CONTENTS.

Previous
CHAPTER I.
THE GOOD OLD TIMES.
PAGE
A Youthful Diplomat — Old Methods 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Experiment — Institution of Cadets’ Training Ship — Captain Harris Suffers for His Zeal — Commendatory Letters — He is Superseded — The New Admiralty Circular — General Approval of the Scheme — The Staff of the Illustrious — Lieutenant George S. Nares — Disciplinary Methods — The Cadets’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

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Clyx.com


Top of Page
Top of Page