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A Few Good Men - English Style!
Below is a reproduction of an English handbill printed in Newark, England to attract recruits to the
Royal Marines during the American War - known in America and Canada as the War of 1812. It was found and
copied originally by a group of reenactors identifying themselves as The 1st Company, 3rd
Battalion, Royal Marines based in the Baltimore-Annapolis area of Maryland and is reproduced
here by their kind permission. Anyone interested in participating with this group of reenactors may
contact the WebMaster of this site who will provide further information.4>
GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT.
AMERICAN WAR.
What a Brilliant Prospect does this Event hold out to every Lad of Spirit, who is
inclined to try his Fortune in that highly renowned Corps,
The Royal Marines,
When every Thing that swims the Seas must be a
P R I Z E !
Thousands are at this moment endeavouring to get on Board
Privateers, where they serve without Pay or Reward of any
kind whatsoever; so certain does their Chance appear of
enriching themselves by PRIZE MONEY! What an enviable
Station then must the ROYAL MARINE hold,--- who with far
superior Advantages to these, has the additional benefit of
liberal Pay, and plenty of the best Provisions, with a good and
well appointed Ship under him, the Pride and Glory of Old
England; surely every Man of Spirit must blush to remain at
Home in Inactivity and Indolence, when his Country and the
best of Kings needs his Assistance.
Where then can he have such a fair opportunity of reaping Glory and Riches, as in
the Royal Marines, a Corps daily acquiring new Honours, and there, when once
embarked in a BRITISH FLEET, he finds himself in the midst of Honour and
Glory, surrounded by a set of fine Fellows, Strangers to Fear, and who strike
Terror through the Hearts of their Enemies wherever they go!
He has likewise the inspiring Idea to know. that while he scours the Ocean to protect the Liberty of Old England,
that the Hearts and good Wishes of the whole BRITISH NATION. attend him; pray for his Success, and
participate in his Glory!! Lose no time then, my Fine Fellows, in embracing the Glorious Opportunity that awaits
you; YOU WILL RECEIVE
Sixteen Guineas Bounty,
And on your Arrival at Head Quarters, be comfortably and genteely CLOTHED --And spirited Young BOYS of a
promising Apprearance, who are Five Feet high, WILL RECEIVE TWELVE POUNDS ONE SHILLING AND
SIXPENCE BOUNTY, and equal Advantages of PROVISIONS and CLOTHING with the Men. And those who
wish only to enlist for a limited Service, shall receive a Bounty of ELEVEN GUINEAS, and Boys EIGHT. In Fact,
the Advantages which the ROYAL MARINE possesses. are too numerous to mention here, but among the many,
It may not be amiss to state. --That if he has a WIFE, or aged PARENT, he can make them an Allotment of half
his PA Y which will be regularly paid without any trouble to them, or to whomsoever he may direct; that being
well Clothed and Fed on Board Ship, the remainder of his PAY and PRIZE MONEY will be clear in Reserve for
the Relief of his Family or his own private Purposes. The Single Young Man on his Return to Port, finds himself
enabled to cut a Draft on Shore with his GIRL and his CLASS, that might be envied by a Nobleman. ---Take
courage then, seize the Fortune that awaits you, repair to the ROYAL MARINE RENDEZVOUS, where in a
FLOWING BOWL of PUNCH, in Three Times Three, you shall drink
Long live the King, and Success to his Royal Marines.
Thc Daily Allowance of a Marine when embarked, is --One Pound of BEEF or PORK,—One Pound of BREAD,
—Flour, Raisins. Butter. Cheese. Oatmeal Molasses, Tea, Sugar,etc. etc. And a Pint of the best WINE or Half a
Pint of the best RUM or BRANDY; together with a Pint of LEMONADE. They have likewise in warm Countries, a
plentiful allowance of the choicest FRUIT. And what can be more handsome than the Royal Marine Proportion
of PRIZE MONEY, when a Serjeant shares equal with the First Class of Petty Officers, such as Midshipmen,
Assistant Surgeons, etc. which is Five Shares each; a Corporal with the Second Class, which is Three Shares
each; and the Private with the Able Seamen, One Share and a Half each.
For further Particulars, and a more full Account of the many Advantages of this invaluable Corps, apply to
SERJEANT FULCHER, at the EIGHT BELLS, where the Bringer of a Recruit will receive THREE GUINEAS.
printed in Newark, England