Chapter 5 THE "BRITANNIA" IN THE 'SEVENTIES.

Mr. Inskip Departs-His Statistical Diagram-Vindication of Britannia-Final Examinations a True Test-A "Facer" for the Old Salts-Mr. Inskip Triumphant-Captain Warry's Recollections-Lieutenants' Duties Ill-defined-"Goose" Dinners-Fighting by Authority-The Dapper-The Ariadne-A Tragic Incident-A Plucky Boatswain-The Ariadne Abolished-A Possible Explanation-Mr. Knapp Resigns-An Unexpected Successor-A Generous Appreciation-Committee of Enquiry-Recommends Abolition of Competition-An Academic Proposal-Unanimity of Cadets-Admiral Ryder's Evidence-Dr.

Woolley's Evidence-A Plausible Contention-New Regulations-French at a Discount-Site for a College-Dartmouth Recommended-A Dissatisfied Parent-The Britannia in Parliament-The Royal Cadets-Lieutenant Mainwaring-Beagles Started-The Grave of "Jim"-A Phenomenal Admission-Britannia Regulations-The Officer of the Day-The Cadet Captains-No "Hampers" Allowed-Punishments-A Drastic Health Regulation-Captains in the 'Seventies-Statistical Results.

READING OFF THE SEXTANT.

THE decade included in the 'seventies is somewhat bare of incident as compared with its predecessor.

The first event of importance was the departure of the Rev. R. M. Inskip, in 1871, after being connected with the institution for over thirteen years. The keen interest which this gentleman took in his work has before been referred to; and it is well illustrated by a very elaborate diagram which he prepared, and which, together with some explanatory notes, is now in the possession of his brother, Captain G. H. Inskip, R.N., of Plymouth.

Mr. Inskip, always intensely solicitous for the proper advancement of his late pupils in the service, conceived the idea of constructing a diagram from which, in conjunction with an alphabetical list of the names of all the cadets included in the period under consideration, it could be seen at a glance what class any individual took when passing out of the Britannia, and how he fared afterwards up to the time of passing for sub-lieutenant, and in some cases beyond this.

The heads under which this information is imparted are as follows: Died; Left the service; Passed for sub-lieutenant at the proper time; Lost time; Class obtained when passing for sub-lieutenant; Promotion for passing well, and all distinctions obtained, including the Royal Humane Society's medal, the Beaufort Testimonial, etc.

This remarkable diagram, containing particulars concerning all cadets who passed out of the training-ship from 1858 to 1871, is far too cumbrous to be reproduced in this volume; but, in an explanatory paper printed in 1875, the author sets forth the object he has in view, as follows:-

The Navy being the right arm of our national defence, it will be satisfactory to those who take an interest in the welfare and efficiency of the young officers who are in future to command our ships and fleets, to be enabled to form some correct idea as to what extent the cadets sent out from the training ship since her first establishment have maintained the classification assigned them on leaving-that is, whether on passing their examinations for sub-lieutenant they have or have not kept the position they were considered to merit, as indicated by the certificates originally awarded them.

Mr. Inskip then proceeds to a minute analysis on these lines, with regard to the cadets who passed out up to December, 1868, and who would have been qualified by age and servitude to pass for sub-lieutenant by June, 1874; the total number under consideration being 1,606. Not content with a general analysis, he institutes a comparison between the first four in the first class, the first and last four in the second class, and the last four in the third class, in each year's examinations out of the Britannia; in other words, the best, medium, and worst results of the training.

With his diagram-measuring nearly six feet in length-spread out beside him, he embarks upon an elaborate and convincing vindication of his beloved Britannia-for this is what it amounts to-and there is no getting away from his figures. Without reproducing the tables, which are rather numerous and complex, it is interesting to note that the following facts are clearly established:-

Left the Service as Cadets or Midshipmen.

1st class 7·8 per cent.

2nd class 14·3 per cent.

3rd class 27·4 per cent.

Attained the Rank of Sub-Lieutenant.

1st class 88·1 per cent.

2nd class 82·7 per cent.

3rd class 69·6 per cent.

Passed Sub-Lieutenant's Examination at the Proper Time (all Classes).

Period from 1858 to 1863 61·9 per cent.

Period from 1864 to 1868 70·3 per cent.

Selected Examples.

Passed at the proper time. Obtained 1st class at College. Promoted for passing examination.

First four of 1st class 88·1 per cent. 26·2 per cent. 15·1 per cent.

First four of 2nd class 74·4 per cent. 4·2 per cent. 1·9 per cent.

Last four of 2nd class 56·4 per cent. 0·0 per cent. 0·0 per cent.

Last four of 3rd class 44·7 per cent. 0·0 per cent. 0·0 per cent.

Obtained First Class on Passing for Sub-Lieutenant.

Britannia. Seamanship. Gunnery. Navigation.

1st class 51·2 per cent. 36·8 per cent. 14·7 per cent.

2nd class 28·7 per cent. 10·1 per cent. 2·2 per cent.

3rd class 17·5 per cent. 2·6 per cent. 0·0 per cent.

Comparison of Selected Examples.

Britannia. Seamanship. Gunnery. Navigation.

First four, 1st class

First four, 2nd class 9·0 per cent. 8·1 per cent. 8·2 per cent.

Above average of class

Last four, 2nd class 7·6 per cent. 4·8 per cent. 2·2 per cent.

Last four, 3rd class 7·0 per cent. 1·3 per cent. -

Below average of class

From these and similar data Mr. Inskip draws the following perfectly justifiable deductions:-

(1) Assuming that the ability of a midshipman to pass his examinations for sub-lieutenant the moment his time is served may be considered as evidence of proficiency, it is seen that in this respect each class has maintained its relative position with regard to original classification.

(2) That the comparison of selections with whole classes shows that the original certificates were distributed on an equitable scale, or strictly in accordance with merit.

(3) That this argument is confirmed by the general results of the final examinations for sub-lieutenants.

In connection with this, he makes a very good point; speaking of the seamanship examinations for sub-lieutenant, he says: "The certificates awarded may be taken as the collective opinion of all the captains who have been actively employed during the past eleven or twelve years, and we find that of the midshipmen sent from the training ship with first-class certificates, no fewer than 51·2 per cent. have been considered to merit first-class certificates; of the seconds, 28·7 per cent.; and of the thirds, 17·5 per cent."

This was rather a "facer" for the captains-and there were not a few-who held that the Britannia training was useless, or worse than useless, in regard to seamanship.

"The evidence given above," continues Mr. Inskip, "abundantly proves that each original class falls into its natural place at the final examinations, from which fact we can only infer that unless the original certificates had been awarded with the utmost care, and a scrupulous regard to the individual merits of each cadet, a coincidence so remarkable could not have occurred."

In his final summing up Mr. Inskip says:-

"Having now shown that the young officers have maintained their original classification up to the time of passing their final examinations for sub-lieutenant, we may allude to the opinions entertained in some quarters respecting the education of the cadets: it having been asserted that their knowledge was of a superficial character, and that when they first joined a sea-going ship they were deficient in many branches of study relating to their profession. * * * It was shown by examinations held in the Flying and Detached Squadrons (some years ago) that the knowledge of the midshipmen was inversely as the time elapsed since leaving the training-ship, the seniors as a body standing at the bottom. (Report of the Rev. J. B. Harbord, M.A., Inspector of Naval Schools.) This state of education at sea may in some measure be accounted for by the fact that in many ships no attempt had been made to keep up any subject but navigation, the others not being given at the final examination; it proves, however, that the younger officers possessed the most information, and among these were included all who had recently left the training ship; and it also removes any just reason for asserting that they had learnt but little while there."

In such fashion does this champion wield his statistics in defence of the institution which he had such a large share in starting; and it must be admitted that anyone who wished to refute his arguments would have a very tough task; though he lays himself open to the reply, that a clever or industrious cadet would in all probability turn out a clever and industrious midshipman or sub-lieutenant. This, however, only touches a portion of the case; his contention that the training ship was satisfactorily fulfilling its object is fully borne out.

It will be observed that this diagram, and the arguments based on it, are completed and printed in 1875, four years after Mr. Inskip retired; so he must have employed his leisure time in compiling these statistics after he had practically severed his connection with the Service.

An officer who was first lieutenant of the Britannia during the early seventies-Captain A. W. Warry-gives his impressions of the ship at that time as follows:-

"I joined on January 22nd, 1870. The boys had not returned, and I had time to look round. The new ship had not been long at Dartmouth-a year or so-and was certainly a great improvement on what the old Black Sea flagship must have been. Captain John Corbett had, I understood, been appointed to the command with a view of establishing a milder rule than prevailed in Captain Randolph's time, when I believe there was a good deal of corporal punishment. There was none in Captain Corbett's time, nor has there, I believe, been any since. There did not seem much for the three lieutenants to do. We took alternate day duty, and on these days heard and dealt with minor offences, or remanded them for the commander next morning. We attended at meals, looked round the seamanship classes, saw to the boys going and returning from recreation, received any applications and went the rounds, etc. As first lieutenant I had a more special supervision of the seamanship classes and periodical examinations. I also had the superintendence of the games and recreations, and was entitled to draw on the cadet fund for any requirements for them. Everybody who has been in any way connected with the Britannia must have felt the great inconvenience and waste of time in going and returning from recreation; a lumbering old pinnace was used; I trust some quicker mode of transit has since been adopted. The air on the sleeping decks, when the boys were turned in, was, I thought, far from being as pure as was needful; nor did it appear to me that, situated as the ships were in a narrow tidal river with high land on either side, the general state of the atmosphere was sufficiently bracing. The studies were as good as circumstances would admit, but at best a ship is a noisy place, and the partitions were far from sound-proof. A college on shore was constantly spoken of, and it seems strange that upwards of thirty years have elapsed since then, and this great need is only yet under construction. The question of "bounds" was always a source of trouble and constant punishment, for any extension of a walk beyond these was an offence; and Corporal McEwen had a disagreeable knack of turning up at most inopportune moments from behind some hedge, and pouncing on the youthful offenders.

"Previous to my time I heard that "goose dinners" (four to a goose) were provided at a farmhouse in the direction of Dittisham, at 2s. 6d. per head. Beer, too, was provided, the effect of which led to its discovery, and a more rigid institution of bounds. The cadets could not land on the Kingswear side unless with an officer in charge, so on Sunday afternoons I frequently got a lot to join me in a walk, which they liked. In this way I got into closer conversation, and it is my pleasant recollection of the boys generally that they were a delightful lot of little chaps, with whom it was a pleasure to be brought into contact. Fighting occasionally took place beside the rocks in the field above the cricket ground. Permission was asked, and if granted the fight was carried out in due form under the cadet captains. I never heard of any bad result, though I am not sure that it would not be better to try and avoid it.

"On January 24th, 1871, I took command of the Dapper. Occasionally in the fine weather I took the senior classes outside the harbour and cruised for the afternoon under sail. Dinner was served as we steamed out, but any motion outside caused sea-sickness, which interfered with the interest in the work. More often the Dapper was employed in going to Plymouth for stores, etc. Twice in my summer we had a general picnic, to Slapton Lee and Salcombe Harbour; both were very successful.

"During my time there was no bullying to speak of; the boys were happy, and used to say they liked the Britannia much better than their former schools; the food, they all agreed was excellent."

The Dapper, alluded to above, was one of the old 60-horse-power gunboats, built during the war in China, 1857 to 1860; she was rigged as a barque for instructional purposes, but apparently was not very freely used; and, indeed, a craft of that size and build would be so exceedingly lively in the slightest approach to a sea-way, that inexperienced lads would not be able to "lay out" on her small spars with much advantage, or without a certain amount of danger.

THE "ARIADNE" DISASTER, MARCH 8, 1872 (p. 91).

Her consort, the Ariadne-to which the officers and crew of the Bristol were turned over after a short time-was, however, a very fine frigate, and performed good service as a sea-going training-ship, making voyages to the Cape, Madeira, the Azores, etc., so that the youngsters saw "blue water" in abundance, and even made old Neptune's acquaintance in crossing the line. Those who served in her maintain that she fulfilled her purpose admirably; and no one could doubt that, after passing through the Britannia and spending the best part of a year at sea in this manner, a lad of ordinary capacity must be of considerable value as an officer in his first regular man-of-war.

There was a very tragic incident during one of the Ariadne's cruises early in 1872. She was bound for the Mediterranean, and one morning, while under sail off Cape Finisterre, the hands were turned up about 7 a.m. to reef topsails, the wind rising rapidly with an ugly sea. A man fell overboard from the main-topgallant yard, and the second cutter, a ten-oared boat, was immediately manned, as is customary under such circumstances, at the davits, and, in spite of the heavy sea, was safely lowered and pulled for the man, who had got hold of the lifebuoy. Sub-Lieutenants Jukes and Talbot both sprang into the boat when she was being manned, vying with each other in being first at the post of danger. It was immediately decided to get up steam, which, however, took three hours or more, and the cutter being compelled for safety's sake to head the sea, while the ship drifted to leeward, they were separated by about four miles by the time the ship commenced to steam to windward.

As she neared the boat the latter was turned round in order to steer alongside, and was immediately caught on the broadside by two heavy seas, the first of which filled her with water, while the second capsized her, all the crew being thrown out. Some got hold of oars, while others held on to the boat.

The first cutter was immediately manned, Lieutenant Bromley and Mr. Egerton, midshipman, jumping into her; but ill-luck attended this attempt at a rescue, as the boat, when being lowered, was lifted by a sea, and one tackle came unhooked, leaving her dangling by one end. All managed, however, to get safely on board, except one seaman, who was unfortunately drowned.

Meanwhile, men slung over the side were doing their utmost to get hold of the crew of the second cutter, and everything handy that would float was thrown to them; the ship, however, could not be kept up to the wind, and dropped once more to leeward. Half an hour elapsed before she could regain her position, and then it was quickly apparent that only a few of the unfortunate crew of the cutter had been able to hold on; two were clinging to the bottom of the boat and two or three to the floating gear. The ship stopped close to windward and gradually dropped down; the two men on the boat managed to get safely on board; one man who had secured himself to two oars floated close to the stern of the ship, and Mr. Ellis, boatswain, made a gallant attempt to save him, going overboard with a rope round him. He seized the poor fellow's flannel singlet, the only garment he had on, but the ship lifted away from them, dragging both out of the water, the flannel, alas! giving way, and the huge hull of the frigate, reeling back again and plunging downwards, caught them both under the flat of the counter. The gallant boatswain was dragged on board insensible, but the man he had risked his life to save had disappeared.

The sad death-roll included the two sub-lieutenants and eight men from the second cutter and one man from the first cutter, both boats being lost.

Mr. Ellis had been specially promoted to boatswain for his coolness and courage when the ill-fated Captain went down, he being one of the few who got on shore in the launch, steering the boat with great skill in a heavy sea.

It is remarkable that at this period there were two sea-going training ships for naval cadets, the Trafalgar-the same vessel which escorted the Britannia on her voyage to Portland in 1862-having been commissioned in August, 1870, by Captain Thomas B. Lethbridge for this purpose. She did not, however, make such long voyages as the Ariadne, and her headquarters were at Portland. This vessel was only kept going a short two years, for in June, 1872, she was paid off, thus foreshadowing the subsequent disappearance of her consort, a year later.

The Ariadne, of which Captain the Hon. W. C. Carpenter was in command, with Commander Robert Woodward as his senior executive, was abolished in 1873. On January 6th of that year a new Admiralty circular was promulgated, containing some slight amendments in the regulations with regard to naval cadets-among others, increasing the maximum age on entry from 13 to 13? years-and a brief clause cancelling the orders concerning a sea-going training-ship. The Ariadne completed her cruise and was paid off in the summer. It is not easy to account for this apparent caprice on the part of the authorities; it was not until considerably over twenty years afterwards that sail instruction was finally abolished in the Britannia, and many rigged vessels were in commission long after 1873.

There was a whisper at the time-to be accepted, perhaps, cum grano salis-that a certain "sea lord," whose son had failed to negotiate his final examination as cadet, had formed the opinion, on these somewhat slender premisses, that the ship was "no good," and that he was mainly instrumental in bringing about the change. This may be a fabrication, but, on the other hand, it may be perfectly true; for it is quite certain that stranger things than this have come to pass in the "Navy trade," and at later dates than the 'seventies.

Mr. Inskip was succeeded as Chief Naval Instructor by Mr. Kempster Knapp, who, however, did not hold the post very long, ill-health compelling him to resign in 1875, and the appointment of his successor, in April of that year, caused no small commotion among naval instructors in the Britannia and elsewhere.

For some reason the Admiralty decided to go outside the Service in seeking a suitable man, and the gentleman selected for the post was the Rev. J. C. P. Aldous, who had never had anything to do with the Navy, and was a much younger man than some of those over whom he was called upon to exercise a certain authority, and to whose advice and guidance he had nevertheless to look in the discharge of his duties. Whatever motive the authorities had for this unusual step, it might very well have caused incalculable mischief; they must, however, be accorded credit for considerable insight in their selection, for Mr. A. C. Johnson, one of those over whose heads he was placed-the very man, in fact, who might reasonably have expected promotion to the post-writes thus of him:-"Fortunately, he was a man of estimable character and good sense, so that there was little or no friction between him and the naval instructors and others," which is at once a generous appreciation and a high meed of praise to Mr. Aldous.

REV. J. C. P. ALDOUS.

Photo: Smale & Son, Dartmouth.

Possibly the introduction of "new blood" in the naval instructor's department was the outcome of an inquiry which was held in 1874. It is not quite clear on whose representation the Admiralty took this step, but an inquiry certainly took place by a committee appointed by the Admiralty, and composed as follows:-

Rear-Admiral E. B. Rice.

Captain the Hon. W. C. Carpenter.

Rev. H. A. Morgan, M.A.

Captain Wm. Graham.

Rev. Osborne Gordon, B.D.

Geo. Busk, Esq., F.R.S., F.R.C.S.

Jas. Vaughan, Esq., R.N.

The Lords of the Admiralty addressed to each member of the committee the following memorandum:-

A question has arisen as to whether the conditions under which naval cadets are trained on board H.M.S. Britannia are favourable to their health and physical development. Their lordships are desirous that this matter should be investigated by a committee, and your attention is drawn to the following special points:-

I. (a) The effect of confinement on board a stationary ship.

(b) Ventilation.

(c) Sleeping arrangements.

(d) Diet.

II. (a) The course of study as regards the subjects, the number of hours, and the routine.

(b) The nature of the examinations, including that of entry.

Under I., heads a, b, c, d, the committee report most favourably, and have no improvements to suggest, nor is this at all surprising, since the number of entries had fallen from 131 in 1869 to an average of 62 in the five following years, and there should certainly have been no difficulty in providing adequate cubic space and ventilation in the two large vessels for numbers not exceeding 100.

Under II., however, the committee have something to say. They consider that the hours of study are by no means excessive, but they recommend that the midday interval for dinner, etc., be increased from fifty minutes to an hour and a quarter at least in summer, as it is injurious to proceed to study so soon after a full meal. They consider that the brains of the cadets are overtaxed more by the number of subjects than by the length of hours, and recommend the abolition of the following subjects of examination: Grammar, literature, history, Scripture history, physical geography, physics, and the introduction of Latin. A very drastic measure, and, with the exception of the introduction of Latin, too utilitarian, perhaps, in its tendency as compared with accepted ideas in schools of that period. A boy on joining the Britannia after a year or so of special study under a "crammer" to enable him to pass the entry examination, certainly could not be said to have even approximately completed his education in general subjects.

MR. A. C. JOHNSON, NAVAL INSTRUCTOR.

Photo: Smale & Son, Dartmouth.

However, the committee had a still more important recommendation in connection with examinations, for they held that the competitive examination on entry was "hurtful to the boys and injurious to the Service," and urged the substitution of a qualifying examination forthwith.

Here they probably had the whole Service with them; for, as has been pointed out, there could be no valid reason for the introduction of competition in 1869, no one could seriously maintain that the most suitable boys would be thereby obtained for the Service, and only one witness has much to say for it, having been partly instrumental in introducing it.

Before going to Dartmouth the committee visited the Royal Naval School at New Cross, the Greenwich Hospital School, and Eton College, and they found the physique of the cadets rather superior, age for age, to that of the boys in these schools.

The head of the Naval Medical Department had evidently been making strong representations about the Britannia, and his evidence is rather that of a faddist who is determined that nothing can be right about the ship or the place. Certain figures on which he had partially based his objections were found to be erroneous, and this was pointed out to him, but he stuck manfully to his guns notwithstanding.

The committee found that the cadets excel in manly sports, and more than hold their own in cricket against school elevens of older boys.

Constant reference is made to the desirability of having a college on shore, and most of the witnesses are in favour of it, while a few, rather of the "old sea-dog" type, advocate sending boys straight to sea without any previous training.

The recommendation of the committee is that the cadets spend three years in the college, broken by two trips in a sea-going training ship.

Their reason for recommending the introduction of Latin is that by giving a few hours a week to it an intelligent boy, reasonably well grounded on entry, would at the age of fifteen be able to read C?sar, Horace, and Virgil without effort, and that this would be a source of pleasure to him in after years; but this appears to be a purely academic and unpractical view; it might apply to a boy here and there, but certainly not to the generality, and some better reason is needed for its introduction.

One of the recommendations of the committee has been tardily adopted in the last year or so, viz. the institution of a board by whom all candidates should be approved before being permitted to undergo the examination; they think that defects which are not discoverable by an educational test might be patent to such a committee.

CAPTAIN THE HON. F. A. C. FOLEY.

Photo: Smale & Son, Dartmouth.

Captain Foley, who was appointed in August, 1871, appears to have set about improving the sanitary condition of the ship in a very thorough fashion, and not before it was needed. By clearing out the ballast in some places, and by a rearrangement of the structure of the bilges, he had arrived at a very satisfactory result, which is highly approved by the committee.

The seven or eight cadets who are examined are practically unanimous in their views.

They found they were "seedy" after the strain of grinding for the competitive examination, and felt very tired every day while it was going on.

They were not tired or seedy on board the Britannia.

They preferred a hammock to a bed.

They did not like the idea of a college on shore.

They found the food very good, and liked the ship much better than their former schools.

One of them was asked,

"How would you like to be put into a house on the top of that hill?"

"Not at all."

"You think you would feel like a schoolboy?"

"Yes."

"And now you feel like an officer in her Majesty's service?"

"Yes."

This question was put, no doubt, on account of the view, expressed by two witnesses, that it was a bad thing to have a training ship, as the boy's first acquaintance with a captain would place him, to them, in the light of a schoolmaster; but this is surely a fantastic idea, and one which no one who has been through the Britannia would endorse. "The captain" is always a distinct and novel personality to them, while the naval instructor is as distinctly a schoolmaster.

The evidence of Admiral A. P. Ryder was very interesting. He was well known in his time as a good mathematician, and his views in regard to the examination papers were characteristic. He did not see anything in them to frighten anybody, especially as many of the questions which appeared difficult for boys of this age were in reality based on what was learnt in the text-books in use.

The most instructive part of his evidence, however, was in connection with the establishment and maintenance of a training ship or college. He was of opinion that the need of a training institution of some kind arose in great measure from the fact that, after the abolition of the college course in 1837, a very large percentage of young officers came to no good, either voluntarily or involuntarily leaving the Service; and he quotes some of Mr. Inskip's figures in support of the view that a very great improvement has ensued in this respect after the institution of the Illustrious and Britannia. Furthermore, he related how, when he was private secretary to the First Lord-the Duke of Somerset-in 1863, a letter was addressed to every captain then serving, or who had been serving within six months, asking for their opinions, as follows:-

Are you in favour of a naval educational establishment, or should boys go straight to sea?

Thirty-nine were in favour of it, and two against it; thirteen did not reply.

Shall it be on shore, or afloat?

The captains were only asked for a reply to this in case they had any decided view; twenty-four were in favour of a college, and one only of a ship: the remainder did not reply.

It will be realised from this that the fate of the Britannia hung in the balance in 1863; and it is quite probable that the Duke of Somerset counted on an adverse decision, or at any rate on a majority upon which he could act.

Several witnesses alleged that the cadets, when they went to sea, had to begin at the beginning, both in seamanship and other subjects; and this, no doubt, is what Mr. Inskip alludes to in his final remarks, above quoted.

There is abundance of contrary evidence, however, in letters already quoted; and the captains and naval instructors who had this experience must surely have been exceptionally unfortunate in the youngsters sent to them.

Dr. Woolley, late Director of Naval Education, stated that in 1868 the examinations on board the Britannia, which had until then been conducted by the staff of the ship, were undertaken by his department: a far more satisfactory arrangement, one would imagine, for all concerned. Dr. Woolley, while as reticent as the committee would permit him to be, distinctly gave the impression that the examinations failed in some degree as a true test, in consequence of the examiners knowing too much about the capabilities of individuals; and though he repeatedly disavowed any implication of unfairness, he pointed out, with some show of justice, that where the answers to a paper were below what might have been expected of the individual, there was a tendency to give him a lift if possible.

This contention, though plausible on the surface, is, however, greatly discounted by Mr. Inskip's figures, already quoted, which show that the cadets retained their relative places in subsequent examinations with quite remarkable regularity; and it is all to the credit of the instructors on board the Britannia that, although called upon to conduct an important examination of their own pupils, they should have arrived at a result so obviously just. The papers were, it is true, distinguished only by numbers, the key to which was held by the captain until the examination was over; but this would, in the majority of instances, prove but a flimsy disguise.

He also made the somewhat disturbing statement that the discipline was not satisfactory, and that a considerable number of cadets had misbehaved, or wilfully done badly in the examinations, in order to obtain their discharge from the Service.

The committee presented their report on October 6th, 1874, and in February of the following year a new circular appeared, commendably brief as compared with the last one of importance.

The whole machinery of competition is wiped out, and a qualifying test substituted as follows:-

Marks.

Writing English legibly from dictation 100

Reading English intelligently, parsing, etc. 100

Arithmetic: Proportion, and vulgar and decimal fractions 200

Latin: reading, translating, and parsing, and to render English into Latin 200

French: reading, translating, and parsing; or, as an alternative, modern geography 100

Scripture history 100

Total 800

Four-tenths of the total marks to be obtained in each subject, 320 marks in the aggregate.

The recommendations of the committee bear fruit in the prominence accorded to Latin; but they did not stipulate for the relegation of French to the background, which is rather a surprising step, considering the relative importance of the two languages to a naval officer, who may not unfrequently find himself deputed to deliver complimentary messages to the captain of a French ship. He may get safely through the little sentence he has prepared, in which his captain or admiral fait ses compliments, etc.; but when the Frenchman replies, with the politeness and volubility characteristic of his nationality, the British officer is more often than not at a loss.

ROYAL GALLEY. PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR (DUKE OF CLARENCE) COXSWAIN, PRINCE GEORGE (DUKE OF YORK) PORT BOW OAR.

Photo: Smale & Son, Dartmouth.

This being an undoubted fact-at least in those days-it scarcely seems a wise policy to impress the young aspirant, hard at work with his crammer, with the idea that he must "mug up" his Latin, but may take geography instead of French, which "does not matter"!

However, there were the orders, signed by the permanent secretary, "by command of their Lordships," and one can only marvel who it is that engineers some of these curious circulars, which, while usually inaugurating some beneficial innovations, almost invariably contain others which any one who has any accurate knowledge of the necessities of the case must inevitably condemn.

The recommendation of a college on shore, although no notice was taken of it, apparently, at the time, bore fruit later on. A committee was appointed in 1876, composed of the following gentlemen: Admiral George G. Wellesley, Captain Charles T. Curme, Captain W. E. Gordon, Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets Jas. Dornet, and Jno. Sutherland, Esq., M.D., to ascertain the best site for a college.

In their report, dated November 30th, 1876, they state that they have inspected possible sites at Milford Haven, Hayling Island, Westward Ho, the Isle of Wight, Dartmouth, Southampton Water, and Poole. At the last-named place a choice of three sites was very generously offered by Sir Ivor Guest, the one selected to be a free gift to the nation; but the committee did not find that they were able to recommend the situation.

Finally, they selected Dartmouth as the most suitable in every respect, and Southampton Water proxime accessit. Probably a very fine site might have been found there, and it is a more bracing situation than Dartmouth; but the long association of the Britannia with the latter perhaps turned the scale in its favour.

The Britannia attracted a good deal of attention in Parliament during the 'seventies. There is a Parliamentary Paper called for in 1877, which gives a correspondence between Mr. Penry Lloyd, whose son was in the Britannia in 1876, the Admiralty, and the captain of the Britannia.

From this it appears that, on December 16th, 1876, Captain Graham wrote to Mr. Lloyd, informing him that the chief naval instructor reported that his son, Cadet J. E. Lloyd, was idle and troublesome, had very little ability, was worthless, and unfit to be an officer; and he requested Mr. Lloyd therefore to remove his son from the ship.

This communication called forth an unexpected reply, Mr. Lloyd declaring that he wished to withdraw his son, but that he first demanded an inquiry into sundry charges preferred by the latter against certain cadets, who, it was alleged, had cruelly bullied him, and so hindered him thereby in his studies that he was unable to pursue them to advantage.

One cadet, it was stated, compelled young Lloyd to sing in the messroom, contrary to regulations, whereby he incurred punishment; another kicked and knocked him down without provocation; and on more than one occasion he was compelled to give up his pocket money under threats of personal violence. His fear of being beaten by the cadets was greater than his fear of punishment by the authorities, etc.

Captain Graham replies that he and his officers will investigate the matter when the cadets return from leave.

Eventually, however, the Admiralty appointed a committee, presided over by Admiral Willes, to inquire into the matter, on board the Britannia, with the result that Mr. Lloyd was informed that there was not sufficient ground for these charges. He applied for the minutes of the inquiry, and was refused; but the Admiralty upheld him in deprecating the application of the term "worthless" to his son, in Captain Graham's first letter.

There appears to be little doubt that there was some bullying of a somewhat gross nature at this time; like all other large schools, the Britannia has suffered from occasional outbreaks of this kind, probably instigated as a rule by one or two big boys; and as the small boys are afraid to report it, there is often some difficulty in convicting the culprits.

On June 18th, 1877, an attack was made by Mr. Shaw Lefevre in the House of Commons on the regulations of 1875, when, as has been described, competition was abolished as a result of the report of the committee.

THE ROYAL CADETS AT SEAMANSHIP.

Photo: W. & D. Downey, Ebury St., S.W.

This gentleman maintained that the substitution of a test examination for competition was an unmixed evil; that a far better class of boys was obtained under the latter system: and quoted Lord Macaulay, who held that competition automatically preserves a high standard.

Mr. Childers, supporting Mr. Shaw Lefevre, said that when he became First Lord of the Admiralty (in 1869) his predecessor, Mr. Corry, urged him to reform the Britannia, which he thought was in a bad state; and Mr. Childers further states that, although competition was abolished on the recommendation of the committee of 1874, ten of the witnesses were in favour of competition, and only three against it; which is certainly not borne out by the report.

PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR.

Photo: Smale & Son, Dartmouth.

Mr. Ward Hunt, the First Lord, in replying, admitted that the test, as first laid down, was too easy, but it had since been made rather more stringent. He does not, however, give any reason for doing away with competition, other than on the score of injurious brain work; but probably Admiral Sir A. Cooper Key's remark when before the Commission sums up the matter pretty correctly; he says that he disapproves of competition for boys so young, but, as the number of applications exceeds so greatly the number of vacancies, he thinks it is inevitable.

Mr. Shaw Lefevre's amendment was negatived on a division, but only by 41 in a house of 301; showing thereby that competition had a goodly number of supporters.

In January, 1877, the Prince of Wales's two sons, Prince Edward-then known as Prince Albert Victor-and Prince George, joined the Britannia. They had special quarters allotted to them, but in other respects they were "in the same boat" with the remainder of the cadets, to whom they were a source of much interest. The "divinity that doth hedge a king," or its equivalent in the case of a prince, is considerably discounted among a lot of boys, and the two Royal cadets often found themselves the target of endless interrogations, resulting from the curiosity of their shipmates.

"I say, how do you like being a Prince?" "What do you do when you're at home?" "Do you ever get licked?" and so on.

Prince Edward, having recently recovered from a severe illness, and not being really intended for the Navy, was left to do pretty much as he pleased in the matter of study, etc. He was sent to the Britannia principally with the object of benefiting by the change and healthy outdoor life.

Prince George, however, went through all the work, and the impression he produced was that he was a sharp lad, and, though very backward on joining, turned to with a will, and passed out very creditably. He used to tell the seamanship instructors not to bother about his brother, who was not going to sea, but to devote their attention to him.

PRINCE GEORGE.

Photo: Smale & Son, Dartmouth.

In the summer of 1878 the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Britannia, and distributed the prizes.

During the last year or two of the 'seventies the Britannia owed a good deal to Lieutenant (now Captain, retired) Guy Mainwaring, who joined as first lieutenant in 1878.

It was at his suggestion that the custom was inaugurated of having two photographs taken of each term, on leaving the ship: one of the captains, and the other of the remainder of the term, to be framed and kept on board as a record. This practice has been continued ever since, and an interesting series of groups has now accumulated, some of which are reproduced in this book. In the pioneer group, taken at his instigation, Lieutenant Mainwaring himself figures, seated on the gunwale of one of the gigs, with the passing-out cadet captains round him.

"JIM THE PIONEER'S" GRAVE.

Photo: Smale & Son, Dartmouth.

A far more important institution, of which he was the founder, is the pack of beagles. Being blessed with a good deal of energy and of sporting instinct, Lieutenant Mainwaring was the first to make any effort in this direction. It is astonishing how keen naval men are on following beagles when they get the chance.

The Gosport and Fareham Pack in bygone days-and, it is to be hoped, at the present time-used to be followed by quite a crowd of sailors; captains, commanders, lieutenants and sub-lieutenants, to say nothing of athletic paymasters and surgeons, all vying with each other for the front rank, and all returning in the afternoon, caked with mud and exceedingly cheerful, especially those happy ones who had succeeded in "pounding" their dearest chums at a muddy ditch, or had glanced back to see the said chums, not to be daunted, make a futile jump into tenacious mud, and draw out their legs with a sound as of cork extraction.

LIEUTENANT MAINWARING AND CADET CAPTAINS.

Photo: Smale & Son, Dartmouth.

Lieutenant Mainwaring, deeming it a drawback that the youngsters in the Britannia should be deprived of these joys, proceeded to negotiate for the nucleus of a pack, and succeeded in obtaining as a start two and a half couples of fourteen-inch hounds, from the kennels of the late Mr. Thomas Cartlich, of Woore, Staffordshire; these were supplemented by the ship's terrier, "Jim," and they commenced in a humble way by "drag" hunts, varied by badgers, when available, sent by neighbours and friends from the numerous "earths" in South Devonshire.

This began in the winter of 1878-9, and before long another couple was presented by Admiral Stokes, who hunted a pack of beagles in South Wales. Another addition was a hound bought from the Home for Lost Dogs, at Battersea, and consequently named "Homeless"; and in three years, with incidental additions and breeding, the pack numbered twelve and a half couples, and was firmly established as an asset of the ship, under the recognition of, and eventually subsidised by, the Admiralty.

The kennels were at first by the racquet court, but this was found to be a bad situation from a sanitary point of view, and lacking sunshine, so they were subsequently transferred, on a much more ambitious scale, to their present site on the lower edge of the cricket ground; and there, as you pass, you are greeted by the voices, at present, of some two and twenty couples of lively little hounds, tumbling over one another inside a wire enclosure.

They are under the especial care and patronage of the commander, and it is an interesting fact, illustrative of the zeal with which this unusual duty, for a sailor, is performed, that when he was expecting a guest to dinner one summer evening the commander did not arrive on board until the hour had struck, having been detained by an "interesting event" at the kennels, of which he felt himself bound to witness the happy consummation!

"Jim," the pioneer of the pack, died in 1886, full of years and honours, and was accorded a tombstone under the shadow of the racquet courts;

And there it stands unto this day,

To witness if I lie.

The officers and cadets, to say nothing of the farmers and others in the vicinity, have enjoyed many a good run since those days, and an annual "hunt breakfast" has been established. The landowners have been very generous in affording every facility for sport, and at the hunt breakfast they always declare that the privilege has never been abused, which is in itself phenomenal as an admission on the part of the landowners, and also a tribute to the sportsmanlike spirit of the cadets. We may hear more about the beagles later on.

The earliest book of regulations extant on board the Britannia was printed in 1873, but is brought up by manuscript emendations to 1876.

It would obviously be too tedious to transcribe these in detail, but some of the more interesting points may be touched upon here, while the cadets' routine, and other matters without which this story could not be considered complete, will be found in the Appendix.

The regulations, which are the outcome of past experience extending over nearly twenty years, cover every conceivable point of discipline, instruction, recreation, leave of absence, sickness, etc.

The officer of the day-one of the lieutenants-is the person chiefly responsible to the captain for the due performance of all routine duties and the maintenance of discipline, except in the studies, which are under the chief naval instructor, who reports direct to the captain any irregularities in his department.

The officer of the day has, among other things, to turn out at 5.30 a.m. and see that cadets under punishment are present-these unlucky ones having to stand one hour between decks before the usual time of turning out-also to receive reports, investigate complaints, attend while the cadets are bathing, from the shore, see that they do not land if the weather is bad, and that they change their clothes if they come on board wet. He has, furthermore, the responsibility of seeing that only third and fourth term cadets use the sailing cutters, that they do not go out in squally weather, and that they are recalled if it turn out squally afterwards. In a landlocked harbour such as Dartmouth very fierce squalls may come down if the wind rises suddenly.

The cadet captains and chief captains have to assist their superiors in maintaining discipline; as the difference in age is not great, it has always been a somewhat difficult matter to get them to do their duty, especially if it entails reporting another cadet. One or two were asked, when giving evidence before the committee in 1874, whether they had ever reported a cadet, and the reply was always in the negative. Still, they are useful in many ways, for mustering and so on, and some are found with that natural aptitude for command, which, like the gift of poesy, nascitur non fit.

In 1876, however, and for a good many years afterwards, the cadets' corporals had so large a share in the discipline that the captains did not come in very much. The cadets before the committee were unanimous as to their dislike of the corporals, though it must be acknowledged that they had no very definite reasons to adduce. At this time a "cadet sergeant-major" had taken the place of the master-at-arms, probably with beneficial results, for a soldier is a more "understanding" sort of man in such a position, and would know how to assert his authority with tact and discretion.

The regulations for the cadets were such as would exist in any schools, substituting seafaring words where necessary. They received one shilling per week pocket-money-the captains and chief captains two shillings and half-a-crown respectively-and were not allowed to have in their possession at one time a larger sum than ten shillings; nor were they permitted to receive parcels containing eatables, or to bring sweets, fruit, etc., on board when returning from leave.

Those who recollect the earlier days of the Britannia will understand how this prohibition arose. Cadets were allowed at that time to receive "hampers" from home, and of course the lucky recipient felt bound to share the good things with his friends. The offer was usually delicately couched in the words, "Bring your plate to my table at tea," and as there were frequently a good many hampers, with a circle of chums to each owner, there was a great deal of running about the messroom at tea-time, also some jealousy and searchings of heart. Some lads who were general favourites might be seen visiting three or four tables, returning with their plates heaped with a curious assortment of jam, sardines, potted meat, cakes, etc., all elbowing each other in one indigestible conglomeration-if, indeed, anything is not digestible by a naval cadet. No doubt the confusion to which this practice gave rise was the chief reason for its suppression.

A CLASS AT THE SEAMANSHIP INSTRUCTION MODEL.

Photo: Smale & Son, Dartmouth.

Bullying or annoying other cadets is laid down as one of the most serious offences that can be committed, and subject to the most severe punishment.

The heaviest punishment was reduction to the third class for conduct. Cadets under this penalty wore a white stripe on each arm and were obliged to conform to the following rules:-

Get up at 6 a.m. in winter and 5 a.m. in summer, and half an hour later fall in and drill until prayer time (8 o'clock).

Stand apart from other cadets at all musters.

One and a quarter hour's drill every afternoon; leave stopped, except one hour on shore under charge of a corporal.

Stand on the middle deck one hour after evening prayers.

Alternate days in cell, on bread and water; other days to take their meals at cockpit mess table. Not allowed soup, beer, or second course.

To sit on a stool between decks when not in the cell, and kneel apart at prayers.

This is a pretty hard programme for a boy, and could, of course, only be prescribed by the captain, for six days as a maximum.

Second class for conduct was of a similar nature, but with considerable modifications. A white stripe had to be worn on the left arm; no cell or bread-and-water diet was involved, and a second-class table in the messroom took the place of cockpit mess; the same restrictions as to soup, beer, and second course. This could be imposed for from seven to fourteen days.

There is a manuscript note in this book to the following effect:-

"When reduction to second or third class seems to be non-effective with troublesome cadets, caning over the breech has been tried and found most beneficial."

On a cadet being reduced to the second or third class, the fact was reported to his parents or guardians.

Another captain's punishment was cockpit mess, which was the same as third class, but no stripes were worn. One day in cell on bread and water; dry bread for breakfast and tea, and other restrictions of diet the same; limit, three days.

Then, again, there was No. 4, which involved six days' extra drill, leave stopped-except the penitential hour's march with a corporal-turn out one hour earlier, stand on deck one hour after evening prayers, and one week's pocket-money stopped.

Finally, an offender was liable to be "admonished by the captain," which, though not an actual punishment, was duly recorded, and that cadet would not interview the captain as cheaply a second time.

The commander's punishments include: Copying the regulation broken, turning out one hour sooner, extra drill, standing on middle deck one hour after prayers, messing at defaulters' table (on reduced diet), confined to the cricket field, stoppage of leave.

Serious offences were not very common, and during the whole period since the training ship was first instituted there has not been a single instance of anything like concerted insubordinate action, such as may be found in the history of a large number of schools.

The health regulations include, as might be expected, vigorous measures against the introduction of contagious diseases from outside, especially when the cadets are returning from leave.

One precaution of a decidedly drastic nature is prescribed in this book of 1876:-

On the return of the cadets from leave the whole of their clothes and bedding are disinfected; the cadets themselves are also marched by terms into the bathroom of the Britannia, which for a time is made into a sulphur room for disinfecting, and they remain in from five to ten minutes.

This clause is in manuscript, and does not appear in the next edition of regulations, so it was presumably deemed to be ill-advised; and no wonder. Imagine forty or fifty lads crammed into the bathroom, coughing and choking with sulphur fumes!

The officers who commanded the Britannia during the 'seventies were as follow:-

Captain John Corbett, appointed September 19th, 1867. (He held the appointment for nearly four years, but this is unusual.)

Captain the Hon. F. A. C. Foley, appointed August 31st, 1871.

Captain William Graham, appointed August 31st, 1874.

Captain Henry Fairfax, appointed August 31st, 1877.

The total number of cadets entered during this decade was 731, who are accounted for as follows:-

Active List.

Captains, 100; commanders, 162; lieutenants, 50.

Retired List.

Captains, 11; commanders, 38; lieutenants, 28.

thus leaving 339, or 46 per cent., to be reckoned as dead or removed from the Navy List.