PREFACE.

THE principal object of the preface in a volume of this nature is to acknowledge the assistance received from various persons; the title speaks for itself, and but little is necessary by way of introduction.

The material for the account of the Naval Academy and the old Naval College has been obtained, with very little exception, from official documents. There is, unfortunately, a considerable period which is not covered by any papers to be found in the Record Office; possibly the records of this period are in existence somewhere, but I have not been able to discover them.

I hope, however, that such information as I have succeeded in obtaining about this establishment, of which so little is generally known, may be of interest.

In dealing with the Britannia, I have thought it necessary to include some account of the various modifications which have taken place from time to time in the examinations and general regulations affecting the entry of cadets, as illustrating the official ideas which have prevailed at different periods concerning the education of young naval officers.

Personalities in a book of this kind are inevitable, but I hope that none will be found which could give offence to anyone.

All the “yarns,” etc., which appear have been obtained from authentic sources, including my own reminiscences.

To return to the chief object of the preface, my thanks are due for valuable assistance to the following:—

The Admiralty, for special facilities for access to documents; Vice-Admiral Sir Robert H. Harris, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., Vice-Admiral Noel S. F. Digby, Admiral W. H. Edye, Captain M. P. O’Callaghan, Captain C. H. Cross and the officers of the Britannia, Captain A. W. Warry, Captain G. Mainwaring, Captain G. S. MacIlwaine, Commander G. E. Bairnsfather, and other officers who so readily supplied information; Captain G. H. Inskip, for the loan of interesting papers and photographs; Professor J. K. Laughton; Mr. A. C. Johnson and Mr. J. L. D. Barton, former naval instructors on board the Britannia; Mr. Aston Webb, R.A., for the use of his original drawing of the College at Dartmouth; and Messrs. J. Gieve and Son, for the use of old prints.

E. P. Statham.

Arundel,
March, 1904.

CONTENTS.

of Entry — Captain’s Servants — King’s Letter Boys — Lord Dundonald — A Warrior at Eight — Sir P. W. P. Wallis — Absurd Regulations — Education at a Discount — Midshipman Easy — Peter Simple — The “Pitchfork” System — The Royal Naval Academy — Letter to the Navy Board — Commendable Promptitude — The Scheme Approved — Delay in Building — Scheme of Instruction — Uniform Instituted — Scholars’ Expenses — Rules and Orders — “They are cursed troublesome” — Commissioner’s Report — Entry and Final Certificates — Captain Broke’s Work Book — A Comprehensive Course — A Successful Institution 1 CHAPTER II. THE ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE. New Brooms — Radical Changes — The Academy Closed — Wanted, a Professor — James Inman — An Enthusiastic Scholar — His Love of Fair Play — Senior Wrangler — Antarctic Astronomer — Appointed Professor — “Inman’s Tables” — The College Opens — A Master’s Untimely Optimism — A Poser for Their Lordships — The New Course of Studies — John Irving, Silver Medallist — A Mathematician’s Device — The Rod and the “Black Hole” — New Regulations — Commissioned Officers Admitted — Elastic Hours of Study — The End Approaches — The “late” Royal Naval College — Inman’s Pension — Sir H. Keppel’s Recollections — The Box Seat — A Retaliatory Cascade — Sir W. R. Mends — Alleged Toadying — Sir G. R. Mundy’s Letters — Keeping a “Mess” — The “Black Hole” in Being — “A Blow-out,” and After — Sir B. J. Sulivan — Bullying Studious Juniors — A Discouraging Experience — The Captain Converted — The College and the Excellent — Professor Main — The “Pitchfork” System Again — A Slender Equipment — Naval Cadets — Haphazard Methods — A Little More Detail 16 CHAPTER III. THE “ILLUSTRIOUS.” Captain Robert Harris — His Birth and Career — Appointed to the Illustrious — “Jemmy Graham’s Novices” — A Model School for Seamen — A Visit to the Illustrious — Why not Train Young Officers? — Opposition of Old Officers — Cadet Robert H. Harris — A Successful Experiment — Institution of Cadets’ Training Ship — Captain Harris Suffers for His Zeal — Commendatory Letters — He is Superseded — The New Admiralty Circular — General Approval of the Scheme — The Staff of the Illustrious — Lieutenant George S. Nares — Disciplinary Methods — The Cadets’ Corporals — Withering Sarcasm — Old-fashioned Seamanship — Cricket — “Sling the Monkey” — Rev. R. M. Inskip — His Sea Yarns — Mr. Kempster Knapp — “Knapp’s Circles” — Penalty of Fidgeting — Prince Alfred — Enter the Britannia — Her Predecessors 35 CHAPTER IV. THE “BRITANNIA” IN THE ’SIXTIES. A “Three-decker” — Arrangements on Board — The Morning Drum — Persuasive Corporals — “Cockpit Mess” — “Cheeky New Fellows” — Important Modifications — Sea-going Training-ship — A Dead Letter — The Question of Locality — Portland Selected — Its

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

THE ’NINETIES. Captain Digby — Alleged Gross Bullying — A Lively Correspondence — Various Uninvited Opinions — A Gleam of Light from Within — “Old Etonian” and Admiral Richards — Captain Digby Sums Up the Case — “Navilus”: His Book — Morning Amenities — “One Day’s ‘Four’” — A Typical Day — The Hardships of “Four” — A Day in the Wave — “A Nice Fresh Breeze” — Reefing Topsails — “Man Overboard” — Comfort for Mothers — A Trip in a Skiff — Forbidden Joys — A “Slippery Hitch” — A Half-holiday — Tea with “Ma Fox” — A Sunday Outing — “Fearful Fagging” — The “Baby’s” Final Aspirations — Captain Moore — A Hot Reformer — Lieutenants as “Sea-Daddies” — Abolition of Cadets’ Corporals — Chief of the Staff — Naval Warrant Officers — New Admiralty Regulations — The Racer Arrives — Ship Struck by Lightning — Jubilee Day — The Queen’s Medal — Captain Marryat’s Spectacles — Cadets’ Food — A Hard Case! — Remarkable Physical Development — Influenza Epidemic — An Ill-informed Parent — Ridiculous Allegations — Visit of the King and Queen — John Gilpin — “Ye Mariners of England” — Captains in the ’Nineties 144 CHAPTER VIII. “BRITANNIA” GAMES. Scanty Early Records — Practice v. Precept — Officers v. Cadets — Presumptuous Juniors — A Close Match — Football — Penalty of Punning — A Decisive Victory — A Demon Bowler — Two Curious Innings — Sports and Regatta — The Rushworth Seal — The Editor is Sarcastic — His Feelings are Soured — An Excited Timekeeper — Why Williams Didn’t Win — The Pro’s Average — Teignbridge Victorious and Vanquished — W. G.’s Eleven — Some Fatherly Advice — The Editor is Appeased — A Close Sculling Match — Foreign Football Matches — A Dry Cricket Season — The Editor and the Beagles — Lord Harris’s Maxims — The Bold Sir Bedivel — Big Third Eleven Scores — Seventeen Years’ Athletics — Huddart Shows the Way — The Editor on “Stodge” — A Hot Run for the “Footmen” — Youthful Boxers — Glasgow to the Rescue — An Afternoon’s Cricket — Splendid Playing Fields — And Plenty of Cricket — Teignbridge’s Small Score — Britannia Wins All Round — Third Eleven Makes a Record — A Question of Time — Keep Your Ground Clock Right — Remarkable Results of the Season — Money Well Spent 190 CHAPTER IX. CONCLUSION. Forty-six Years’ Record — Internal Arrangements — Swimming Baths — “On Their Honour” — No More Sails — The Revenge as a Picture — The Isis and Aurora — Lieutenants’ Adventure — Scotch Hospitality — Shooting Instruction — “Good Fishing” — A Creditable Record — The Cost of the Britannia — The Instructional Staff — An Excellent Arrangement — A Heavy Responsibility — Discharged Right Well — The New Scheme — Utilitarian Buildings — The Racer Again — Popularity of Practical Mechanics — No Half Measures 230 Appendices

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@46788@[email protected]#appendix_i" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">251 Index 271

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">48 Model of the First “Britannia,” Built in 1682 50 Model of the Third “Britannia,” Built in 1762 51 The Fourth “Britannia,” Built in 1820 57 Officers and Cadets, 1861 67 Captain R. A. Powell and Officers, 1863 73 Captain John Corbett 77 The Fourth “Britannia” as Training Ship 81 Reading Off the Sextant 82 The “Ariadne” Disaster 89 Rev. J. C. P. Aldous 94 Mr. A. C. Johnson 95 Captain the Hon. F. A. C. Foley 97 Royal Galley. Prince Albert Victor (Duke of Clarence), Coxswain; Prince George (Duke of York), Port Bow Oar 101 The Royal Cadets at Seamanship 105 Prince Albert Victor 106 Prince George 107 “Jim the Pioneer’s” Grave

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@46788@[email protected]#sotb31" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">108 Lieutenant Mainwaring and Cadet Captains 109 A Class at the Seamanship Instruction Model 113 The “Britannia” and the “Hindostan.” Cadet Racquet Courts in Foreground 121 A Beagle Meet 126 The Kennel 127 Cadet Messroom 129 Captain N. Bowden-Smith 137 Poop of the “Britannia.” Cadets at Prayers 139 Captain F. G. D. Bedford 141 The Schooner Yacht “Syren” 143 Captain N. S. F. Digby 146 A Group of Captains (Christmas, 1890) 148 First Term Sleeping Deck on Board the “Hindostan” 154 Chapel on Board the “Hindostan” 155 A Signalling Exercise 156 Pocket Money 157

class="tdlsc">H.M.S. “Racer,” Tender to the “Britannia” 159 Captain A. W. Moore 164 The “Victoria and Albert” at Dartmouth 165 The Cadets’ Hospital 168 On the Sick List 169 Fourth Term Cadets on Board the “Isis” 171 A Lesson in Seamanship 174 A Typical Fourth Term Group: “Passing-Out” Cadets, 1893 175 H.M.S. “Isis,” Sea-Going Training Ship 179 The King’s Visit, March 7, 1902 183 The “Britannia” Dressed for the King’s Birthday 187 The Cricket Pavilion 195 A Class at the Gymnasium 199 Regatta Day: Twelve-Oared Cutter Winning a Race 203 Cricket, Football, and Rowing Trophies, and the Rushworth Seal 207 First Eleven, 1889: Opponents of W. G.’s Team 211 A “Britannia” Rugby Team

class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">213 A “Britannia” Association Team 217 Boxing Class 219 The Beagle Whips 221 The Cricket Field 223 View from the New College 229 Captain C. H. Cross 232 Mr. J. H. Spanton 238 Mr. G. B. Mason 239 Officers’ Quarters 240 Cadets’ Dormitory 241 The Old Stable-yard, Osborne 246 The New College, Dartmouth 247