The Story of the Britannia""

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 Regulatio

r B. J. Sulivan-Bullying Studious Juniors-A Discouraging Experience-The Captain Converted-The College and the Excellen

century, and went on without i

ime had arrived for extending and remodelling it; and by way of making a fresh s

s was to "render the Academy effectual for the increased naval force"; their suggestions were ado

the building be altere

uilding be enlarged, at

er, a Writing Master, a Drawing Master, a French Master, a Fencing Master, a Dancing Master, and a Surgeon. The Master Attendant of the Yard a

d of the Admiralty for t

NAVAL COLLEGE IN P

assell &

ointed as Lieutenant-Governor, w

d per annum, on a basis of probably seventy Scholars under the new system. To have apart

ptor to receive

keeper, to look after the domestic concerns of the College, under a Commi

arious masters and instructors, the total being ￡1,443 10s.,

enty, of whom forty are to be sons of Officers, and the remainder

s are to remain three years, whether they have completed the plan or not: only two years t

be given to youths who

give a bond for ￡200, to be forfeited in the event of a Sch

hillings per day be paid by each Schol

ution of the said Capit

s.

or Profes

or Clothi

9d., of which 3d. goes t

eeks, at 2s.

y at 1s. pe

1

ay (allowing five wee

ce 12

d a considerable time, and the establishment was closed from about May, 18

tician being required, they naturally turned to the University of Cambridge, the birthplace of Wranglers. There they were lucky enough to find the ve

ws and the burning of the midnight oil were to him merely pleasant employment. He was also a good organiser, a man of details, and at the same time of pleasing and strong personality. S

Sir Bartholomew J. Sulivan"

ths' work, or more, before he entered, and I had nearly completed in three months what we were allowed six for. Inman passed in the studies that made him equal with me within a week of entering, and then we went on

work, and his honest desire to see "the best man win"; any lad who too

born in 1776, and was educated at Sedbergh Grammar School, to which institution he certainly did ample credit,

he occupied his time there in the study of Arabic. In 1803, young as he was-only twenty-seven-he was recommended by the Board

AL COLLEGE (FORMER

assell &

s appointed Professor at the Royal Naval College, a post which he held for nearly th

rrespondence bear constant testimony to Inman's unflagging zeal and energy; he was always inaugurating something

RD OF THE N

assell &

ic ability and minuteness, he was for some years President of the School of Nava

as absolutely without a rival, and which he supplemented in the second edition by the table of Half Versines (or Haversines), which proved of immense value to navigator

ing designs of ships, sail plans, etc.; he directed the construction of ten ships of war, and is said to have given some valuable hints to Captain Broke f

it would appear that he was to a certain extent thrown away there, for it is

siderable mass of correspondence extant in connection with it, containing some amus

, by way of setting forth how much he is losing, mentions that he has found that the salary and emoluments of his office amounted to about 200 guineas annually. As his salary was ￡100 a year, the Secretary

most, however, of his "commodious apartment, free from rates and taxes, with a very productive garden," free water and fuel, etc., but is obliged final

y that he has seen the plan approved, and perceives that one sitting-room, one sleeping-room, and a closet has been provided for each assistant: "Now, I would with the greatest respect submit to yo

o whether their Lordships attemp

n lost no time in drawing up a very

reduction, and rule of three; to write English with facility from dictation; constructio

x classes, new-comers being place

-year; or

e doctrine of proportion, arithmetic, to vulgar and decimal fractions, general g

f-year, or

to surveying, a few propositions in perspective, more complicated simple equations, quad

year, or

the art of navigation and to simple and easy problems in nautical astronomy, the use of instruments generally employed in navigation, nature and

f-year, or

o navigation, observations for latitude and longitude, natu

year, or

and application to the measurements of surfaces and solids, generation of various curves, resis

-year, or

dies, tides, lunar irregularities, the Principia and other p

e round the Isle of Wight in a small vessel, and practical gunnery, forms a pretty full programme, and argues a

hs, and the best and second students were to

had it with him. It was buried with him in King William's Land, when, in common with all the members of the ill-fated expedition, he perished, i

pplemented by a second column headed "number expected"; this was arrived at by multiplying the number of hours at each subject by twenty; this number denoting the progress expected to be made in one hour, if

report practically told the whole story; and it is satisfactory to note that a large percentage of the lad

e of the students, deplores the abolition of the rod; and mentions that, though a dark cabin is used for confinement, a "black hole" is

the composition of the staff, and

the remainder at ￡72 per annum; and the age of admission was altered, 12? to 14 being substituted for 13 to 16. Two lieutenants, a clerk, two se

er changes we

e of admission b

ore than two years, whether h

eting his course within two

"; and Inman strongly insists that these papers should be circulated in the Fleet, for the benefit of midshipmen at sea. There was evidently a strong fe

ers are to pay ￡40 per

ar, a new circular appears, w

ghty students, one-half to be sons of co

nd general off

lonels, and lieut.-c

nd under, and regime

s who have lost

hose fathers were

civilians we

half-pay; and on April 1st of the same year appears the first report of the Lieut.-Governor on the

ratus for the use of commissioned officers, and encloses

), algebra (including geometrical and arithmetical progression), propor

.30 a.m., and required to do so at 3 p.m., but must leave the Yard at 5 p.m. They are to form a mess outside, or otherwise arrange for their board, etc.; there is to be no public expense incurred, and they are

e lines for some years longer

as observers, recommend that each officer be required to have a sextant, that a proper place be provided in which to ke

n during that year; on January 15th, 1837, the Lieut.-Governor writes a long letter to the Admiralty, making various suggestions in connection with t

over the keys of the public part of the "late Royal Naval

est vigorously, with the result that a few receive slight augmentation; but Mr.

midshipmen and schoolmasters; a work certainly of no great difficulty, yet one of great responsibility"; he disclaims any wish to

le him to live creditably during his few remaining years. The corner of this letter is turned down, and "￡

after his retirement, and died i

eet, in his book, before alluded to, gives some

that post for seventeen years; and Sir Henry thus describes his uniform: Blue coat, open in front, gold

oat with stand-up collar, plain raised gilt but

about seven feet square, with a window, except the corner ones, which at the monthly changes

holidays, and it was customary on these occasions to draw lots for the box sea

he postmaster having turned in, the mail pulled up, as usual, under his bedroom windows. The moment they were opened, the postmaster and his wife were assailed w

o his mother, young Mends speaks with much indignation of the "toadying" that went on, and complains that when his uncle came for a while to Portsmouth, and endeavoured to

tations, not from his letters-he appears to have been weak at letter-wr

her, February 10th

athers pay three shillings a week, and it is sent in the bill every half-year, so that it would come to ￡3 in a half-year. So I suppose that papa would not let me keep one. Some of them have five shillings a week. There is a sergeant who allows all those that have a mess a pound of sugar, a pound of bu

my little cabin w

black hole" was instituted and found sufficient. Sir Thomas Pasley's biographer smiles over Mundy's description of punishment, regarding

s "mess," and discovered that it could be used t

ast examination. He was in a very good humour, and said that I had behaved very well since I copyed, but

8th he wri

on. We had two turkeys, six chickens, a leg of pork, besides vegetables. I do call that a famous dinner. Most of the boys when they leave this

fth part of two turkeys, six chickens, and a leg of pork-besides vegetables-cannot be accomplish

years; he finished his active career as Commander-in-Chie

livan speaks in his "Life and

the passage of the Dardanelles. We stayed at Mr. Rouse's house during the few days we were at Portsmouth, until I passed in. My father was very anxious about my passing; but the questions

nior class, and if the junior boys showed any intention of studying they were sure to have their books knocked out of their hands, and scattered about the Yard. Fortunately, th

they could attend the rigging-loft, to learn to strop blocks and do many other useful things. There were also l

y sent him any collegians he would refuse to take them. When I went on board I found the captain was on leave. The second lieutenant told me that the captain had a strong prejudice against collegians, but that he would do all he coul

the captain apparently soon found cause to change his opinion, for he subsequentl

rds as a splendid officer and seaman,

ng presidency of Professor Inman, there can be little doubt; but the authorities evidently formed the opinion that the youngsters would in future get on better without it, and so returned to the "pitchfork" system of sending lads to se

ssion of a limited number of mates, who were permitted to volunteer for a special course of mathematics, etc. They were borne on the books of the Excellent

r, Senior Wrangler and Smith's Prizeman of his year. Professor Main will be well remembered by many naval officers still living; he was thirty years at the College, and wrote more

tsmouth subsequent to April, 1837, does not c

the college at Greenwich, in 1873, it has lapsed, both in title and office; no longer is it known as the "Royal Naval College," but simply "The College, Portsmouth Dockyard"; no more are the voices and footsteps of Senior Wranglers heard w

andidates for admission to the Navy were sent straight to sea; though an Admiralty circular, dated December 18th, 1833, remai

a circular was issued t

good health, fit for service, and able to write English correctly from dictation, an

in fact, for a lad of that age about to enter the Navy; and, moreover

ed, until 1843, when the term "Naval Cadet" appears for the first time, being substituted in this circular for "Volunteer of the First Class"-still, howev

d between 12? and 13?; the lads were then being kept at the College for two or three years, so that they were actually going to sea at a considerably greater age than the more recent circular

onsidered necessary, for there is a supplementary circu

ication, signed by the professor or mathematical master at the College, and approved by the captain of the Excellent (as superintendent of the College), together with a medical certificate of physi

dets who have passed as supernumeraries on board the

ge was introduced. And here the curtain falls on the old order of things; how it rose on t

AR EXP