ABSTRACT
Gree~wichpossessespeculiarinterest,asbyitthatgreatnational Hospital.••Gr.hJI,.lbl'hdestab-mst1tutwn,eenwwosp~ta,wasesta1se. Iished.TheActrecites,that"theseamenofthiskingdom
have,foralongtime,distinguishedthemselves throughouttheworldbytheirindustryandskilfulness intheiremployment,andbytheircourageandconstancymanifestedinengagementsforthedefenceand honouroftheirnativecountry."Andfortheir encouragement,andtoinducegreaternumbersto betakethemselvestothesea,itisdeclaredfitand reasonablethatsomeprovisionshouldbemadefor thosewho,byage,wounds,orotheraccidents,become disabled,andalsoforthewidowsandchildrenofsuch asshallbekilledordrownedinthesea-service.The kingandthelatequeen,itisstated,hadbytheir letters-patent,grantedthepalaceandgroundsat Greenwich,asanhospitalforsuchpurpose;andcommissionerswithsuitablepowerswerenowappointed, andasumpayableannuallyoutofthetreasuryis assigned,togetherwithapaymentof6d.permonth outofthewagesofeveryseamen,bothinthemerchantserviceandinthenavy,"forthebettersupport, carryingon,perfecting,andmaintainingthesaid hospital."Itisthenenactedthatallmariners,fishermen,lightermen,andseafaringpersonsgenerally, aboveeighteenandunderfiftyyearsofage,may registerthemselvesforserviceintheroyalnavy;and everymansoregisteredistobeallowed,whetherin actualserviceornot,abountyoffortyshillings annuallyoverandabovesuchotherpayashemay beentitledtoinhisMajesty'sservice.Andevery registeredseafaringman,beingdisabled,andproducing acertificatethereoffromthecaptain,master,surgeon, andpurserofhisship,istobeadmittedintothesaid hospital,andthereprovided,duringhislife,withcon-
venientlodging,meat,drink,clothing,andother necessanes.Thewidowsandthechildrenofseamen whoarekilledordrownedinthesea-service,andwho shallnotbeabletomaintainthemselves,arealsotobe receivedintothesaidhospital,wherethechildrenare tobeeducated,andkeptuntiltheyarefittobeput out,orabletomaintain.themselves."Allwhichshall bedonesofarasthesaidhospitalshallbecapableto receivesuchdisabledseamen,andsuchwidowsand children,andastherevenuesthereofshallextendfor thepurposesaforesaid."
