Admiralty Office

Admiralty Office, is a magnificent Structure situate near the Horse Guard by St. James's Park, formerly called Wallin ford House. The Ld High Admiral is the Ninth great Officer of the Crown, but a place of that great Trust and Concern, being Custos Maris, that it hath been usually supply'd (if not in Commission) by the King's Brothers, Younger Sons, or some Relation, with whom all Maritime Affairs are entrusted, having the management of the Royal Navy, hath the determining of all Civil and Criminal Cases done on the Sea, or Sea-coasts, and the Amercements on such belong to him. He hath the Nomination of all other Admirals, and of Sea Captains and other Officers. This great Officer is His Royal Highness, Prince George of Denmark, whose Council in the dispatch of these might Affairs, are, George Churchil, Esq; Sir David Mitchell, Richard Hill, Esq; Sir Cloudesly Shovel, the Honourable William Paget, Esq; Robert Walpool, Esq; and Sir Stafford Fairborne. Josiah Burchett, Esq; is Secretary. John Fowler, Esq; Dep. Secretary.

Admiralty office, an edifice built with brick and stone, on the west side of the street, opposite to Scotland yard. The east front, which is that represented in the print, has two deep wings, and is entered by a very lofty portico supported by four very large stone columns of the Ionic Order, to which there is an ascent by a few steps.

The importance of this building is what recommends it to notice. The portico, which was intended as an ornament, rather disgusts than pleases, by the immoderate height and ill shape of the columns.

In this office are transacted all maritime affairs belonging to the jurisdiction of the Admiralty, who here regulate the affairs of the navy; nominate Admirals, Captains, and other officers to serve on board his Majesty's ships of war, and give orders for the trial of those who have failed in their duty, or been guilty of other irregularities.

Admiralty Office, Whitehall, is a short distance on the right from Charing-cross, and opposite to Great Scotland-yard. In this office are transacted all maritime affairs belonging to the jurisdiction of the Admiralty, who here regulate and direct the affairs of the royal navy, nominate admirals, captains and other officers to serve on board his Majesty's ships of war, and give orders for the trial of those who have failed in their duty, or have been guilty of any irregularity.—The building is of brick and stone, designed by Ripley, in the reign of George II., with a tetrastyle portico of the Ionic order, between two advancing wings, in such a wretched style as fully to justify the satirist, who said of this architect:—

"When Jones and Wren's united labours fall,
And under Ripley rise a new Whitehall."

Next the high street is a very handsome screen of Portland stone, designed by Adams, in exquisite taste, decorated with sculptures of naval emblems. In this building are the offices and residences of the five Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. On the top of the building is erected a semaphore telegraph, which communicates orders and intelligence to and from the principal sea-ports of the kingdom. The present chief officers of the Admiralty are the five Lords Commissioners, namely, the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Melville, K.T., Vice Admiral Sir George Cockburn, G.C.B., Vice Admiral Sir Henry Hotham, K.C.B., Sir George Clerk, Bart., and Lord Viscount Castlereagh. First Secretary, John Wilson Croker, Esq., M.P.; Second Secretary, John Barrow, Esq., F.R.S.; Chief Clerk, John Dyer, Esq.; together with seven clerks of the first class, six of the second class, and ten of the third class.

Admiralty Office, Whitehall, is a short distance on the right from Charing-cross, and opposite to Great Scotland-yard. In this office are transacted all maritime affairs belonging to the jurisdiction of the Admiralty, who here regulate the affairs of the navy, nominate admirals, captains, and other officers to serve on board his Majesty's ships of war, and give orders for the trial of those who have failed in their duty, or have been guilty of any irregularity.—The building is of brick and stone, designed by Ripley, in the reign of George II., with a tetrastyle portico of the Ionic order, between two advancing wings, in such a wretched style as fully to justify the satirist, who said of this architect:—

"When Jones and Wren's united labours fall,
And under Ripley rise a new Whitehall."

Next the high street is a very handsome screen of Portland stone, designed by Adams, in exquisite taste, decorated with sculptures of naval emblems. In this building are the offices and residences of the five Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. On the top of the building is erected a semaphore telegraph, which communicates orders and intelligence to and from the principal sea-ports of the kingdom. The present chief officers of the Admiralty are the five Lords Commissioners, namely, the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Melville, K.T., Vice Admiral Sir George Cockburn, G.C.B., Sir George Clerk, Bart., and Lord Viscount Caslereagh. First Secretary, John Wilson, Croker Esq., M.P.; Second Secretary, John Barrow, Esq., F.R.S.; Chief Clerk, John Dyer, Esq; together with seven clerks of the first class, six of the second class, and ten of the third class.

Admiralty (The), at Whitehall, occupies the site of Wallingford House, whither, in the reign of William III., the business of the Admiralty was removed from Duke Street, Westminster. The front, towards the street, of brick and stone, a centre with a tetrastyle Ionic portico and projecting wings, was built in the reign of George I. (1722–1726). The estimated cost was £22,400, the architect Thomas Ripley, the designer of Houghton Hall in Norfolk, the "Ripley with a rule" commemorated by Pope:—

See under Ripley rise a new Whitehall,
While Jones's and Boyle's united labours fall.
The Dunciad, B. iii.

"The Admiralty," says Horace Walpole, the son of the owner of Houghton Hall, "is a most ugly edifice, and deservedly veiled by Mr. [Robert] Adam's handsome screen,"¹ built about 1760. In the room to the left (as you enter from the Hall) the body of Lord Nelson lay in state. There is a characteristic portrait of Lord Nelson, painted at Palermo, in 1799, for Sir William Hamilton, by Leonardo Guzzardi; he wears the diamond plume given to him by the Sultan.

The Admiralty Board consists of a First Lord,—who is now usually a member of the Cabinet, is responsible for the conduct of the department, answers for it in Parliament, and, if a member of the House of Commons, moves the estimates for it,—four Naval Lords, a Civil Lord, and a Parliamentary and permanent Secretary. The superior permanent officers are a Comptroller of the Navy, Director of Victualling, Director of Works, Director of Transports, Hydrographer, Accountant General, and Medical Director General. The office of Lord High Admiral, since the Revolution of 1688, has, with three exceptions, been held in commission. The exceptions are, Prince George of Denmark, the husband of Queen Anne, 1702–1708; Thomas, Earl of Pembroke, for a short time in 1709; and the Duke of Clarence, afterwards King William IV., in 1827–1828. Among the First Lords Commissioners we may find the names of Anson, Hawke, Howe, Keppel, and St. Vincent.

Adjoining to, and communicating with the Admiralty, is a spacious house for the residence of the First Lord, designed about 1796 by Mr. S.P. Cockerell, architect. The salary of the First Lord is £4500 a year, and he has the entire patronage of the Navy. The civil department of the Admiralty has been removed from Somerset House to Spring Gardens.

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¹ Of the Admiralty, as built by Ripley, there is a view by Wale, in London and its Environs Described, 6 vols. 8vo, 1761; of the Board-room as it appeared in the days of Nelson and Jervis, there is a good view in the Microcosm of London.