Admiralty for Receiving Vessels, to be moored in convenient stations on the River; who granted the request without the delay of an hour. It had been a very general belief, that a great proportion of the persons appearing in the streets as Distressed Seamen were not really so, but had assumed that garb, the better to excite compassion; but, either the idea was without foundation, or the impostors were deterred from making their appearance, by the rigid scrutiny of the Examining Committee; the fact being, that very few men have presented themselves, who have not served at Sea; and the far greater part of them on board Ships of War. The examination of the men has been very strict, and conducted by certain rules, whereby the Committee have been enabled to obtain a registry of the age; place of birth; height; date of service, and on board of what ships; date of discharge, and qualifications of each man. By a reference to this registry, any one of the men may be identified upon any future occasion. As the applicants in the course of the first few days, exceeded by some hundreds the number for whom it was possible to provide lodging, without incurring cousiderable hazard, not only to themselves, but also to the public health, (a very lage proportion being sick or diseased), it was deemed advisable to admit into the General Depot such only as were free from infectious disorders, giving those for whom such accommodation could not, (from those considerations) be immediately made; or for whom admittance into the Hospitals could not be obtained, a daily supply of Bread and Money, until fit places could be procured for their reception. In as short a time as it was possible to get the Dromedary prepared for their ac commodation, the Sick men were lodged on board her, under the care of Dr. Ro bertson, and the necessary assistants. Such is a brief outline of the proceedings of the Committee.-They purposely abstain from entering into the minor details of the measures adopted by them, to guard against the application of the funds, to the relief of other objects than those for whom the subscription was entered into:-or the influx of Distressed Seamen from other The general result of the proceedings, which the public benevolence has thus enabled the Committee to adopt, are as follows: 1230 men have been received ou board of the seven vessels granted by the Admiralty for that purpose, and supplied with necessary clothing. Of these 349 have been disposed of in the Navy, in the Merchants' service, or otherwise provided for; and many others are expected to be provided with ships in a few days. 162 are on board the Dromedary, appropriated exclusively to the sick; of whom 61 are serious cases, 3 have been sent on shore for misconduct. The Committee have great satisfaction in stating, that it appears from the report of the Examining Committee, who daily visit the receiving ships, that the men are in general clean;-as comfortable as circumstances will admit ;-and, with very few exceptions, grateful. The expense of victualling each man is about 5d. per day. A liberal issue has been made of soap, razors, combs, brushes, &c.; and, besides an additional allowance of clothing, each man has a blanket given him on joining a ship. parts of the kingdom. They have also been cautious not to increase the existing The Establishment of Officers on board evil (which appears in a great measure to each ship, consists of a commander, mate, have been the consequence of a temporary and clerk; and the Warrant Officers of the superabundance of Seamen) by the adop-ship remain on board to assist in preserving tion of measures for obtaining immediate discipline. The average expense of this Establish- | rally speaking, if not always, be aeemed ment, including table money to Officers, is impostors. 17s. 10d. per day for each ship. The Committee desire in conclusion, to The expense of the Medical Depart-express a hope, that the means adopted by ment is about £1. 12s. per day. The Committee cannot make this report without acknowledging the prompt attention which has been paid to the several applications which the Committee have had occasion to make to the Lords of the Admiralty, for Vessels, Stores, and Medicines; to which attention they feel that the success of their exertions in speedily relieving the distress of the unfortunate objects of their care, is very materially to be attributed. The Committee have also received 300 suits of Clothing, from the Secretary of State for the Home Depart meat. EMPLOYMENT. A certain number of Gentlemen have undertaken to superintend the employment of the Seamen, and the Admiralty has given directions to the Navy Board to supply a quantity of Junk, to be made into Points, Gaskets, &c. The solicitude to be useful, (which has been strikingly manifested by the attention of the Nautical Members of the Committee) has been confined to no particular class or sect And the Committee have not been domindful of the moral improvement of the men-the Rev. James Rudge, A.M. and Mr. Maule, have repeatedly performed Divine Service on board the several receiving ships -Bibles have been distributed-and the general conduct of the men during Divine Service has been most exemplary.-Dr. Blake, R.N. and Dr. Rankin, of the Hon. E.L.C.S. have gratuitously contributed their medical aid. The Committee considering that the objects for which they have been appointed, will have been effected by the 14th of this month, have given notice, that after that day, no application for relief will be attended to; except from such seamen as shall be actually diseased; or disabled from labour by age, bodily defect, or infirmity. The Committee consider it of importance that the public should be informed of their having prolonged the period of their examinations to the above date, in order to afford an opportunity to every proper object within the Metropolis, of becoming an applicant for the benefits of the charity, (of whom very few have lately presented themselves:) and that therefore such as continue to infest the streets of Westminster, and places at a distance, from the immediate operations of the Committee, may, gene them, (due allowance being made for the little time allowed for deliberation,) are such, as the public will approve. They can assure the Subscribers that never was charity bestowed upon objects of greater interest, or by whom it was more wanted, or more gratefully acknowledged; and, for themselves, the Committee can with truth add, never was their time employed more to the gratification of the best feelings of their nature. The Committee of Finance report, that the total amount of subscriptions received by the Treasurer is, £11,938, 14s. 10d. The monthly expenditure of the Establishment is about £1,000 exclusive of Cloaths, Bedding, and Ship Chandlery. As soon after the 14th current as the Committee shall be able to ascertain the number of individuals composing the various classes described by their arrangement, they will report for the information of subscribers the measures proposed for the ultimate disposal of the whole remaining on board. J. E. GORDON, (Hon. Secretary.) |