Taken from a visitor's guide:
INFIRMARY
The Infirmary, surrounded by an ornamental iron railing, lies to the west of the Hospital, and was erected in 1763. A portion of it was destroyed by fire in the year 1811, fortunately without being attended by loss of life. It is a quadrangular building of brick, stuccoed, three storeys in height, and contains sixty-nine rooms capable of accomodating three hundred and twenty-four patients; and is provided with a good medical library, and hot and cold. baths. It contains also a small chapel, surgery, and dispensary, and apartments for the Inspector, Deputy-Inspector, Surgeon, Dispenser, and three Asistant Surgeons. Adjacent to the Infirmary is a building of one storey, called the Helpless Ward, for the accommodation of eighty-four helpless Pensioners and their Nurses.
OTHER BUILDINGS
Opposite the Infirmary, to the southward, is the cemetery of the hospital, appropriated for that purpose in 1749, containing about two acres and a half. To the north of the Infirmary, near the river, are the Hospital Brewery and Bakery; and Mews for the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Commissioners, Captains, and some of the principal Officers.
CIVIL OFFICES
Opposite the east gate of the Hospital is a spacious building containing the Commissioners' Board-room, and the necessary offices for the Secretary, Cashier, Steward, and Clerk of the Cheque, and their establishments.
GOVERNMENT
By Queen ,Anne's Commission, dated July 21st, 1703, seven Commissioners were appointed to form a General Court, whereof the Lord High Admiral, the Lord Treasurer or any two Privy Councillors, were to form a quorum. The Governor and Treasurer were appointed by patent,and all the other necessary officers by the Lord High Admiral, on the recommendation of the General Court, which was held quarterly. The same Commission appointed twenty-fìve Directors, called the Standing Committee, who met once every fortnight; and vested the internal government in the Governor, and a council of Officers appointed by the Lord High Admiral. By a charter, dated December 6th, 16th George III, the Commissioners became a corporate body, with full power to finish the building, to provide for Seamen, either within or without the Hospital, to make byelaws, &c. This charter was superseded by an Act of Parliament, passed in 1829 "for the better'Management of the affairs of Greenwich Hospital," by virtue of which five CommissIoners were appointed, in whom the estates and property of the Hospital are now vested. The Civil officers serving under the Commissioners are the Secretary, Cashier, Steward, Clerk of the Cheque, two Inspectors of Works, Master Brewer, &c.
The Military establishment consists, of a Governor, Lieutenant-Governor (both flag officers), four Captains, four Commanders, eight Lieutenants, two Masters, Military Superintendent of Halls, two Chaplains, Medical Inspector, Deputy Medical Inspector, Surgeon; four Assistant Surgeons, Dispenser, and Assistant Dispenser.
THE PENSIONERS
The Pensioners must be Seamen or Royal Marines, who by their servitude at sea, in the Royal Navy, or wounds received, have established a claim to the benefits of the Institution. Merchant seamen who have been wounded in action with the ship of an enemy, or in a fight against a pirate or rebel, are also eligible for admission. The number of inmates is liable to fluctuation, the full complement being 2710. In December 1705, forty two seamen were admitted. In 1708, the number had increased to 300. Thirty years later 1,000 were borne; and in 1770, there were 2000 The complement remained at 2,350 until 1814, when it was augmented to 2,710.
Men in the receipt of out-pensions relinquish them for the time they are domicilèd in the Hospital, but they are at liberty, under certain restrictions, to resume their pensions and leave the Institution, being eligible for re-admission after the lapse of a year.
While in the enjoyment of the benefits of the Hospital they are provided with every necessary. They mess in common in spacious halls or crypts beneath the Chapel and Painted Hall, with the exception of a limited number, who are allowed the value of their provisions in money in lieu of rations. Their food is of the best description, varied daily by a new and lìberal arrangement of diet introduced in 1853. By the new scale of diet for summer, the men are allowed for breakfast 8 oz. of bread and one pint of chocolate, with milk and sugar, and at supper, the same allowance of bread, with butter, and a pint of tea. The dinner is thus varied :- Sunday: beef roasted, 12 oz. ; suet pudding, 5 1/2 oz.; potatoes, 8 oz. Monday: Beef boiled, 12 oz.; a pint of rice broth well seasoned and garnished with vegetables; potatoes, 8 oz. Tuesday: mutton roasted, 12 oz. ; potatoes, 8 oz. Wednesday: same as Monday. Thurday: the same as Tuesday, with the addition of boiled suet pudding. Friday: beef boiled, 12 oz.; with maccaroni broth, and potatoes. Saturday: mutton boiled, 12 oz.; rice broth and potatoes.
The winter diet comprises the same breakfast and supper, and the same dinner on Sundays. Monday: boiled mutton, broth, and potatoes. Tuesday: corned pork, pea soup, and potatoes. Wednesday: roast mutton, pudding, and potatoes. Thursday: corned beef, carrots, and potatoes. Friday: boiled beef, with maccaroni broth, and potatoes; and Saturday, corned pork, pea soup, and potatoes. When potatoes cannot be had, 4 oz. of bread is substituted. Two pints of excellent beer is the daily allowance throughout the year, except on four days set apart as festival days, when each man is supplied with two quarts of strong ale., On these occasions also the pensioners are allowed, exclusive of their ordinary fare (for which a money allowance is suhstituted), one pound of corned pork, and pea soup, or mutton, if pork is not in season. On Christinas day the pensioners are regaled with plum pudding and roast beef.
The clothing has been somewhat changed of late. The original dress corresponded with that in common wear at the beginning of the last century; but the knee-breeches have been exchanged for trowsers, and round hats have been allowed for daily wear. Cocked hats are issued, however, as before, and are worn on Sundays and on ceremonial occasions. Once in two years each man receives a complete suit of clothes, and annually a pair of trowsers, cocked hat, round hat, three pairs of stockings, and four pairs of shoes. Their linen is changed when worn out, their shoes repaired at the expense of the institution, and a great coat is allowed them, which is also changed when required. The money allowance to Private Pensioners is one shilling weekly; to Mates, 2s. 6d., Boatswains, 3s. 6d., and Inspecting Boatswains 5s. per week. One Regulating Boatswain or Yeoman of the Guard receives 2s., and a second 1s. 6d., per diem. Men who are able to work may obtain situations in the Hospital, yielding from 3s. 6d. to 10s. 6d. a week, which they enjoy in addition to their allowances as Pensioners on the establishment.
A Library containing about 1,500 well selected volumes is provided for their exclusive use, which is also supplied with daily and weekly newspapers. Their wards are spacious, well ventilated, and lighted with gas. Each man has a separate bed-cabin, or distinct bed-place, well furnished with horsehair mattresses, bedding, &c. Each ward is in charge of a boatswain or mate; the whole being under the supervision of the Officers of the Hospital. In case of sickness, the men are immediately removed to the Infirmary, where every comfort and all that can contribute to their ease and recovery is liberally and kindly dispensed.
The infirm and helpless men are located in ground-floor wards, under the superintendence of the Medical Offcers, while sick attendants are ever on the watch to administer to their necessities. Bath, Merlin, and other chairs are supplied for their use, and when deemed necessary by the Inspector, the helpless men are drawn out into the Park, by persons hired for the purpose.
A commodious piazza has lately been buit on the western side of the building, on the new ground, for the use of those who smoke tobacco.
Religious toleration Is strictly observed; and Catholics and others who dissent from the Established Church obtain permission to attend their respective places of worship.
NURSES
One hundred widows of Seamen and Royal Marines, are admitted as Nurses. These have charge of the linen and bedding in the Wards. They are not admissible over 45 years of age. Their provision allowances are the same as those of the Pensioners, and their wages, according to their duties, vary from £11. to £20. a-year; besides which they are allowed certain articles of clothing.
REVENUE
The Hospital is supported by its own property, with the exception of a grant from the Consolidated Fund in lieu of Merchant Seamens' Sixpenny Duty formerly paid to it. The income consists in the interest of funded capital; rents of estates in Northumberland and Durham; rent of property in Greenwich; a fourth of the commission on conveyance of freight in Her Majesty's ships; and receipts at the Painted Hall.