On May 1st, 1800 it was ordered that a penny a day Beer Money was to be paid to all N.C.O's and men in Barracks in Lieu of the Beer Ration granted in 1794. This allowance lasted in the case of N.C.O's until 1881 and for Privates until 1899. The original Beer Ration granted in 1794 was for a daily allowance of five pints of "small beer", which could be exchanged for three pints of "twelve shilling table beer". The small beer probably contained little alcohol, and the twelve shilling table beer would probably have cost twelve shillings a barrel. which would equate to roughly a penny a pint. If that was the case then their daily allowance was reduced by around two thirds.
Source; The History of The Royal Marines 1793-1836, the second of three volumes written by General Sir H E Blumberg tracing the history of the Royal Marines, and outlines the activity of the Marines Corps in the French Revolutionary Wars, The Two Napoleonic Wars, and the American War. As well as relating details of the battles, ships and personnel, aspects of the daily life of a Marine are revealed. In April 1802 King George II, in recognition of the conduct of the Marines in the French Revolutionary War, decreed that they should no longer be called “Corps of Marines” but be styled “The Royal Marines”. Finally the history deals with the years of Peace from 1816-1836 which incorporated much change in uniform design and administration of the Corps.
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