Here is the second part.
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Part 2 of 2
From the nature of the marine service, at this period, few or no achievements occur which can be peculiarly attached to it as a corps. We find them honourably mentioned in the operations against St. Christopher's, and the successful attack upon Cork, under the aera of 1690. The detail of loss upon the former occasion is thus described, and evinces that their energies also, as soldiers, were called forth when occasion might require them. " In this action we had killed " and wounded upwards of 130 men, and Captain Keigwin, a " sea commander, who was appointed Colonel of the Marine Regiment, " (which consisted of about 230 seamen) was shot through the thigh, " of which wound he died, before he could be carried on board, and " Captain Brifbane, who acted as First Captain to the Marinesy receiving " a shot through the body, expired the next night on board the " Bristol."
Embodied under similar circumstances, they of course partook in the various services of debarkation, which the emergency of those times might have demanded, until the peace of Ryswick, which, for a while, closed the existence of marine forces.
The expences of King William's war, upwards of eight years' duration, are so moderate when contrasted with these of later days, that they merit a place in any retrospect which treats of that period ; and it is to be remarked that 40,000 seamen were maintained during the last years of it.
Total navy estimates allowed . . . £16,303,713 15 0 Total army do. do. , . . £18,487,671 17 10
In all, thirty-four millions seven hundred sixty-four thousand three hundred eighty-five pounds, twelve shillings and ten pence !
I cannot bid adieu to the transactions of this auspicious reign, »vhich has established the happiness and the liberties of my country, without commenting upon two events of it, that must be materially interesting to every military man—I mean the code of laws for the good order and discipline of our armies, and the grant of half-pay bestowed upon disbanded officers.
The first was adopted in an hour of urgent expediency, in order to restrain the uncontrouled outrages of a discontented soldiery, on account of arrears due to them. This act was passed in great haste upon the 12th day of April, 1689, and has progressively experienced these various improvements that arise out of occasions. It undergoes annually a legislative sanction, under the title of the Mutiny Bill.
• Half-pay was a gift decreed upon the 18th of January, 1697, and has subsequently involved many a doubt, whether as having been intended in the light of a retaining fee, or as a reward for past services. Opposite decisions have authorised different constructions, while the lapse of more than one hundred years has not yet explicitly brought the point to an issue.
The manly and independent spirit of our judges, pure as these laws that controul their opinions, has not been able to adjust the question.
In the case of General Ross, which was submitted to their enquiry and determination—they resolved that he could not be amenable, as a half-pay officer, to military jurisdiction ; but the discussion extended no farther.
In 1715 a number of officers, however, who drew this recompence from the public, most ingloriously joined the Pretender. The issue being unfortunate for them, they were all taken prisoners, and afterwards tried and executed by martial law ; although they might have been capitally convicted as rebels, by the common law of the land.
In having adduced these opposite examples, I cannot withhold a remark, that under no one head of the articles of war is this description of men noticed ; and I can readily anticipate the answer of an Englishman, were I to ask him if any laws should affect such an object as I have defined, in which he is not expressly specified ?
In this flourishing country, where industry and enterprize are open to all, it often happens that an officer, when the State no longer wants his services, turns his attention and the little capital he may possess, to commercial pursuits. In this new profession he very probably advances the public interests more essentially than were he recalled to his former duties, upon every fresh emergency.
That patriotism and loyalty, which I am convinced in those days influence every soldier, who, in the smallest portion, tastes of the bread of his King, will enforce through each quarter of Britain a local activity, and when necessary, a military zeal. As volunteer companies in the present, and very probably under the future political circumstances of our country, must form a branch of our force, who are there more capable of animating them than men who have been trained to arms, whose allegiance is undisputed, and whose early sentiments and ideas no change of life can extinguish ? Some legislative assurances of exemption in favour of officers of this description, and who engage to discharge the obligations of general association when required, would be politic and gratifying. Half-pay might also very properly be no longer considered as a retainder of those who have served any marked number of years ; for I would discriminate between the veteran and the stripling, who are alike entitled to the same remuneration ; though, I should humbly conceive, to separate indulgences. Having made this digression, suited, I trust, to the present topic and the present times, I return to the train of my narrative.
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See you in a few days!
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