S E R ( 306 ) s E R
of the standing orders of the regiment.We humbly presume to suggest, thatunder so serious a charge as that of theft,the delinquent should be tried for abreach of the specific article of war,before a general court-martial.
Whenever an officer dismisses a soldierfrom acting as his servant, such soldieris to return to his company complete inregimentals, necessaries, and appoint-ments, without any expense to his cap-tain ; and if he is discharged on accountof dishonesty, or irregularities of anykind, such servant is not afterwards tobe employed by any other officer of theregiment.
In addition to these orders, we takethe liberty to observe, (since the articleof war, which says expressly, that nosoldier shall wear a lively, is, throughneglect and by custom, become a deadletter,) that if officers’ servants were tobe plainly dressed, with a cuff and capeto correspond with the facings of theseveral regiments, much ridiculous paradeand show would be avoided. Britishsoldiers would not be exposed to thegalling necessity of submitting to thewhim and caprice of many a white ser-jcant , or ostentatious fribble, and be-coming the laughing stocks of theircomrades, through their party-coloureddresses.
Servants attached to officers , com-monly called officers’ servants. Everyofficer in the British service, being withhis regiment, or on detachment, &c. isallowed one private soldier or more ac-cording to his rank, to act in the capa-city of bat-man. It would exceed thelimits of this work, were we to enter intothe gross abuse of this indulgence. Inorder, however, to do away the possi-bility of it, we would suggest the fol-lowing measure ; namely, to allow everyofficer 20/. or more, to enable him tohire a servant, who would, of course, beamenable to military law, and to con-tinue that allowance on a certificatetransmitted through the regimental pay-master, that he had been so hired, andwas not a soldier. This would throw aconsiderable body of effective good fire-locks into activity, and it would also bethe means of recruiting the army atlarge; as many boys would by degreesget attached to a military life, and enlistinto their respective regiments.
As far back as the year 1695, an al-lowance for servants was made to every
officer in the British army. It appear*by a MS. in the Harleian Library stillextant in the Museum, that at the campof Becclaer, in Flanders, a warrant wassigned by William III . dated the 17thday of June, 1695, by which the fol-lowing rate of pay was established for47 infantry regiments; being the stand-
ing army of that period.Colonel 12s. three servantseach 8d. as captain 8s.three servants at 3d. Daily
L.
s.
d.
pay (without deductions.)
1
4
0
Lt. Colonel 7s. as captain 8s.three servants at 8d.
0
17
0
Major 5s. as captain 8s. threeservants at 8d.
0
15
0
Captains each 8s. three ser-vants at 8d.
0
10
0
Lieutenants each 4s. one ser-vant 8d.
0
4
8
Ensigns each 3s. one servant8d. - - -
0
3
8
Chaplain -
0
6
8
Adjutant
0
4
0
Surgeon
0
4
0
Surgeon’s mate
0
2
6
Quarter-master 4s. one ser-vant 8d.
0
4
8
Serjeants
0
1
6
Corporals
0
1
O
Drummers
0
1
0
This authenticated statement will notonly bear us through our suggestion,but may also prove the partial hardshipwhich the fighting officers suffer, notonly from their pay being numericallyless—but from being rendered still moreinadequate to their wants, through thehigh price of every necessary of life.
To SERVE, (servir, Er.) in a mili-tary sense, to do duty as an officer orsoldier.
To Serve a piece , (servir une piece,Fr.) in the artillery, to load and firewith promptitude and correctness. TheFrench use the term in the same sense,viz. Uartillerie Jut bien servie a cesiege; the artillery was well served atthat siege.
SERVICE, (service, Fr.) in a generalsense of the word, as far as it relates towar, every species of military duty whichis done by an inferior under the influ-ence and command of a superior. Itlikewise means exploit, achievement.It also points out th^ particular profes-sion to which a man belongs, as landservice, sea service, and the degree ofknowledge which he may have acquired