Secretary's Department (Royal Navy)

The Secretary's Department (also known as the Naval Department) was the department of the Admiralty which dealt with duties assigned to its several branches, as well as acting on matters referred to it from other Admiralty departments. Prior to 1877, and after 1882, it was headed by the Permanent Secretary to the Board of Admiralty. In the interim it was headed by the Naval Secretary to the Board of Admiralty.

Military Branch

1870.
1. Political Questions.—Correspondence, and Foreign Intelligence.
2. Ships in Commission:—Commissioning and Paying off, Leave to Ships' Crews.
3. Ships in Commission:—Movements of, at Home and Abroad, including H.M. Troop Ships.
4. Ships' Complements:— Establishing of.
5. Telegrams:—Receipt and Transmission of.
6. Supernumeraries:—Sending of to Foreign Stations in H.M. Ships.
7. Slave Trade.
8. Trade and Fisheries:—Protection of.
9. Surveying and Discovering Ships, and Expeditions.
10. Signals and Signal Books.
11. Despatches, Official:—Transmission of, to Foreign Stations.
12. Royal Family:—Movements of, including those in Packets.
13. Naval Force:—Returns of, including Monthly List.
14. Port Orders.
15. Piracy:—Suppression of.
16. Salutes.
17. Defences, Home and Colonial:—Reports on.
18. Passages of Diplomatic, Colonial, Military, and other Authorities—Orders for in Ships of War.
19. Blockades, Embargoes, Prizes, Military and Political Questions prior to Proceedings in Admiralty Courts.
20. War Operations.
21. Treasure:—Orders for Conveyance of.
22. Packet Service, Postal Arrangements.

1 January, 1880.
1. Political Correspondence.
2. Foreign Intelligence and Returns of Foreign Navies.
3. War Operations.
4. Defences, Home and Colonial.
5. Blockades, Embargoes, Prizes, Military and Political Questions prior to Proceedings in Admiralty Courts.
6. Slave Trade:—Prior to Proceedings in Admiralty Courts.
7. Piracy.—Suppression of.
8. Trade and Fisheries.—Protection of.
9. Surveying and Discovering Ships, and Expeditions, and Scientific Subjects generally.
10. Harbours and Light-houses.
11. Hydrographic Subjects, generally.
12. Signals and Signal Books.
13. Port or Station Orders.
14. Quarantine.
15. Salutes.
16. Ships in Commission—Commissioning and Paying off, Leave to Ships' Crews. Movements of, at Home and Abroad, and Daily Record of. Complements.
17. Naval Force:—Returns of, including Monthly List of Ships in Commission.
18. Royal Family:—Movements of.
19. Passages of Diplomatic, Colonial, Military, and other Authorities.—Orders for, in Ships of War or by Special Steamers.
20. Treasure:—Orders for Conveyance of.
21. Distressed British Subjects.
22. Postal Arrangements and Telegrams.
23. Permission to Foreigners to visit Naval Establishments.

June, 1888.
1. Political Correspondence.
2. Foreign Intelligence and Returns of Foreign Navies. Correspondence.
3. War Operations.
4. Defences, Home and Colonial.
5. Blockades, Embargoes, Prizes, Military and Political Questions prior to Proceedings in Admiralty Courts.
6. Piracy.—Suppression of.
7. Trade and Fisheries.—Protection of.
8. Surveying and Discovering Ships, and Expeditions, and Scientific Subjects generally.
9. Harbours and Light-houses.
10. Hydrographic Subjects, generally.
11. Signals and Signal Books.
12. Port or Station Orders.
13. Quarantine.
14. Salutes.
15. Ships in Commission—Commissioning and Paying off, Leave to Ships' Crews. Movements of, at Home and Abroad, and Daily Record of. Complements.
16. Naval Force:—Returns of, including Monthly List of Ships in Commission.
17. Royal Family:—Movements of.
18. Passages of Diplomatic, Colonial, Military, and other Authorities.—Orders for, in Ships of War or by Special Steamers.
19. Treasure:—Orders for Conveyance of.
20. Distressed British Subjects.
21. Postal Arrangements and Telegrams.
22. Permission to Foreigners to visit Naval Establishments.

August, 1902.
1. Ceremonies and Precedence.
2. Cipher and Word Telegraph Codes.
3. Defences.—Home and Colonial.—Correspondence.
4. Distressed British Subjects.
5. Fisheries—Protection of.
6. Foreign Intelligence, including Naval Attachés.—Correspondence.
7. Foreigners.—Permission to visit Naval Establishments.
8. Harbours and Lighthouses.—Correspondence.
9. Homing Pigeons.—Correspondence.
10. Hydrographic Subjects generally.—Correspondence.
11. International Maritime Law, Blockades, Convoy, Enemy Persons; also Contraband of War,* and Embargoes* prior to proceedings in Admiralty Courts.
12. Mobilisation and Naval Manœuvres.—Orders and Correspondence connected with.
13. Naval Brigades.—Royal Navy and Colonial.
14. Naval Force.—Returns of, including monthly list of Ships in Commission and Fleet Reserve.
15. Neutrality and Foreign Enlistment Act.—Questions connected with.
16. Passages in Ships of War for Diplomatic, Colonial, Military Officials, &c.
17. Piracy.—Suppression of.
18. Political Questions and Correspondence.
19. Port and Station Orders.
20. Postal Arrangements and Telegrams.
21. Praise.
22. Presents for Special Services, to Foreigners and Others.
23. Reviews.
24. Royal Family.—Movements of, and Ceremonies connected with.
25. Salutes.
26. Ships in Commission.—Complements, Commissioning and Paying-off, Leave to Ships' Crews, Movements of at Home and Abroad, and Daily Record.
27. Signals and Signal Books.
28. Standing Orders for Commanders-in-Chief, and Orders for Commanders-in-Chief on assuming Command.
Surveying and Discovery Ships and Expeditions and Scientific Subjects generally.—Correspondence.
30. Trade and Persons.—Protection of.
31. Treasure.—Orders for Conveyance of in Ships of War.
32. War Operations.—Correspondence and Telegrams.
* These subjects in time of War will be dealt with by L. Branch.

See Also

• Permanent Secretary to the Board of Admiralty