12pp., sm. folio, with fine woodcut arms of William IV on front page; disbound, an exceptionally crisp, virtually spotless copy ideal for display or presentation. 3 Gulielmi IV. Cap. 9; granted royal assent, 6 May 1833. This is the Act of Parliament formally incorporating the Seaman's Hospital Society, establishing and naming its first governors and prescribing its powers and scope of operations. By way of context its military equivalent, the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, was founded in 1692. The world's first charitable society for the relief of distressed seamen was established in London in March 1821. Initially it aimed to cater for those in the Port of London ('who at that time were very numerous in the Metropolis') and, fittingly for the world's leading maritime nation, did not differentiate on nationality or any other grounds other than disability and hardship. The motivating principles seem to have been partly public gratitude in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars, in which the Royal Navy in particular had played a fundamental role in achieving victory, and partly increased recognition of the helplessness of private seamen and the strength of their cause. The society was supported entirely by donations, subscriptions and legacies, and by the loan by government of a hospital ship (HMS Dreadnought) moored at Greenwich. In its first twelve years the society provided relief and support to upwards of twenty-three thousand sick and distressed seamen, 'many of whom might otherwise have perished'. With the case clearly made it was time for a more formal and robust body with increased remit and governance; accordingly the Seaman's Hospital Society was given royal assent on 6 May 1833. Its significant extra powers included the rights to possess property, receive bequests, purchase lands and canvass donations; most important of all it was granted 'perpetual succession'. The original HMS Dreadnought continued in use until 1870 when the Admiralty made available at nominal rent the infirmary at Greenwich where the 'Dreadnought' hospital continues to this day. AN ACT OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE TO THE WELFARE AND WELL-BEING OF SEAMEN IN BRITAIN, AND A SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN BRITISH MARITIME HISTORY. VERY SCARCE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION.
