Admiralty court

ADMIRALTY COURT

Judge 1660-1870

Until the resignation of the Duke of York in 1673 the Judge was appointed by the Lord High Admiral by letters patent under the seal of the court. From 1673 appointments were made by the crown by letters patent under the great seal with the single exception of Henchman (1714) who was appointed by the Admiralty by letters patent under the seal of the court.s1 (fn. 1) Tenure was during pleasure until 1689 and during good behaviour thereafter. In 1689 a salary of £400 was attached to the office payable by the Treasurer of the Navy. Between 1694 and 1714 a further £400 was provided as a reward for attendance on the Privy Council, the Secretaries of State and the Admiralty. This was at first paid out of the Admiralty contingent fund but was transferred to the ordinary establishment in 1698. (fn. 2) From 1714 to 1778 the basic salary was £400 with an additional £400 in time of war. (fn. 3) In 1725 a further £400 was provided in recognition of the Judge's extra judicial activities and for the making of reports but this was retrenched in the following year. (fn. 4) In 1783 an additional allowance of £980 a year was attached to the office and made payable from the time of Marriott's appointment in 1778. (fn. 5) In 1798 the salary was fixed at £2500. (fn. 6) In addition to his salary the Judge was entitled to certain fees arising from cases in the court. (fn. 7) In 1840 these were abolished and a salary of £4000, payable out of the consolidated fund, was provided by statute which also disqualified the Judge from membership of the House of Commons. (fn. 8)

Registrar 1660-1870

This office was granted by letters patent under seal of the Admiralty Court. (fn. 11) Until the resignation of the Duke of York in 1673 the letters patent were issued in the name of the Lord High Admiral; thereafter by the crown. In 1691 Thomas Bedford, who had received a reversionary grant to the office in 1679, had his interest confirmed by letters patent under the great seal. (fn. 12) This practice was followed thereafter until the regulation of the office in the nineteenth century. Until 1840 the office was invariably conferred for life with power to appoint deputies; reversionary interests were frequently granted. (fn. 13) Following the death of Arden in 1840 the office was regulated by act. (fn. 14) This provided that the then deputy should become the principal and that future appointments should be made by the Judge of the Admiralty by letters patent under the seal of the Court and be held during good behaviour. The same act discontinued the previous arrangement whereby the Registrar received his remuneration exclusively in the form of fees which varied according to whether conditions of peace or war prevailed. (fn. 15) Thereafter the fees were to be carried to a fund out of which the Registrar and the Marshal were to receive salaries. The salary of the Registrar was fixed at £1400 with provision for it to be increased within a maximum of £2000 in time of war or other exceptional circumstances.

From 1705 it was the practice for the Registrar also to hold the office of Registrar of the Court of Delegates. (fn. 16)

Marshal 1660-1870

The Marshal was appointed by letters patent under the seal of the Admiralty court. (fn. 18) Until 1709 the letters patent were issued in the name of the Lord High Admiral or the Admiralty Board; from then on in that of the crown. Tenure was during pleasure. Originally the remuneration attached to the office was derived exclusively from fees. (fn. 19) In 1840 it was enacted that the fees should be carried to a fund out of which the Marshal was to receive a salary of £500 with provision for an increase within a maximum of £800 in time of war or in other exceptional circumstances. (fn. 20)

Advocate 1660-1870

Except during the period 1674-89 when he was appointed by royal warrant the Admiralty Advocate was appointed by Admiralty warrant. (fn. 21) The salary attached to the office was 20 marks (£13 6s 8d). This appears to have been paid originally out of the perquisites of the Lord High Admiral. From 1674 it was paid by the Treasurer of the Navy. (fn. 22) An additional allowance of £200 was provided in time of war. (fn. 23) In 1725 a further £200 was provided for making reports but this was retrenched in the following year. (fn. 24)

Proctor 1660-1870

The Admiralty Proctor was appointed by Admiralty warrant. He received no salary but was paid fees for the work which he undertook. (fn. 26)

Receiver of Droits 1691-1857

The office of Receiver of Droits, the full title of which was Receiver of the Rights and Perquisites of the Admiralty, was established on a permanent basis in 1691. (fn. 27) Appointments were usually made by Admiralty warrant although both Byng (1727) and Goldsworthy (1733) received warrants of appointment from the crown. (fn. 28) The salary, which was paid out of the receipts from the perquisites, was originally £300. It was raised to £400 in 1800. (fn. 29) In 1854 provision was made for the office to be abolished on the next vacancy when its duties were to be transferred to the Board of Trade. (fn. 30) The office accordingly ceased to exist in 1857.