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1673, Jan. 12.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
The Charles was got out of the dock last Friday though with
very much difficulty. Last night we got the London close up
to the head of the dock and the gates close shut and shall make
requisite preparation for the next ships appointed to come in
next spring. I shall cause the anchors to be taken up that were
for the stern moorings of the ships here the last Dutch war and
remove such others as lay in the way of ships haling to and again.
Most of the boats last built are sunk, broken or spoiled but I
shall take what care I can for preventing so great damage as I
find in that particular and also in what else may concern his
Majesty here. I suppose the Surveyor will give you an account
of the wants of this place. Here are daily complaints for want
of money, which I hope you will suddenly supply. [S.P.
Supplementary 137, No. 346.] |
Jan. 13.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
The shipwright complaining to me of the necessity there is for
more carpenters, caulkers and joiners for the work for this present
expedition, I acquaint you with it before I enter any, a list of
whom I enclose, there being a great part of them here in expectation of your answer. |
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Divers provisions are wanting here for hastening the work,
about which I shall consult the Surveyor on his return from
Sheerness, but moneys will be wanted here for procuring them.
Edward Boswell, commander of the Little Lion fireship at Sheerness, informs me she is so rotten that she cannot proceed to sea
without being docked, twelve men having been kept on her a long
time, and she is much out of repair and has about fourteen
days' provision on board. Her commander demands an order for
more and in regard of her condition I thought fit to acquaint
you therewith. |
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Here have been lately divers thefts and embezzlements both
on board ships and on shore. If some severe course be not
speedly taken, it will grow worse. One particular thing I
recommend, that there be a restriction from the Board that no
chips be carried from any ships, for, so long as that is permitted, they will never leave off splitting up plank and timber to
make chips to the damage of many hundred pounds in the year,
and that a mulct or some other punishment may be imposed on
overseers or foremen that suffer it. [Ibid. No. 347.] Enclosed, |
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List of workmen wanted. [Ibid. No. 347 i.] |
Jan. 14.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
Here is arrived the Mary Anne of Woodbridge, a hoy laden with
timber. The master says he was ordered to deliver it here, but
we, having no orders, cannot receive it without your directions. |
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If you would order us sheathing nails for the Rainbow, the
shipwright would use his utmost endeavours to get her out of
the dock this next spring as well as the Unicorn. We are preparing the Royal Katherine and St. George for the dock this next
spring. The Surveyor is not yet returned from Sheerness.
[Ibid. No. 348.] |
| [Jan. 15.] |
Draft of the letter of that date to the Lord Lieutenant for a
grant of the clerkship of the Privy Council in Ireland calendared
in Cal. S.P. Dom., 1672–73, p. 435. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 349,
No. 61.] |
Jan. 17.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
On paying the men belonging to the dock our money is fallen
short, which has been some hindrance, but they are resolved to
borrow enough out of the Chest to complete the payment. I
have been much complained to for board wages by the pressed
shipwrights and caulkers, who have been without their pay this
quarter of a year, and the soldiers, who having been many weeks
without their money and expecting it at this pay on my having
neither order nor money to satisfy them have left off and will
work no more. |
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Here are divers occasions for present provisions for the yard
and Mr. Gregory has but a small stock of money left. I therefore
desire you would send a speedy supply. I have just received
yours of the 16th and shall take care that no more carpenters,
caulkers or joiners be entered but such as shall be necessary. I
have acquainted the shipwrights and joiners touching the building
of cabins and other unnecessary works that used to be done and
shall take care your orders be obeyed. |
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What the Surveyor contracted for is not yet delivered here.
I shall give order according to your directions for supplying the
Little Lion with provisions when demanded. |
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As to your orders concerning theft and embezzlement, touching
such offenders I shall take what care I can. I am glad you take
into consideration the abridging workmen that liberty of carrying
chips from ships, for not only the carpenters but all other officers
both on board and on shore have assumed that to themselves
to his Majesty's great detriment. |
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I cannot yet hear of John Kemp, who wrote that letter to
you, but I shall make as strict inquiry for him as I can. |
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As to your desire of furnishing Justice Wood with lighters for
lightening the King David, they are so leaky at present that they
cannot well be used till I have got them trimmed. |
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There is a great inconvenience in the yard by permitting the
porter of the gate to have a garden therein as also an enclosure
made by the late Col. Middleton adjoining thereto. If you
give me leave, I shall suddenly pull it down and make a room
there to lay all boats in security turning their bottoms upwards
and bestowing a little hot tar thereon for preserving them, for
I find no other place so convenient without a vast charge and
besides there will be room enough to lay all timber coming from
time to time to the yard. [2 pages. S.P. Supplementary 137,
No. 349.] |
Jan. 20.
Chatham. Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
I made inquiry for John Kemp concerning the carpenter of
the Royal Katherine but can find out no such person. |
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I desire to know whether we shall proceed in fitting up
the Duke of Richmond's vessel as formerly ordered, many
hands being employed on her for joiner's and carpenter's work,
etc., and, if we must proceed, she will require a great deal of
carved work, which will put the King to a vast charge. Besides
the Duke before his death had written to the master shipwright
to place three masts in her, which will require much more canvas,
rigging and sails. We are getting the three anchors ready against
the horse-boat comes from Woolwich and shall speedily send
them up. We have great want of the assistance of the soldiers
for want of money, few labourers offering their services here.
I enclose a copy of a contract for some brick, lime and tile to
put the bricklayers to work about setting up the furnaces. We
shall want many other provisions which will require a speedy
supply of money. [Ibid. No. 350.] Enclosed, |
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Copy of the said contract with Thomas Jarvis of Upchurch.
[Ibid. No. 350 i.] |
Jan. 21.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
I enclose a copy of a contract with John Gransden for a small
quantity of broom faggots. A great quantity more will be wanted
for graving so many ships as are to come into the dock and
on the ways. I have given an order to Capt. Haddock,
commander of the Samuel and Anne fireship, for a week's
provisions of all sorts, till I hear further from you. She must
be docked before she goes to sea. About 150 white pendants
are in store, unserviceable at present in regard to the French,
which, if you order, may be sent up in the Jemmy to be dyed red
and blue. Here is great want of oil for graving, we being
necessitated to use tallow. Please afford us two more water
engines, being necessitated to grave two great ships at a time
and two engines are too few to prevent any damage. As yet no
sheathing nails are come for the Rainbow and, if not come in
time, we shall lose another spring. |
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No barge or other oars are in store, nor many other petty
provisions which will be daily wanting, viz., double and single
buckets, top-hoops, hoops for masts and small runlets for oil for
stores of ships. I desire a speedy supply of what cannot be got
here according to the general demand sent up and hope
you will send down a speedy supply of money to Mr. Gregory
to answer the petty contracts I shall be necessitated to make
here. [Ibid. No. 351.] Enclosed, |
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Copy of the said contract with John Gransden of East Moling.
[Ibid. No. 351 i.] |
| Jan. 24. |
Another copy of the proclamation calendared in Cal. S.P. Dom.,
1672–73, p. 477. [Printed. S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 349, No. 62.] |
Jan. 28.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach of the Navy Commissioners.
I enclose a copy of a letter of the 17th sent by Samuel Pett
though not delivered that you may see I was not negligent. |
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Here is not much broom bavins to be had and ready money is
expected for those that are. No reed is come down since the
Surveyor went up and there is extreme want of broom, so that
there is not enough of either to bream the Royal Katherine.
We expect some every day, for the last storm had delayed
its coming, so that I hear the lighters loaden with it are blown
upon the marshes. |
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We very much want the sheathing nails formerly writ for. |
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The captain of the Little Francis fireship desired more provisions
and I have ordered him fourteen days till you order him more
or send for him in, for by his relation she cannot go to sea as
she is nor is she fit for that employment. |
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Here we shall procure but a small quantity of such provisions
as you in your last to the clerk of the checque and stores desired
should be provided by bill without ready money. People in
these parts are grown very dubious of being complied with. I
hope you will consider as well the board wages as the money due
to the soldiers, that it may stop their incessant clamours. The
horse-boat goes up to-morrow morning with anchors and stocks.
[S.P. Supplementary 137, No. 352.] |
Jan. 30.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
We are all here too sensible of the great loss and prejudice
his Majesty and you have sustained by this last unhappy fire.
I am glad you are taking care to furnish Mr. Gregory with
money for paying board wages and what is due to the soldiers.
As soon as tiles come, no time shall be lost for setting up the
furnaces. If we can get broom enough or reed in time, we
intend to haul the Triumph and Old James into the dock to
grave and then to dock the St. Andrew and Edgar, for I have
caused the Edgar and French Ruby to be measured and they
will not go both at once into the dock. I desire you would
let us know whether men must be sent hence or may be ordered
from Sheerness to bring up the Staveren prize, for, if our men
must go, we shall not be able to dock the ships we intend this next
spring. I desire your order whether we shall grave and tallow
or not the Richmond pleasure yacht before we launch her. We
have so great want of broom and reed that I know not what
course to take. The reed the Surveyor contracted for is not
come and we have no broom and here people will not cut their
broom before it be contracted for, so that it will be green, and
there is a necessity to provide it always beforehand to get it dry. |
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Some men are come down to enter themselves on the first
or second rates and are very earnest for money, who are not able
seamen. Mr. Gregory and myself desire to know how we are
to govern ourselves therein. [Ibid. No. 353.] |
