The Royal Mail: Its Curiosities and Romance

Per mensem. Master and Commander, L10 0 0 Mate, 3 10 0 Surgeon, 3 10 0 Boatswain, 3 5 0 Midshipman, 1 15 0 Carpenter, 3 5 0 Boatswain's mate, 1 15 0 Gunner's mate, 1 15 0 Quartermaster, 1 15 0 Captain's servant, 1 0 0 11 Able seamen at L1, 10s., 16 10 0 Agent's instrument, 2 0 0 ---------- In all, L50 0 0 These wages may not have been considered too liberal considering the risks the men ran; and as an encouragement to greater valour in dealing with the enemy, and as an additional means of recompense, the crew were allowed to take prizes if they fell in their way. They also "received pensions for wounds, according to a code drawn up with a nice discrimination of the relative value of different parts of the body, and with a most amusing profusion of the technical terms of anatomy. Thus, after a fierce engagement which took place in February 1705, we find that Edward James had a donation of L5 because a musket-shot had grazed on the tibia of his left leg; that Gabriel Treludra had L12 because a shot had divided his frontal muscles and fractured his skull; that Thomas Williams had the same sum because a Granada shell had stuck fast in his left foot; that John Cook, who received a shot in the hinder part of his head, whereby a large division of the scalp was made, had a donation of L6, 13s. 4d. for present relief, and a yearly pension of the same amount; and that Benjamin Lillycrop, who lost the fore-finger of his left hand, had L2 for present relief, and a yearly pension of the same amount." Some other classes of wounds were assessed for pensions as follows: "Each arm or leg amputated above the elbow or knee is L8 per annum; below the knee is 20 nobles. Loss of the sight of one eye is L4, of the pupil of the eye L5, of the sight of both eyes L12, of the pupils of both eyes L14; and according to these rules we consider also how much the hurts affect the body, and make the allowances accordingly."