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| "Cook" (Repro ID: PW5940) from the collections of the Royal Museums Greenwich - National Maritime Museum |
For the Cook.
Article one.
No person is to be rated as Cook who is not appointed by a warrant from the Commissioners of the Navy, to entitle him to which he must be a Pensioner of the Chest at Greenwich.
II.
The cook is to have a charge of the steep-tub, and the meat put into it, and he is to be held responsible for any part of it which shall be lost through his want of care.
III.
He is to see that the steep-tub is at all times well secured, and he is to be particular in examining it when there is an appearance of blowing weather; but if, notwithstanding his attention, it should be washed away, or lost by any accident which he could not prevent, he is to obtain from the Captain a certificate of the manner in which it was lost, and is to make oath to the number of pieces of meat that were lost in it, but they may be allowed to the Purser in his accounts.
IV.
He is to see that the salt meat properly watered, and that all provisions are very carefully and cleanly boiled; and that they are served out to the men according to the established practice of the Navy.
V.
When fresh meat is served, he is to be attentive and seeing the greens, and all other vegetables that are to be boiled with it, very carefully washed before they are put into the coppers; and when he serves on soup or burgou, he is strictly charged to do it without any partiality, giving to every man, as nearly as possible, in equal quantity.
VI.
He is not, on any account, to give the skimmings of the coppers in which salt meat has been boiled to the men, either to mix with their puddings, or to use in any other manner, as scarcely any thing more unwholesome, or more likely to produce the scurvy, can be eaten.
VII.
He is to clean the Coppers as soon as possible after the provisions are taken out of them; and he is to examine them very carefully every morning before any provisions are put into them, and to inform the Mate of the watch when he has done so, who is himself to examine them, and report their condition to Lieutenant of the watch.
VIII.
He is to be very careful of the fuel, never using more than is really necessary under the coppers, nor allowing more fire than is wanted to be made in the range.
