day, and every Seaman three-tenths of a halfpenny, when absent.

The persons entitled to relief from this fund are those who attain the age of 60, and who have served 30 years on board vessels registered in Ancona, provided they are destitute, and bear good characters. Also Seamen without the above requisites, if they have been crippled or wounded in the defence of their vessels, and thereby reduced to distress. Also the widows of those who lose their lives in shipwrecks, and of those who have contributed to the fund for the space of 15 years, provided they are in indigent circumstances.

When any pensioner is found to be again fit for service, he ceases to be relieved; likewise widows when they remarry, or their condition is ameliorated.

The relief is given monthly, in anticipation.

APPENDIX,

No. 6.

TUSCANY.

From Consul Macbean.

Leghorn, October 22, 1847.

The only Fund in this country which is at all connected with the Mercantile Marine is the Cassa del Riscatto (or Ransom Chest) instituted by the Emperor Francis, in his edict for the Tuscan Mercantile Marine, dated 10th October, 1748. The income of this Fund arises from a tax of one quattrino per lira (about four pence in the pound) on the pay of Seamen, mates, and masters of all Tuscan vessels of the burthen of 50 tons and upwards.

As the name implies, this Fund, in its " primitive origin," was destined to meet the expense of ransoming Tuscan subjects who might happen to be carried into slavery by the Barbary Powers at war with Tuscany; but when that state of things happily ceased, the income of this chest was annually directed to the relief of old and infirm Seamen, as also to the relief of the widows and orphans of such as were reduced to a state of indigence.

This Fund is also applied to the maintenance and conveyance home of shipwrecked Tuscan Seamen.

The edict above referred to is the only law which exists in Tuscany for the regulation of the Commercial Marine, but it has been found to be so inadequate to the wants of the present times, that a commission was appointed some time ago to draw up a code of maritime laws; but owing to the pressure of more urgent affairs, the work of the commission is not in a forward state.

AUSTRIA.

Abstract of the Law of the Venetian Republic, promulgated in 1786, respecting Merchant Seamen, in so far as regards their contributing to the "Scuola di San Niccolo,*" analogous to the Merchant Seamen's Fund.

All Sailors, whether Venetians or foreigners, wishing to be employed in the Venetian merchant service, must inscribe themselves at the "Scuolà di San Niccolo," without which inscription (or registration) they cannot be employed in the merchant service.

Foreigners serving as Sailors on board Venetian ships become entitled to the benefits of the institution in the same manner as subjects of the State, if they have been domiciled or have been employed in the sea service for the space of five years.

On the first inscription each man must pay three Venetian livres and two soldi as entrance-money, and he must likewise pay an annual contribution of one livre eleven soldi.

In addition to the above, every Sailor or other person of the crew of a vessel was bound to pay 20 soldi for each voyage out, and the same for each voyage home.

Those who had been inscribed for two years, and had punctually paid their contributions, were entitled to the benefits of the institution; that is to say, to medical attendance, medicine, and lodging in the Hospital of Invalids, when advanced in years, infirm, &c. In respect to the admission of children, these last were only eligible in cases were the fathers had sailed for the space of 10 years beyond the limits of the Gulf of Venice, or on the Dalmatian coast.

The "Scuola di San Niccolo," as above described, was preserved with all its laws and rules by the Austrian Government during its first occupation, from 1797 to 1806, when it was suppressed by the Government of Italy.

An invalid fund was then established, which may be called an institution for the relief of invalid Sailors. One-sixtieth, or rather more than 1 per cent., was deducted from all payments made on account of the navy, and assigned to this institution.

It then became in reality a military institution, under the protection of the Royal Navy. It included, nevertheless, all merchant Seamen, who in consequence of their being inscribed in the maritime registers, were considered as belonging to the service of the State.

Additional funds were assigned to it, in a shape of a per centage upon all prizes, in certain proportions, which depended upon whether the prize or its captor were a ship-of-war, a privateer, or a merchant vessel.

By a decree of 1811, the endowment of the institution was further augmented, and the means of giving relief consequently increased.

The Scuola di San Niccolo was founded in the year 1476, in commemoration of the successful defence of Sentari by the Venetians against the Turks, and was destined for the relief of poor, old, and infirm Sailors. The building was destroyed in 1806, and the place where it stood is now occupied by the public gardens, but the institution still exists.

APPENDIX.

No. 6.

Three per cent. instead of 1 per 60, was assigned out of the expenses of the Royal Navy; and not only were Sailors in the Royal Navy obliged to contribute their respective share of pay or prize-money, but likewise the merchant Seamen.

Finally, in addition to the per centage on prizes above mentioned, the following additional casual sources of emolument were assigned to the institution:

The proceeds of wrecked vessels, if not claimed within a certain time.

The
pay

due to Sailors or others, deserters from vessels in the service of the State. The half of the pay due to deserters from the merchant service.

The amount due on account of pay, prize-money, &c., to Sailors or others dying at sea, if not claimed within a certain time.

The immediate direction of the establishment was vested in the Comptroller of the Marine (Sindacci Marittimi), under the supervision of the Royal Navy.

After the return of the Austrian Government in 1814, the civil and military administration were separated. Invalid Sailors in the Royal Navy were placed on the same footing as soldiers, but the institution was kept up and applied solely to the benefit of the commercial marine, under the title of "Charitable Institution for Invalids of the Venetian Commercial Navy."

The administration of this establishment is vested in the office of the captain of the port, under the control of the Government.

None but merchant Seamen sailing in vessels entered in the registers of the Venetian provinces are called upon to contribute to the support of the institution, at the rate of 3 per cent. on their pay, whether captains, officers, or men. This is paid at the office of the captain of the port by the captain or owner of the vessel, according to the muster-roll of the crew.

Instead of the casual sources of revenue assigned to the institution by the decree of 1811 above quoted, it is now endowed with the full amount, in lieu of the moiety, of the unclaimed pay of deserters from the merchant service, and the amount of all fines levied upon seafaring persons for infringement of naval laws and regulations.

The capital thus accruing is invested in the public funds, and the interest is applied to the relief of the deserving, according to the following scale:

Captain, 1 Austrian livre (about 8d. sterling) daily.

Master or officer, 80 centimes daily.

Sailor, 70 centimes daily.

Widows are entitled respectively to one-half the sums above mentioned.

In making selections from the candidates for relief, regard is had to the most aged, infirm, &c. There is no building appropriated for the reception of the aged or infirm. The sick are admitted, on application, to the civil hospital in Venice.

Orphan children are not entitled under these rules to relief.

The above is an abstract of the regulations of the institution at present in force, but they are now under the consideration of the Government, with a view to their being remodelled, and must, therefore, only be considered as provisional.

UNITED STATES.

From Consul Peter.

SIR,

Philadelphia, June 12, 1847.

I have received your letter of 28th of May last, enclosing copies of letters from the Board, requesting information in regard to institutions in this port answering to the Merchant Seamen's Fund in England.

The only institution of the kind in this State is the "Pennsylvania Seamen's Friend Society," the incorporating Act, bye-laws, and some of the reports of which I herewith enclose to you. I have only to add, that the managers of the institution, both male and female, are good and zealous people, and seem to be carrying out its objects most successfully.

WILLIAM PEter.

APPENDIX No. 7.

General Register and Record Office of Seamen, Custom House, 22nd January, 1848.

A RETURN of the Number of SEAMEN who have died, deserted, or been discharged, and who have entered abroad on board BRITISH SHIPS trading between the United Kingdom and Foreign Parts, (exclusive of the Colonies), distinguishing British Seamen from Foreigners, in the Year ending 31st December, 1847, compiled from the Lists G, A, and C, deposited under the Provisions of the Merchant Seamen's Act.

Note. This includes the repeated Voyages, but does not embrace those Vessels trading between the United Kingdom and Brest, and the River Elbe.

COMPARATIVE INCREASE of STEAM and SAILING VESSELS.

THE opinion is very generally entertained that, owing to the introduction and increase of steam navigation, the number of sailing vessels has diminished, and, consequently, that not only is the number of British Seamen decreasing, but the nursery in which they were formerly reared, the coasting trade, being now usurped by steam vessels, the reputation of our mariners for skill is becoming deteriorated. This opinion is fallacious; for, notwithstanding the increase of steam vessels, the number of sailing vessels, so far from decreasing, is augmenting; and as sailing vessels are still navigated by the same means that have hitherto prevailed, the number of Seamen required to form their crews must necessarily be greater than before. The fact is that, putting all the steamers we possess out of the question, the number of sailing vessels is now considerably greater than before the introduction of steam navigation. But although it will be admitted that the aggregate tonnage of the British empire has very materially increased of late years, this may be caused by the extension of our foreign, and particularly our colonial trade. It will, therefore, be necessary to exclude these from calculation, and limit the inquiry to vessels belonging to the United Kingdom exclusively, and by a comparative review of the coasting trade alone. The first steam vessel belonging to the United Kingdom was registered in 1814; I shall, therefore, commence with that year, taking cicles of every ten succeeding years; and by reference to the official Parliamentary returns I find that the number of registered vessels belonging to the United Kingdom (exclusive of the colonies), on the 31st of December in each year, was as follows:

Total Steam and Sailing
Vessels.

APPENDIX.

No. 8.

From 1814 up to 1834 there appears a stagnation, and sometimes a decrease, in the tonnage of the United Kingdom; but in the ten years ending 31st December, 1844, notwithstanding that steam came into more general use, and the number of vessels was doubled, and their capacity and horse-power trebled, the sailing vessels had increased upwards of 3500 in number, and were then half a million of tons in capacity.

Next, as to the comparative employment of steam and sailing vessels in the coasting trade.

APPENDIX.

No. 8.

There are no official records by which the number of vessels employed in the coasting trade can be ascertained prior to 1824, up to which time steamers were principally employed carrying passengers; I must therefore commence with that year, and from the best data attainable the following is deduced:

TABLE showing the NUMBER of VESSELS, with their TONNAGE (distinguishing Steam from Sailing Vessels when it can be done) employed in the COASTING TRADE of the United Kingdom in the following Years. This includes the repeated Voyages.

1824

1834

308 5,191

49,940 815,510

320 5,296

1844

53,112 127,057 9,117,633 127,365 9,167,573 828,234 111,675 8,584,826 117,144 9,046,481 116,866 9,400,336 122,440 9,874,715 15,553 3,388, 160 15,500 3,270,499 136,059 9,438,178 140,701 9,804,205 151,612 12,826,338 156,201 13,074,704

No. 9.

So that the voyages made by the sailing vessels in 1844 were nearly 10,000 more than made in 1824, notwithstanding that the number of voyages made by steamers had increased from 308 to upwards of 15,000.

On the face of the matter it appears as if the introduction of steam, although not actually diminishing the number of sailing vessels, retards their increase, consequently the increase of Seamen, and deteriorates the nursery the Seamen are reared in. But it is remarkable that, with the accelerated increase of steam navigation, the increase of sailing vessels has also taken place, as a reference to the Tables from 1834 to 1844 will prove. This may be caused by the great demand for fuel which the introduction of steam navigation has originated, as well as the impulse given to commerce by opening up new channels, the increased consumption of gas, &c.; and as this fuel is, for the most part, brought to its destination in sailing vessels, it follows that the increase of the coal trade (the best nursery for Seamen) is a necessary consequence of the increase of steam; and were it not that colliers are now accelerated in their voyages by means of tugs, a greater number would still be necessary to convey the supply of fuel required by the adoption of steam navigation, with all its concomitants, in the shape of factories, for the manufacture and repair of engines, &c. &c.

In proof of this, the coal brought coastwise to London

Tons.

In 1814 was 1,430,463

1824 was 1,895,389
1834 was 2,078,685
1844 was 2,490,910

So that more than 1,000,000 tons of coal were brought by sea to the port of London in 1844 than was the case in 1814, prior to the introduction of steam navigation; and this excess gives employment to 300 additional vessels, and 4000 men and boys.

These facts I have adduced to show that up to 31st December, 1844, there was no apprehension on this score; for there were more sailing vessels, therefore more Seamen employed to work them, than at any former period; and if the inquiry was extended to the tonnage of the British empire, the result would be still more gratifying.

It is to be remembered, also, that Seamen do not confine themselves to steamers, but obtain employment indifferently in both steam and sailing vessels. I may state roundly that within these last 12 years the number of our Seamen in the navy and merchant service has been augmented by upwards of 70,000, and that these have, for the most part, been introduced to the sea service as apprentices, the provisions of the Merchant Seamen's Act coming into operation just at the time when our shipping emerged from a long season of stagnation.

How far the threatened formation of railways may affect the coasting trade hereafter is a matter for consideration; but I imagine no apprehension need be entertained if the trade is to be continued exclusively under the British flag, and none but native Seamen permitted to engage in it, with encouragements for rearing apprentices, such as conceding light dues, and other payments which affect coasting vessels. J. H. BROWN, Registrar.

APPENDIX No. 9.

SIR,

General Register and Record Office of Seamen,
Custom House, London, January 17, 1848.

WITH reference to the enclosed return, and the manner in which the several items have been deduced, I beg leave to state, that a record of all voyages made by vessels registered in the several ports of the United Kingdom is maintained in this office in books, a form of which I enclose. That foreign voyages are entered against the names of vessels in abbreviated forms under the consecutive columns as often as they occur, on receipt of the returns required, when departing or arriving, under the Merchant Seamen's Act; and that coasting voyages, described in half-yearly returns, are entered in like manner. By this means it can be readily ascertained what ships have been at work in any particular year, and the possibility of reckoning the same vessel twice is avoided.

In the rough data from which the first item is deduced, the tonnage of every vessel that has been at work, foreign or coasting, is extracted, and set down under the respective ports, and the aggregate, 2,410,903 tons, includes all those liable to payment of the Merchant Seamen's Dues. This may be safely depended on.