MEMORANDUM on DISTRESSED SEAMEN in CALCUTTA and elsewhere abroad, and on the general subject of the mode of dealing with BRITISH SEAMEN in FOREIGN and COLONIAL PORTS.
Bengal Government to Indian Government, 29th November 1865. Reddie to Bengal Government, 26th July 1865.
The whole of these papers are worth reading, especially—
Sanitary Commission to Bengal Government, 9th February 1866.
Major Malleson's report enclosed in it. Reply of Government of Bengal, 14th April 1866.
All the printed correspondence.
Dr. Norman Chevers' pamphlet.
Letters referred to.
statement of present evils,
These papers disclose a very bad state of things. General Seamen are discharged, driven from their ships, or desert; are exposed to every kind of temptation; lose money and health in the lowest debauchery; and falling into distress become a burden on local charity, or are sent home at the public expense, or are put on board to work their way home, with seeds of disease which too often prove fatal precursors of scurvy. The present papers refer to Calcutta. But all we hear at home and abroad confirms the truth of this painful picture. From Quebec, from Callao, from Australia, from all distant parts where seamen have anything to gain by deserting, or owners by getting rid of them, we have the same story. Crimps, Jews, spirit sellers, women prey upon these Seamen become demoralized, and both they and the owners suffer. Our own accounts of the money spent in relief of distressed seamen show a considerable increase, as will be seen by the annexed account.* If this is the nature of the seaman's life, what wonder that it does not attract good men!
The worst part of it is, that a perfect remedy seems almost hopeless. In the present case it will be well to consider:
1. The state of the imperial law, and the proposals we can suggest for altering it.
2. The local remedies at Calcutta.
The first of these embraces a very wide field. We—I—Imperial law; its expenditure.
* Net expenditure for 1855-6 17,000 16,695 18 9 1856-7 20,000 21,739 3 2 1857-8 17,503 1858-9 20,000 21,094 15 1859-60 20,000 19,144 18 1860-61 20,400 22,492 1861-62 20,400 25,876 1862-63 20,400 19,218 1863-64 ** 34,400 1864-65 1865-66 19,308 Half year 1866/7 28,259 10 5 30,400 20,337 16 3218/fs
MEMORANDUM on DISTRESSED SEAMEN in CALCUtta and elsewhere abroad, and on the general subject of the mode of dealing with BRITISH SEAMEN in FOREIGN and COLONIAL PORTS.
Bengal Government to Indian Govern-
ment, 29th November 1865. Reddie to Bengal Government, 26th
July 1865.
The whole of these papers are worth reading,
especially--
Sanitary Commission to Bengal Govern-
ment, 9th February 1866.
Major Malleson's report enclosed in it. Reply of Government of Bengal, 14th
April 1866.
All the printed correspondence.
Dr. Norman Chevor's pamphlet.
Letters
referred to.
statement of present evils,
These papers disclose a very bad state of things. General Seamen are discharged, driven from their ships, or desert; are exposed to every kind of temptation; lose money and health in the lowest debauchery; and falling into distress become a burden on local charity, or are sent home at the public expense, or are put on board to work their way home, with seeds of disease which too often prove fatal precursors of scurvy. The present papers refer to Calcutta. But all we hear at home and abroad confirms the truth of this painful picture. From Quebec, from Callao, from Australia, from all distant parts where seamen have anything to gain by deserting, or owners by getting rid of them, we have the same story. Crimps, Jews, spirit sellers, women prey upon these Seamen become demoralized, and both they and the owners suffer. Our own accounts of the money spent in relief of distressed seamen show a considerable increase, as will be seen by the annexed account.* If this is the nature of the seaman's life, what wonder that it does not attract good men !
men.
The worst part of it is, that a perfect remedy seems almost hopeless. In the present case it will be well to consider:
1. The state of the imperial law, and the proposals
we can suggest for altering it.
2. The local remedies at Calcutta.
The first of these embraces a very wide field. We I--Imperial
have to consider, not only such cases as Calcutta law; its
EXPENDITURE.
* Net expenditure for 1855-6
-
"J
1856-7 1857-8.
.35
1858-9
33
20,000
-
VOTE. 17,000
8,662 5 1 17,000 16,695 18 9 20,000 21,739 3 2
17,503
1859-60
20,000
-
13
21,094 15
1860-61
20,000
-
19,144 18
*
1861-62
20,400
-
22,492
1862-63
"
1863-64
5+
1964-65
21
1865-66
クリ
19308.
>>
20,400 ** 25,876
20,400* 19,218
** 34,400
Half year 1866/7
A
-
35,788
30,400
28,259 10 5
20,337 16 3
164605686
9 8
1
7
7
1
4
2
8
218/fs
園
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