APPENDIX. ACCOUNT C. AVERAGE AGE of PENSIONERS deceased during the year 1847. The subjoined Ages are taken from the Pensioners' own statements, when they enter the Hospital, The average age attained by the pensioners in Greenwich Hospital, during a series of years, The average mortality is about 300 annually. ROYAL GREENWICH HOSPITAL, January 8, 1847. A RETURN showing the Number of Men admitted into GREENWICH HOSPITAL for a period PENSIONERS of the CORPORATION of the TRINITY HOUSE, 1st January, 1847. *Of these 3575 women, 31 are wives and the remainder widows. 1022 women receive in the capacity of Guardians of a certain number of these 2520 children. The total yearly pension is stated in the aggregate to be £18,214 12s. 6d. It may probably be apportioned as £ 7,718 12 2 10,496 0 4 . £18,214 12 ALEXANDER GLEN FINLAISON. COMPUTATION of the CHARGE which probably will be placed in each of the ensuing Six and Thirty Years on the MERCHANT SEAMEN'S FUND, when it is stipulated that the Seamen Pensioners N.B. The future Revenue of the Fund is estimated at 160,500, per annum. Annual Pensions. Surplus No. 6.' No. 5. APPENDIX. APPENDIX No. 5. NUMBER OF MERCHANT SEAMEN, MERCHANT SEAMEN'S WIDOWS, and MERCHANT SEAMEN'S CONSULAR REPLIES as to INSTITUTIONS in FOREIGN COUNTRIES similar to the MERCHANT SEAMEN'S FUND. [Extracted from "The Commercial Marine of Great Britain." Presented to Parliament 1848.] RUSSIA. From Sir Edward Baynes. St. Petersburgh, July 12, 1847. The relief to Russian mariners injured or maimed in the performance of their duties in the merchant service, is provided for by the Code of Commerce, of which I enclose an extract. ENCLOSURE.-Extract from the Russian Code of Commerce. TITRE I. CHAPITRE V.: De l'Engagement des Gens de l'Equipage et des Matelots. SECTION 5: Du Congé des Matelots, et de leur Solde. 715. L'homme d'équipage qui, pendant l'exercice de ses fonctions, reçoit des blessures, des mutilations, &c., est en droit d'exiger du capitaine, non-seulement des secours mais encore le montant de tous les frais que peut entraîner sa guérison; et si, pour ce fait même il ne peut continuer la traversée, le capitaine est obligé de lui payer son passage jusqu'au lieu de son engagement, en ayant soin pourtant de porter ces dépenses au compte de l'armateur et de l'affréteur. 716. Indépendamment des frais de guérison, le capitaine doit payer, au compte de l'armateur, double solde à l'homme d'équipage qui a perdu un membre dans l'exercice de ses fonctions; s'il meurt, ses héritiers ont droit de réclamer la double solde qui lui est due. Dans le cas d'absence des héritiers, cette solde et les effets du défunt sont envoyés au bureau de la Société Générale de Bienfaisance, pour leur être remis. Si le matelot décédé est un serf, le capitaine est tenu de payer à son maître, à charge de remboursement par les affréteurs, la redevance et la capitation de trois années auxquelles ce serf était imposé. SWEDEN. Statement of Funds for Disabled Swedish Merchant Seamen, Widows, &c. The Seamen's House, or society, of this city, has been established since the year 1748, and is managed by a Direction, consisting of five merchants, being shipowners, and two masters or captains of merchantmen. From the funds of this establishment, merchant Seamen whose health or limbs have been injured, or who, from age or infirmity, have been rendered incapable of further service, receive from this establishment pensions and support. Widows and orphan children of merchant Seamen are entitled to similar advantages. The revenue of the Seamen's House is derived by a regulated contribution or per centage levied on the wages of the mariners; there is also a per centage levied on tonnage. The pensions granted by the directors from the above funds amount to sums varying from 16s. 8d. to 27. 15s. 6d. annually. Besides the Seamen's House Direction, there is a Fund raised by a tax of 10 per cent. upon the amount of all duties levied on goods imported into the kingdom, forming a very considerable revenue. This Fund is appropriated to the encouragement of commerce and shipping in general, granting allowances to shipwrecked Mariners, and a variety of other benevolent purposes; but this Fund, although very accessible, is under the absolute control of the King. Stockholm, August 18, 1847. NORWAY. NORMAN PRingle. APPENDIX. No. 6. From Consul-General Crowe. MY LORD, Christiana, July 30, 1847. Pursuant to your Lordship's instructions of the 28th of May last, directing me to furnish such information as I could collect relative to institutions in foreign countries answering to the Merchant Seamen's Fund in England, I have the honour to report that there is no institution in Norway answering literally to the Merchant Seamen's Fund; but there are a variety of institutions and regulations which in their operation approach near to it. In every sea-port town and district in Norway there is an independent charitable institution, established exclusively for the benefit of the Seamen, their widows and children, called "Institution for the Support and Relief of Distressed Seamen, their Widows and Children." These institutions, although independent of each other, are all constructed upon the same principle; as such, the epitome of one will afford a tolerable correct idea of the whole. I enclose, therefore, a translation of the plan and regulations of that established for the town and district of Krageroe. By this it will be observed that they are supported by voluntary contributions, collected by the registrar of Seamen in each district. One of the functions of the office of registrar is to superintend the engagement of Seamen proceeding on foreign voyages, the law making it obligatory, before any vessel can be cleared out at the Custom-house, that the articles of agreement are to be signed in the presence of the registrar, it being the duty of the master, with the whole of his crew, to appear before him for that purpose, when the registrar explains to them the nature of the Seamen's institution, and gives a printed copy of the rules and regulations to the master, for their information. A pro rata contribution from each man's earnings is then generally agreed upon, which, on the completion of the voyage, is paid by the master to the registrar, and by him to the cashier of the institution. Should any Seaman be hired who does not belong to the port from which the ship is sailing, the amount of his contribution is remitted to the institution established at the port in which such Seaman is registered. On completion of the voyage, it is likewise obligatory on the master to appear with his crew before the registrar, if he proposes to discharge them. The principle on which these societies are founded appears to work well, as the financial status of the several institutions is in a flourishing condition. Some years ago there was a general Fund for the whole country; but of late years separate institutions for each separate Indroullirings district (registering districts for Seamen) have been found to work more effectually in keeping and attaching the men to their homes, as well as in the largeness of their contributions; the general Fund was, therefore, by royal rescript, divided among the different districts in which separate societies were founded. Since then each has become an independent establishment. In the port of Christiana the contributions are considerable; and, although voluntary, it appears to have become a positive rule that the men belonging to the port pay one skilling from every dollar they earn. These institutions, however, are merely local benefit societies, founded upon one uniform principle, for the good of one particular class, slightly modified, according to local circumstances. In cases of shipwreck abroad, the Consul is bound to send the crew home at the expense of the State. In cases of sickness abroad, arising from natural causes (except in cases of plague), or from excessive work, or injury received on board, the party is to be supported and healed at the expense of the ship; and if at the time unable to return in the same vessel, he is to be sent home by the Consul, at the expense of the owners. In cases of ships being sold abroad, the crew are to be sent home at the expense of the owners. Masters of vessels in every case have to find their way home, even should they be obliged to apply to the Consul for assistance; it is with the express understanding that the amount is to be refunded to the State on his return home. In cases where Seamen are ordered out for service in the navy, about 1 per cent. of their earnings is deducted, which goes towards a separate Fund for the benefit of mariners permanently in the service of the State; but during the period of such service in the navy the Seamen are exempted from |