The Tenth GRIEVANCE is,
The Non-payment of the Register'd Seamen, (not to insist on the 40 s. per Annum hitherto unpaid) I shall only mention the Case of the Widows, Friends, and Relations of such as have died in the Service, with respect to their Wages.
- 1. Such as die on Voyages to Holland, France, the Narrow-Seas, &c. their Wages are refused be paid according to the Act, it being alledged that such are not Forein Voyages.
- 2. Such as have been bound out on Forein Voyages, and died before the Ships departure from England, their Wages is also refused.
- 3. Such as have been on Forein Voyages so accounted, and in such Voyages have contracted Sickness, whereof they have died immediately after the Ships Return to England, their Wages is also refused, as not intended by the said Act to be paid.
- 4. Such as have gone out in one Ship, and served a considerable time in her, and afterwards turn'd over into another, and there in a few Months died; the Widows of such are paid for the Ships only wherein they died, and not for the former.
- 5. Such Commission and Warrant-Officers as are Register'd who die on Forein Voyages, their Wages is refused, as not in∣tended to be paid by the said Act.
How far this is coherent to the intent of the said Act, and whether those Circumstances have prevented the Act from having its desired effect; I shall not pretend to determine: but it has doubtless more than a little obstructed the same.
For the Redress whereof, shall only alledge the Nations Promise by the established Law, the Peoples Distress, the Justice and Merit of their Cause, and the further and future Encouragement for the Seamen to Register themselves for His Majesty's Service; the which Redress, or some other suteable Remedy that may engage Seamen to their proper Duty for the Nations Defence, I dare not doubt but will be found, if it be ta∣ken into the Consideration of this Judicious and August Assembly, the Great Council of the Nation; and that without the great Expence, and irregular Compulsion lately us'd in Impressing, or any-wise infringing Magna Charta, or any other establish'd Law of this Realm.