Whereas we have thought fit to discontinue the present mode of mustering the Crews of HM Ships and Vessels, by the Master Attendant or his Assistants, and to substitute another mode of mustering in lieu thereof; We do hereby direct, that, from 1st July next, on the home stations, and as soon as it may be practicable, on foreign stations, after the new muster-book shall be brought into use, the Commander-in-Chief, at the respective ports, or one of the senior Captains (the latter being accompanied either by his Purser or an experienced clerk) shall occasionally go on board HM Ships and Vessels (except such as may not be in harbour, and under the command of a Flag Officer present), and shall muster their crews ; see that their muster-books are perfectly regular and complete ; and that all entries and discharges on their pages are strictly correct : that, immediately after each muster, a statement, in the form prepared, shall be filled up (which statement and the ship’s muster-table must always agree) of the actual numbers borne, mustered, and checked ; and the said statement being previously entered in the abstract provided for it, to be kept by the Admiral, or by any other officer in command on the home stations, shall be transmitted by him, weekly, to our Secretary.

A more particular muster and inspection also is to be made in every ship and vessel, as above directed, especially in those newly fitted out (and which shall, on no account, be omitted in the latter), a few days before they proceed to sea ; and the muster-books, and all authorities for entries and discharges, are then to be carefully examined ; and the additional certificate on the statement above-mentioned is to be signed. Similar musters are to be made by all Commanders-in-Chief, of the crews of HM Ships and Vessels under their orders, or by a senior officer, in the absence of the Commander-in-Chief, who shall transmit their statements to this Office, by every proper opportunity ; the latter keeping a perfect abstract of all his musters ; and the senior officer furnishing him, from time to time, with a complete abstract of the statements he may have forwarded, in the form provided for the purpose ; and the attention of all Flag and senior Officers is directed to this important service, which they are hereby required to perform with the strictest care and correctness.

Given under out hands this thirteenth day of June 1832.

T. M. Hardy,
G. Barrington.

To all Commanders-in-Chief, Flag Officers, Captains, and Commanding Officers of HM Ships and Vessels.

By Command of their Lordships.

John Barrow.

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