Deputed Mariners       L2  8s. per lunar month
Seamen                  2  0      "     "
Boys                   10  0 per annum

Muster books were ordered to be kept regularly, and the sum of 1s. 6d. was allowed to the commander a day for each man borne on the books and actually victualled, to provide for the following proportion of provisions:—­1-1/2 lbs. of meat, 1-1/2 lbs. of bread, 1/2 gallon of beer.  The commander was also allowed 3s. a day for his own victuals, and a like sum for each of his mates.  Allowance was made for a medicine chest to the extent of L3 annually.  All expenses of pilotage were to be paid by the Navy, “but the commanders and mates are to make themselves acquainted with the coasts, &c., and no general pilot will be allowed for more than two months after a cruiser’s arrival on any new station.”

And there is now a notable innovation, which marked the advent of a new age.  Instead of the prevailing hempen cables with which these cruisers had been supplied and had been in use for centuries among our ships, these cutters were ordered to be furnished with chain cables “in order that the vessels may have the less occasion for going to a King’s Port to refit or make purchases.”  If a man were injured or became sick whilst in the service so as to need surgical aid, the expense was to be allowed.  And in order still further to make the cruisers independent of the shore and able to offer no excuse for running into harbour they were ordered never to proceed to sea without three weeks’ provisions and water.  As to the widows of mariners, they were to receive L10 per annum.

So much, then, for the new conditions of service in these Revenue craft as undertaken by the Admiralty.  Let us now obtain some idea of the duties that were attached to these officers and vessels.  The commanders were directed by the Admiralty to make themselves familiar with the Acts of Parliament for the prevention of smuggling, Orders in Council, Proclamations, &c., and to obey the instruction of whatever admiral they were placed under, as also the commanders of any of his Majesty’s ships whom they might fall in with “diverting you from the cruise on which you are employed.”

Each commander was assigned his own particular station for cruising, and he was never to lie in any harbour, bay, or creek unless by stress of weather or other unavoidable necessity.  He was to keep a look-out for vessels of a suspicious appearance, which, in respect of size and build, appeared to be adapted for smuggling.  Especially was he to look out for French craft of this description.  Having arrested them he was to hand them over to the nearest man-of-war.  He was also to keep a smart look-out for the smugglers’ practice of sinking goods and afterwards creeping for them.  The cruisers were to visit the various creeks and bays; and whenever weather permitted the commander was to send a boat and crew to examine such places at night.  And, if necessary, the crew were to remain there until the cruiser came to fetch them back in the morning.