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a ship, and how they are connected; the nan es of the masts, yards, and sails, and how lower masts and yards are built; to make all the bends and hitches, and to know the purposes for which they are used; to know all the signal flags and pendants, and to paint them in a book. "Second Instruction.-Boat exercise, rowing, and sailing; to be able to pull an oar, to steer, and to understand the principles of managing a boat under different circumstances; to know the particular use of each signal flag and pendant, and be able readily to look out a signal in the signal-books; to be able to heave the log, and to calculate the length of the line for each knot.

"Third Instruction-Knotting and splicing; cutting out, fitting, placing, and setting up rigging; questions in the standing rigging; names and use of all the blocks in a ship.

Fourth Instruction-General principles of stowing holds and provisions; position and arrangement of all the stores; the general internal arrangement of a man-of-war; general principles of berthing, messing, watching, and stationing men; general duties of officers and petty officers with regard to the different parts of the ship..

"Fifth Instruction-Methods of setting, reefing, furling, shifting, and taking in sails, and making them up; shifting a topsail and a topgallant-yard, and a topgallant-mast; principles of securing the yards for hoisting in boats; to learn how all the ropes are led, and their use.

"Sixth Instruction.-Knowledge of the compass, hand and deep-sea leads, use of the helm, and the general princi ples of manoeuvring a ship; to know the names of the different parts of an anchor, and the gear used for stowing anchors; to understand the use of chain and hemp cables; the method of letting go and weighing an anchor, and passing messenger, nippers, and stoppers, and bending and bitting a cable, and the use of compressors; method of mooring and unmooring, keeping a ship clear of her anchor, also the method of clearing hawse; the effect of wind on the sails in turning the ship; the direction of pressure on the masts; the effect of altering the trim of the ship on the helm, and how she is balanced by the sails."

When it is considered that, in addition to all this, the cadets were likewise to learn drawing, and to attend lectures upon steam,

chemistry, astronomy, mechanics, and hydrostatics-not to mention the athletic exercises of the cutlassdrill, swimming, and gymnastics— and that the time allowed for the raw schoolboy to get through this programme was from six to twelve months; it may well be imagined what a process of "cram" it must have been, even to gain a superficial knowledge of such a variety of subjects, all previously unknown, and many perhaps even unheard of, by him; and how extremely improbable it was that learning thus preternaturally acquired could be afterwards retained. In fact, the Admiralty had overshot the mark, and had gone to the opposite extreme. In their laudable anxiety of the rocky Scylla of neglect, they to steer the educational bark clear had wellnigh swamped it in the Charybdis of excess. Not that the course of instruction was ill-calculated to the wants of the Navy—far from it; a better-digested scheme, one more suitable, could not have been planned; but the time allowed to get through it was far too limited.

least should have been passed in Two years at the very the training-ship, and even this would not have been sufficient to gain a satisfactory knowledge of all the subjects embraced in the above scheme of instruction. This is strikingly evidenced by an a secdote related in a very interesting pamphlet, written by Captain Harris, R.N., late in command of the Britannia, from which we have obtained the above sketch of the past history of naval education. Captain Harris relates that he 66 was much struck with a remark made by an Austrian professor, who had been sent by his Government to visit and report upon the system of training British cadets. After carefully investigating every part of the establishment, he asked, 'How many years were allowed for this course of study?' And the same question was asked by an intelligent Swedish captain, who had been at the head of their Naval College."

At the same time that the above

system was instituted, the final The arrangements of the Britanexamination of a midshipman for nia were excellent as far as they the rank of lieutenant was ex- went. There was abundant work tended so as to be in accordance to be done, and there was not much with the new course of instruction. fear that the boys would fall into The Illustrious, an old two-decker, mischief through lack of employwas the first training-ship estab- ment, at all events. But the period lished; but she was soon found to of training was still far too short, be too small for the purpose, and the and the principle upon which the Britannia was fitted to take her place. system was based is an erroneous In 1860 and 1861 the system one, as we will endeavour to show was modified to that now in force. presently. Moreover, the situation The age of entry into the Britannia of the Britannia was open to grave is now from twelve to fourteen; objections, moored as she was in the examination on entry is the Portsmouth barbour, within a stone's same as that above mentioned for throw of the dangers and temptaboys under fourteen years of age, tions of a seaport garrison-town. except that any foreign living lan- Every precaution was taken by guage may be substituted for Latin the gallant officer in command to or French, the Euclid is reduced to keep the lads clear of the snares the definitions only of the first book, which surrounded them, and he was and no algebra is required. The zealously seconded by the staff of course of instruction is now uniform officers and instructors under his -twelve months; general quarterly orders: in fact, it may without fear examinations are held, and those of contradiction be said, that in no cadets who do not exhibit satisfac- public school in the country are the tory progress, or whose bad con- boys more carefully looked after duct shows them to be unsuited to than on board the Britannia. But the service, are reported to the Ad- it was felt, nevertheless, that Portsmiralty with a view to being dis- mouth harbour was not a desirable missed. At the completion of the situation (morally speaking) for a year's instruction, the cadet under- ship full of young lads; and the goes an examination, as before, on Admiralty, taking advantage of leaving the training-ship. The full some cases of fever which had ocnumber of marks obtainable at this curred, and which had caused a examination is 3000; and if he good deal of unfounded alarm in gains 2100, he gets a first-class certi- the mind of the public, sent the ficate, which entitles him at once to Britannia to Portland Roads as her the rating of midshipman, and gives future station, and since then she him a year's sea-time. 1500 num- has been again moved to Dartbers give a second-class certificate, mouth. And although the close with six months' sca-time: in this vicinity of a first-class dockyard case the cadet must serve six months is a thing very desirable, for the as such before he can be rated purpose of practical instruction midshipman, for which he must in many subjects which cannot be pass a further examination. A so well studied elsewhere, yet we third-class certificate requires 1200 think, under the circumstances, the numbers: this gives no sea-time, removal of the Britannia from Portsand the cadet must serve twelve mouth Harbour was a very judicious months before he is eligible to pass and proper measure. his examination for a midshipman s rating. If he obtains less than 1200 marks, he is discharged as unqualified for the service. Prizes and distinctive badges are also awarded for good conduct and proficiency in studies.

We have seen that in 1837 the Royal Naval College was closed as such for the education of volunteers

as naval cadets were then called. It was reopened two years afterwards upon a totally different footing, and for a different purpose;

but previously to this another institution had been established, which has proved of inestimable benefit to the Navy, and has fully borne out the wise provision of its originators. It was determined in 1832 to provide for a want which had been very much felt throughout the service during the great war-viz., a uniform and comprehensive system of gunnery. For this purpose the Excellent was commissioned by Captain (afterwards Sir Thomas) Hastings, as a training-ship for officers and seamen in a regular course of gunnery instruction. The peculiar conformation of Portsmouth harbour rendered it a most advantageous situation for the gunnery - ship; and, moored head and stern in a creek at the north end of the dockyard, completely out of the way of the traffic in the harbour, with a practice-range of three miles dry at low water, the Excellent has for thirty-two years admirably fulfilled her destined purposes; and, under the command of Sir Thomas Hastings, and his able successors, has trained annually a large body of officers and men, who are, when properly qualified, sent into the different ships of the fleet to in struct the ships' companies in the various drills, and so disseminate one general system. Among the many defects which the want of proper organisation has created in our naval service, it is a great satisfaction to be able to turn to an establishment which is deserving only of praise.

When the Excellent was instituted, it was determined to instruct the officers in the theory as well as the practice of gunnery. The utter want of mathematical knowledge possessed by all save the few who had been collegians, made it necessary to include a course of mathematics in the scheme of instruction; and as nearly every subject bearing upon the science of gunnery was likewise included, the long course," as it was called, which an officer had to go through,

went far to make up for the neglect of his earlier education. Too much praise cannot be awarded to Sir Thomas Hastings and those who framed the course of instruction on board the Excellent. They felt the reproach upon their profession arising from the want of a proper educational system, and the serious inconveniences resulting therefrom; and if they could not reform the system at the root, where it was most required, they could now do somewhat to indemnify the service, and to make amends for the deficiencies of the Admiralty.

The stimulus thus administered was not without its result in another manner. In 1839 the College was reopened for the purpose of affording instruction to commissioned officers in scientific subjects; and as this establishment has been carried on to the present day upon the same footing, it requires specia consideration. The building is the same as that before used for the volunteers, the cabins formerly occupied by them being now allotted to the officers studying. The establishment was placed under the general superintendence of the captain of the Excellent, but the immediate charge of the studies was assigned to a Professor. To this important office the Rev. Thomas Main was appointed, a gentleman not only himself highly distinguished for his mathematical attainments having been senior wrangler of his year-but who belonged to a very talented family, his brother, the Rev. Robert Main, for many years first assistant at Greenwich Observatory, being now Radcliffe Observer at Oxford. To assist the Professor were Mr. Jeans, mathematical master, who had long been associated with the College in its former existence as assistant to Dr. Inman, and who is well known as the author of a series of excellent works on navigation and nautical astronomy; and Mr. Brown, chief engineer, who was appointed as instructor in steam-machinery, and has for many years most admir

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ably filled this office. A captain of the Royal Marine Artillery was likewise attached to the College as instructor in fortification and mechanical drawing for the young Marine officers who came there to go through a course of study to qualify for the Marine Artillery. A lecturer on chemistry completed the staff of in

structors.

Accommodation was provided for twenty-five half-pay officers-captains, commanders, and lieutenants -who were, of course, admitted free of all expense for instruction, and had also sundry allowances for messing, so that a small monthly subscription in addition was all that was required. A certain number of mates on full pay were likewise admitted, for whom a special course of study was instituted, and a lieutenant's commission was awarded to him who, at the sixmonthly examinations, showed the highest degree of proficiency. But a curious regulation was made: that every mate wishing to join the College for study should first go through the course on board the Excellent; therefore every one desiring to compete for the lieutenant's commission was compelled, whether he wished it or no, to become a gunnery officer. No doubt the course of study required in the Excellent was a valuable groundwork for the more abstruse and laborious subjects that lay before them at the College, and in most cases the mates were only too glad to take advantage of such a preparatory school; but there were occasional instances when an officer of true mathematical genius had attained a degree of proficiency which would have enabled him to enter the lists at once had he been permitted; and in such cases-rare, certainly, but the more important on that very account-it was unnecessary and impolitic to compel him to go through the drudgery of the various drills, because he wished to follow up his scientific inclinations. It would have been better, because it would have manifested a

more liberal tendency, had it been left to the option of the officers themselves as to whether they chose to go through the Excellent or not; and an examination on joining the College would have prevented any from entering, who were not possessed of sufficient attainments, and who, therefore, might be supposed to join only for the sake of convenience. This is perhaps hypercriticism, however; for certainly, notwithstanding the above obligation, no measure was ever adopted calculated to do more good to the personnel of the service than this competition for the lieutenant's commission. In the earlier years of this arrangement, when the lieutenant's step was most difficult of attainment, and officers were frequently ten, twelve, and fourteen years a mate, the prize was of very great value, and the numbers competing were generally full. But when, in later years, matters became altered, and officers obtained their lieutenancy, in the regular course of things, after only a year or two in the mate's rank, there was no longer any inducement for them to go through the severe course of study at the College; it was only those for whom scientific pursuits had a special charm who then cared to join the establishment; and for the last few years there have been no mates-or sub-lieutenants, as they are now called-going through this course of study. Although it is greatly for the benefit of the service that the promotion to the rank of lieutenant is made more rapid than it was formerly, yet it is to be regretted that some other arrangements were not made, and inducements offered, by which, either as sublieutenant or lieutenant, officers should still find encouragement to go through this course; for the system of study for the half-pay officers is of quite a different nature, we shall presently see. The papers set at the mates' examinations were very difficult, considering the time allowed to go

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through the course. They required a considerable knowledge of the higher branches of pure and mixed mathematics; and the problems in the Calculus, in astronomy, and in mechanics, &c., were such as might be met with in the Cambridge examination papers. In fact, the successful competitor for the lieutenant's commission and his closest rivals had to go through a twelvemonth's hard work, such as is known only to Cambridge wranglers; and instances occasionally occurred of the health of a candidate breaking down under the strain. It may well be supposed that the gainer of the commission held a proud position among his compeers; and it may with equal justice be presumed that the greater part of these successful officers, and of those also who strove and in many cases ran a close race-with them for the prize, are now among the most distinguished ornaments of their profession.

For the half-pay officers there was no particular course of study specified, but each individual was at liberty to follow up any subject for which he had an inclination. The time allowed at the College was a clear year's study-exclusive of vacations and officers were permitted to join once in each rank. There are many officers in the service who have taken advantage of this permission; and there are some who have studied at the College as mate, lieutenant, commander, and captain successively.

When, steam-vessels came into general use in the Navy, it was considered very desirable that the officers who might be appointed to command them should qualify themselves for this special service -as it then was-by acquiring a practical knowledge of the working of the steam-engine. Accordingly, they were encouraged to go to Woolwich Dockyard, which was at that time our only naval steam-factory, where an instructor was appointed and facilities were afforded for that purpose. Others studied the subject at various private fac

tories, the owners of which, in the most public-spirited manner, gave them every assistance in carrying out their object; one of these establishments, to which many officers repaired, being that of the Messrs Napier of Glasgow. Some officers, anxious to gain a thorough knowledge of the subject, did not disdain to wear the mechanic's apron and work at the lathe, or to take their turn in the stoke-hole and engineroom on board some steamer. In those days the command of a steamvessel was only given to those who had gone through a course of instruction in steam-machinery; and many officers who had failed to obtain employment in the ordinary course of matters, sncceeded in doing so by this means. When the College was established upon its present footing, the instruction of officers in steam was naturally included in the arrangements; and a small steamer, the Bee, of ten horse-power, was built for that purpose, and attached to the College, Mr. Brown being appointed engineer of her. By degrees, as steam-vessels gradually became the rule of the service and sailing-ships the exception, so the number of officers desiring to qualify themselves in steam increased; and now the greater part of the captains and commanders on the active lists have obtained certificates of having passed through the steam course. After the factory was established in Portsmouth Dockyard, and it shared with Woolwich the work of the steam navy, the many advantages which the College possessed caused officers wishing to study steam to go there in preference, and in time the Woolwich course practically ceased.

Having now brought the subject of naval education down to that of the present day, it remains to be considered as to how it answers the requirements of the service.

According to the present arrangement, a young lad goes to sea from the training-ship from thirteen to fifteen years of age, having learnt

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