Numerous Drawbacks — Preparing for Sea — Voyage of the Britannia — She Asserts Herself under Sail — Arrival at Portland — Great Monotony — A Sad Accident — Good Education — French and Drawing — Sample of a French Lesson — Messroom Songs — “The King of Otaheité” — Going Aloft — A Foolhardy Feat — A Swift Descent — Fatal to Clothes — Reading at the Yard-arm — Captain Powell Appointed — Departure of Commander Nares — Corporal Punishment — A Cool Young Hand — The Royal Marriage — Another Change Decided Upon — Voyage to Dartmouth — A Busy Time — Sailors as Navvies — The Hindostan — Captain Randolph Appointed — A Futile Complaint — Stern Measures — Parliamentary Interference — Humanitarian Fads — Flogging Abolished — Cadets’ Sailing Cutters — Gymnasium Built — The Bristol — Competition on Entry — Reduction of Numbers — A New Britannia — Statistical Results

53 CHAPTER V. 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 82 CHAPTER VI. THE “BRITANNIA” IN THE ’EIGHTIES. Competition Reintroduced — Reduction of Numbers — A Ferocious Examination — The Britannia in the Times — “Rule of Thumb” Instruction — “Fire” and “Sword” — “Veritas” at Sea — The Britannia Magazine — Editorial Introduction — The Politics of Naval Cadets — Editorial Difficulties — A Questionable Pseudonym — Popular Advertisements — The Wave — A True Prediction — An Original Poem — Jones Takes a Lesson to Heart — The Wave’s Holiday Trip — A Warning to the Reckless — “First Catch Your Cadet!” — Ambulance Lessons — How to Tell a Toadstool — The Electric Light — Another Committee — It Makes Recommendations — Also Suggestions — Very Unpractical — Captains in the ’Eighties — Statistical Results — A Rapid Rise 118 CHAPTER VII. THE “BRITANNIA” IN