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Suffers for His Zeal--Commendatory Letters--He is Superseded--The New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.
The story of the institution of a training ship for naval cadets,
through which all must, of necessity, pass satisfactorily before being
allowed to go to sea, is inseparably connected with the name of one
man, but for whose energy, ability, and urgent and repeated
representations it is quite safe to assume that this step would have
been postponed for some years, though it was no doubt inevitable in
the end.
The name of this man is Captain Robert Harris; and without some
account of his personality and services the story of the _Britannia_
would indeed be incomplete.
He was the son of James Harris, an independent gentleman, of
Wittersham Hall, Kent, and was born on July 9th, 1809. He entered the
Navy, in 1822, as a "First Class Volunteer," and went to sea on board
the _Euryalus_, in which vessel he served as a midshipman during the
little war with Algiers in 1824; and was at Navarino, also as a
midshipman, in the _Cambrian_, October 20th, 1827, and when she was
wrecked, in January, 1828. He returned to England early in 1829, and
was borne on the books of the _Royal George_ yacht for some time,
during which, however, he was in reality serving in one of her
tenders, the _Onyx_ or _Pantaloon_, on the coast of South America, the
West Indies, the coast of Spain, and the Channel. He was promoted to
lieutenant May 21st, 1833, and in December of the same year was
appointed to the _Excellent_, recently established as a school of
gunnery, at Portsmouth, commanded by Captain (afterwards Admiral Sir
Thomas) Hastings, who was always his staunch friend.
[Illustration: CAPTAIN HARRIS.]
In 1836 Harris was appointed gunnery lieutenant of the _Melville_,
serving in her under Captains Douglas and Dundas.
He was specially promoted to commander, June 8th, 1841, for his
services at the capture of the Bogue Forts, in China, February 26th,
1841. After studying for a time on half-pay at the Royal Naval
College, he commanded the _Flying Fish_ in the experimental Brig
Squadron, and afterwards on the West Coast of Africa, from 1844 to
1846, subsequently serving in the _Ganges_, from which he was promoted
to captain, October 19th, 1849. He was appointed flag captain to Sir
W. F. Martin, in the _Prince Regent_, in 1851, and left her in 1852.
Two years later Captain Harris received the appointment which he was
destined to hold for the long period of eight years--for it was
practically continuous, though in two different vessels--and in which
he performed the valuable services in connection with which his name
is best known in the service.
In 1854, during the Crimean War, Sir James Graham, then First Lord of
the Admiralty, conceived the plan of establishing at Portsmouth a
training ship for young seamen, in order to provide a better class of
men to fill the vacancies in the Fleet. They were shipped under the
name of "novices," and were popularly known as "Jemmy Graham's
novices," the scheme being probably regarded with some disapprobation,
not untinged with ridicule, by many of the old "shellbacks" in the
Service--the usual fate of innovations, however well conceived and
beneficial. The _Illustrious_, a two-decker, was appropriated for this
purpose, and Captain Harris was placed in command.
He had already, beyond doubt, an excellent reputation at headquarters
as a most zealous and capable officer, whose heart was in his work;
and he speedily proved that his selection for this special duty was a
peculiarly happy one. He possessed in a marked degree the somewhat
rare gift of being able to combine with unflinching strictness the
power of winning the goodwill of his subordinates; and so zealously
and effectually did he perform his office that "Jemmy Graham's
novices" were soon better known as Captain Harris's seamen, eagerly
sought for, when vacancies were to be filled in the Mediterranean, as
well-conducted, well-trained lads, requiring but little experience in
a sea-going ship to make them efficient able seamen.
Lord Fitzhardinge, writing to Captain Harris some years later, says:--
They came to a sea-going ship perfect in the various drills, and
were good artillerymen. You were naturally anxious for sea service
in time of war; but Sir James Graham, after consulting with myself
on the subject, came to the decision that your services, as
recruiting officer and teacher of the new raised men, could not be
dispensed with.
A writer in _Fraser's Magazine_ for April, 1855, on "The Naval School
on board the _Illustrious_," speaks in terms of the highest eulogy of
the excellent management and good tone prevailing on board, and
mentions that the captain gave the young men under him an occasional
evening's amusement, in the form of easy lectures on astronomy, etc.,
illustrated by a magic lantern. Describing his arrival on board, the
writer says: "The captain is on the quarter-deck, awaiting his
visitors; he is a tall, upright, good-looking man, having an air of
much activity and determination, but being apparently on the best of
terms with those about him"; a description which those who were
personally acquainted with Captain Harris will endorse. Probably his
popularity with his subordinates was due in no small measure to the
conscientiousness which marked his discharge of every duty. They knew
him to be incapable of an act of injustice; and while he exacted a
punctual performance of duty from every man under him, he set them an
example which could not fail to win their respect.
[Illustration: VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ROBERT HARRIS, K.C.B., K.C.M.G.,
AS A MIDSHIPMAN.]
Great as was his success in the training of young seamen, Captain
Harris was not content to rest on the laurels he had earned. If
previous training proved so beneficial to seamen, why not institute a
similar school for officers? The Royal Naval College was, as we have
seen, only available for a certain proportion of young aspirants for
the service, many going straight to sea, and even this had, nearly
twenty years since, been for some reason abolished. Why not revive a
training school under a new aspect, in which every cadet should be
compelled to undergo a course of instruction before going to sea?
Having conceived this idea, Captain Harris proceeded to urge its
adoption, but met with small encouragement at first. Old officers,
some of whom had possibly been instrumental in bringing about the
closing of the College, opposed the notion strenuously, holding the
opinion that a lad had a better chance of turning out a good seaman
and officer if sent to sea straight from school.
The captain of the training ship had, however, the courage of his
convictions; and an opportunity presented itself before long of
demonstrating this fact. He had a son, for whom he obtained a
nomination as naval cadet; and he immediately applied for permission
to have the boy for twelve months under training before going to sea.
This was conceded, with the result that Robert Hastings Harris (now
Vice-Admiral Sir Robert H. Harris, K.C.B., K.C.M.G.) was, on January
10th, 1856, entered on the books of the _Illustrious_, and received
his training in seamanship with the novices, and instruction in
navigation and nautical astronomy on board the _Victory_, under the
Rev. Robert M. Inskip.
Sir Robert Harris was thus, as he remarks in a letter to the present
writer, "the initial cause of the _Britannia_ system"; for had he
proved to be a failure nothing more would have been heard of the
scheme, certainly for many years.
As a matter of fact, he must have afforded in his own person
convincing evidence of the value of the proposed system; for it was
only six weeks after the expiration of his twelve months' training
that a circular was issued from the Admiralty, inaugurating an
entirely new _régime_ for the education and examination of young naval
officers, and including a period of compulsory training in a
stationary ship prior to being sent to sea.
The story of the _Britannia_, strictly speaking, commences thus on
January 10th, 1856; the Admiralty circular, however, was dated
February 23rd, 1857.
Before proceeding to deal with the development of the new scheme, it
will be convenient to complete our sketch of the career of Captain
Harris in general terms, though it may be necessary to refer to him
again later on. His command of the two ships--the _Illustrious_ up to
January 1st, 1859, when he was transferred to the _Britannia_--extended,
as has been stated, over eight years, terminating in October, 1862, when
he was superseded.
During this long period there is abundant evidence that he rendered
most important services to the Navy, and, like many other good men, he
suffered in a certain degree through the very fact of his efficiency.
He was debarred from the advantages accruing to services at sea, and
from obtaining subsequently a more important harbour command, such as
the _Excellent_, for which, as an able gunnery officer, he was
certainly eligible.
The high esteem in which Captain Harris was held by well-known
officers of superior rank and the excellent results of his able
management of the cadets' training ship are testified by numerous
communications from such men as Admirals Sir W. F. Martin, Sir Thomas
Hastings, Sir Sydney Dacres, Sir John Erskine, Sir Richard Smart, and
others; while his contemporaries, in command of sea-going ships, are
unanimous in their praise of the qualifications and conduct of the
youngsters sent to sea in the early days of the _Illustrious_ and
_Britannia_.
Sir Charles Wood, then First Lord of the Admiralty, writing on July
17th, 1857, when the new circular was about to come into force,
says:--
I believe that, with the staff you will have, we shall commence
the work with as good a prospect of success as can be ensured, by
putting it in the best hands.
And writing again on April 21st, 1858:--
I am very glad to hear so promising an account of the first trial,
and I may add success, of your education on board the
_Illustrious_. I hope that the present Board will carry out the
work in the same spirit in which it was conceived; and I am well
aware that they could not have so able an instrument as yourself
in the very responsible position which you occupy.
Sir William Martin, then in command in the Mediterranean, writes on
January 18th, 1861:--
On the whole, all whose opinions are much esteemed are convinced
that you have done great good. There is no man in England whose
opportunity of doing good to our country for ages to come is
greater than yours; and assuredly the Navy is greatly your debtor.
Sir Sydney Dacres, on September 14th, 1862, writes:--
I must write to congratulate you on the success that has attended
your exertions in working out such an important change in the
education and training of our young gentlemen, as the system
pursued in the _Illustrious_ and _Britannia_ most certainly has
proved itself to be. The last three years' experience has
convinced me of the vast improvement of the present system over
the old plan of bringing boys from their homes, often without even
the rudiments of education, and hardly knowing what order meant. I
am sure your great satisfaction must be in looking at the very
small number of your boys that have got into serious scrapes, and
the manner in which, as a rule, they are spoken of by their
superiors; and I cannot conclude, my dear Harris, without adding
what is a great pleasure to me, that without exception they all
look back with esteem and respect on their captain, who was ever
ready to be kind and considerate whilst training them in the right
way.
Those who were under Captain Harris--and there are not a few still
living--will assuredly endorse this statement; their recollection is
that of a superior who, while most emphatically captain of his ship,
exercised his authority with never-failing kindness to all, and of
whom a disparaging word was never uttered.
Captain Harris, as has already been stated, suffered for his
efficiency. His request to be appointed to a sea-going ship was, in
fact, refused on the ground that he was doing such good work in the
_Britannia_; and when he was superseded, in October, 1862, without
being given another command, he not unnaturally felt that some more
practical appreciation of his long and valuable services might well
have been displayed.
This apparent injustice remains unexplained; he was not again
employed, and died at Southsea, on January 15th, 1865.
Captain Harris married, in 1843, Sophia, daughter of Captain
Penruddocke, of the Scots Guards, leaving three sons and two
daughters.
Captain Harris was, no doubt, consulted as to the framing of the new
regulations, and great indeed must have been his satisfaction on
finding his long-cherished scheme adopted at headquarters.
The circular was to come into force in May, 1857; that is to say, it
would affect naval cadets who were to join in August of that year. It
commences with regulations for the new "five yearly" examination for
lieutenant, which does not come within our scope; and the details
dealing with the entry of naval cadets will be found in the
appendix.[2]
[2] See Appendix II.
The minimum time on the training ship, it will be noticed, was three
months; any cadet who felt that he was competent might present himself
at the first quarterly examination after joining, and if he passed,
would be discharged. The maximum time was one year, and this could
only apply to cadets who were under fourteen on joining; the others
were bound to present themselves for examination either at the second
or third quarterly examination, according to age.
No time was lost in preparing the _Illustrious_ for her new purpose;
dockyard hands were speedily at work, and an efficient staff selected
to assist Captain Harris, so as to commence, as Sir Charles Wood says
in his letter, already quoted, with as good a prospect of success as
could be assured, by putting the work into the best hands.
Not the least prominent among the new appointments was the Rev. Robert
Inskip, who was transferred from the _Victory_ as principal naval
instructor. He had long been associated with Captain Harris in
advocating the new scheme, and was, in fact, Cadet Harris's master
during his year of training.
With two such enthusiasts at the head of affairs, there was likely to
be no lack of "go" about the start; and although the idea was by no
means in universal favour among the captains and admirals of those
days, the new step attracted attention in many quarters, and was the
subject of laudatory leaders in the _Times_ and other "dailies," to
say nothing of magazine articles.
The keynote in these publications is the same throughout: while
approving of the general scheme--which perhaps in most instances the
writers were not very well qualified to discuss--they all with one
accord declare that no man could be so well fitted for the post of
commander as Captain Harris.
"Parents may well rejoice," says a writer in _Fraser's Magazine_
(September, 1857), "to have it in their power to bestow on their
children the results of the long experience of a man who has passed
through all the dangers of the position with credit to himself and
advantage to his country."
The _Illustrious_ was moored off Haslar Creek, on the west side of
Portsmouth Harbour, near the entrance, and there on August 5th, 1857,
the first batch of cadets, twenty-three in number, joined her.
The staff was as follows:--
Captain Robert Harris.
Lieutenant Geo. Y. Paterson.
Lieutenant Marcus Lowther (in command of _Sealark_, brig).
Lieutenant F. T. Thomson (in command of _Bullfinch_, tender).
Chaplain and Naval Instructor Rev. W. R. Jolley.
Chaplain and Naval Instructor Rev. R. M. Inskip.
Naval Instructor Kempster M. Knapp.
It is not easy to obtain very precise information as to the routine,
but a good deal may be deduced from the subjects of study, as laid
down in the Admiralty circular; and the general principle, no doubt,
was alternate days at study and seamanship.
The recollection of some survivors of the first batch of cadets is
entirely favourable to the ship; very great pains were taken with
their education, there was little or no bullying, and the food was
good and plentiful.
Lieutenant George S. Nares,[3] when he joined in January, 1858, was
placed specially in charge of the cadets, and remained there for about
five years (in _Illustrious_ and _Britannia_), as Captain Harris's
senior executive and right-hand man. Before he joined the cadets were
in charge of a gunner; of course the actual instructors in practical
seamanship were seamen petty officers, the lieutenants superintending,
and conducting the examinations in this branch.
[3] Now Vice-Admiral Sir George S. Nares, K.C.B., etc.
Probably Lieutenant Nares was as good a man as could have been
obtained for the post of senior executive. Like his captain, he could
combine the _fortiter in re_ with the _suaviter in modo_, and was
always liked by the youngsters, in spite of being compelled to come
down on them pretty sharply at times. He was a thoroughly practical
seaman, and his seamanship book was always considered the most
complete and useful work of the kind in existence. He also patented a
life-saving kite, for rescuing people from a wreck on a lee shore,
which was ingenious, and perhaps deserved more attention than it
received.
Ideas have altered considerably in regard to discipline since those
days; and the arrangement at the time was that the cadets should be
placed in charge of ships' corporals for disciplinary purposes. These
men were, of course, taken from the ordinary ships' police, and great
care was no doubt exercised in their selection; but there are obvious
pitfalls in such a system, both for the corporals and the cadets, into
which both not infrequently tumbled.
A corporal who was apt to be too familiar would suffer from the enmity
of some, while with others he would be on terms of undue intimacy; a
man who was in the least degree retiring, or afraid to assert his
authority when necessary, would speedily find himself fitted with an
appropriate nickname, which would be shouted after him from hammocks
in some obscure corner of the cockpit.
Whether the corporals were open to bribery or not is doubtful; some
probably were, and in any case it could not be expected that men of
this class would exercise their authority with the strictly judicial
mind of an officer of education and experience, especially when
dealing with young gentlemen who were their superiors by birth, and
would in a few months become so in discipline.
However, good or bad, there they were, and there they remained, as an
institution, for years, taking a lion's share in the discipline of the
establishment, while at the same time some at least were permitted to
keep a little store of "tuck" and odds and ends, which they sold to
the youngsters at a heavy profit.
The prevailing impression left on the minds of some survivors of the
early training ship days is that the ship was "run" by the corporals.
This, however, is probably over stating the case; youngsters are not
able to discriminate accurately in such matters, and the fact that
they were brought into more close and frequent contact with the
corporals than with the superior officers would be liable to mislead
them as to the influence really exercised by the latter.
A vast amount of power was, however, undoubtedly vested in the
corporals, who were able, if so disposed, to spite a cadet who might
be obnoxious to them in a hundred ways: and, on the other hand, to
favour those who thought it worth while to make up to them, calling
"Good-night, Corporal Smith!" as he passed under their hammocks, in
place of the muttered nickname or ribald rhyme indulged in by the more
reckless. As, for instance, the following, aimed at the supposed
verdance of the corporals in the matter of seamanship:--
Corporal Stumps and Corporal Taylor
Went to sea in an old tin bailer:
Stumps took the oars and Taylor the sails,
And that is how they got on in the gales.
Withering sarcasm, from some young hero who had just learned to make a
bowline knot, and climb over the "futtocks" without blenching!
Needless to say, seamanship days were more in favour with the majority
than those devoted to the solution of problems in spherical
trigonometry or the pursuit of the unspeakable "X." The seamanship,
pure and simple, of those days contained much that was attractive to
youth. Going aloft to loose, furl, or reef the topsails; sitting
astride of the yardarm, in the post of honour, and calling "Light out
to windward" or "Haul out to leeward" in an authoritative, if shrill
and immature, voice; learning intricate knots, and getting well
besmeared with tar and grease in the process of splicing a rope or
stropping a block: all these were welcome instructions, during which
time would fly.
Then there were occasional cruises in the _Sealark_ brig, when the
first lieutenant would take out some of the more advanced cadets and
make them work the vessel, learning to "haul, reef, and steer," like
Dibdin's proverbial "jolly tar"; though it is doubtful whether any of
them could aspire to the counsel of perfection laid down in the same
song, and "laugh at the winds as they roar."
A playing-field for the cadets was provided at Haslar; but what they
played and how they played is more or less a matter of conjecture, as
no records are forthcoming. Certainly, there could have been nothing
like the systematic pursuit of cricket and excellent coaching which
has since become a _sine quâ non_ in every big school, and which was
to be very enthusiastically carried out on the _Britannia_. Nine boys
out of ten, however, will play some kind of cricket if they get a
chance, and the sort of cricket played by most naval men and boys in
those days was not exactly "county form." Here and there you will come
across a lad who cannot help playing cricket well, and appears always
to be in good trim, even after a long voyage; and no doubt there were
some such among the early cadets: indeed, it is certain that there
were, for there are those who can recollect them.
On board the ship one game in particular was in favour; it was
exclusively a sea play, and probably is not known in shore schools. It
rejoices in the title of "sling the monkey." The boy who was selected
to represent the intelligent quadrumanus was seated in a bowline-knot
formed at the end of a rope from a stay overhead, just long enough to
permit his feet to touch the deck when at rest. He, and all the others
who joined in the game, were armed with a hard-knotted handkerchief,
or sometimes a bit of rope--anything in the form of what was known as
a "cob" or a "togey"--and the mutual effort of the monkey and the
crowd was to get in a good one with the "cob." The monkey, naturally,
came in for pretty severe punishment, which he would endeavour to
repay, swinging wildly in the air as he rushed at his tormentors, who
had a good chance at him as he swung back, more or less helpless;
eventually, however, he would get a resounding whack in on one of the
others, who was then installed in his place.
New comers were, of course, subjected to inquisitorial treatment,
which gradually took a more or less traditional form as time went on
and numbers increased; sometimes they were made to "pay their footing"
the first time they went aloft--a time-honoured custom in the Navy, as
Captain Marryat testifies; but if the toll took the form of cash, it
would certainly bring down condign punishment on the tax gatherer if
detected; probably the exaction of "tuck" was the prevailing practice.
Captain Harris had, however, usually a very accurate idea as to what
went on in his ship, especially while the number of boys was small,
and it is safe to assume that nothing like vicious bullying was
carried on.
Meanwhile he and his executive officers, together with the two naval
instructors--for Mr. Jolley only did chaplain's duty--had all their
work cut out; the whole system being an untried innovation, everything
had to be organised _de novo_, and it naturally took some time to make
all run smoothly.
Mr. Inskip, who remained altogether thirteen years in the two ships,
is a very well remembered character among the earlier cadets. He took
an immense interest in the lads, and knew them all intimately,
discoursing with them on all kinds of subjects out of study hours. It
was no uncommon occurrence to see his keen, good-humoured face the
centre of a little crowd of cadets, pacing the deck with him, some
walking backwards in front, and following up behind as he went
back--many of them taller than he was, for he was a little man, with a
large heart; and many were the strange sea-tales related during these
pleasing promenades. He always had a kindly word for any lad whom he
might casually encounter: "Well, Smith, we tackled that chronometer
this morning, didn't we?" or, "How does the Great Circle sailing get
on?" He was a very capable instructor, with the knack of imparting his
knowledge to others, and many a problem of formidable aspect at
starting would assume quite a kindly guise under his hand, as he stood
by the black board and dexterously chalked in meridians, parallels,
and what not; or came behind some blunderer and reduced the chaos of
his mind--and his diagram--to something like order.
One of Mr. Inskip's sea yarns may be given here as a sample; it is to
be presumed that he occasionally amused himself by trying how much the
ordinary cadet would swallow--or pretend to swallow.
He related how, when he first went to sea--apparently in some other
capacity than that of naval instructor--his outfitter deemed it a good
plan to place a layer of bricks at the bottom of his chest. This
appeared peculiar, no particular reason being assigned for it.
However, he went to sea, bricks and all. When becalmed one day in the
tropics, the ship being, of course, surrounded by voracious sharks of
enormous dimensions, he suddenly recollected his bricks, and was
seized with a remarkable inspiration. Hurrying down to his chest, he
took several bricks to the galley, and got the cook to heat them; then
wrapping them up, all hot, in a blanket, he watched his opportunity
when a monster shark approached, and threw the bundle overboard. The
shark immediately seized and bolted it, and apparently felt quite
happy--as, indeed, any reasonable shark would under the circumstances.
After a time, however, the hot bricks came through the blanket, and
the fun began, the monster's agonies being described in the most
graphic style!
[Illustration: REV. R. M. INSKIP AND MR. K. KNAPP.]
Mr. Knapp, his assistant, was an equally capable man, but a different
character altogether. Very kind of heart and painstaking in his work,
he was, at the same time, of an exceedingly irritable temperament, and
anything in the shape of inattention or fidgeting among his pupils
would certainly bring down retribution in some form on the offender.
He possessed remarkable skill in drawing a large circle on the black
board--a proceeding very constantly required, of course, in
demonstrating problems in nautical astronomy, etc.--and would, unaided
by a string or pivot of any kind, produce, after a few preliminary
flourishes, like a golfer "addressing" his ball, a perfect circle with
one rapid sweep of his hand, and then, after regarding it with a
complacent twinkle in his eye for a few moments, dot in the centre
with unfailing accuracy. "Knapp's circles" became a by-word in his
class, and all would watch with breathless interest the few little
trial strokes in the air, followed by the swift and masterly
consummation, which would often be hailed with a murmur of applause,
not unpleasing to the master. Those who used to be in his class will
recall, however, some occasions on which, after a few preparatory
flourishes, he would suddenly drop his arm, and walk, with quick,
impatient stride, round the class-room, his hands clasped in front,
the chalk in one, and a two-foot rule, resting in the hollow of his
arm, in the other. The old hands knew very well what was coming, and
sat still as mice while Mr. Knapp perambulated behind their chairs,
until, coming to the unfortunate who was fidgeting with his parallel
rulers or some such thing--whack! would come the edge of the Gunter's
scale across his knuckles! "Oh, _sir_!" the victim would exclaim; but,
with never a word, the instructor would complete his circuit of the
room, and draw a better circle than ever, to the accompaniment of
suppressed sniggering at the expense of the fidgeter.
These little amenities did not, however, militate in the least against
a very general appreciation of Mr. Knapp's many good qualities, and as
time went on it came to be regarded as an excellent thing to be put in
"Knapp's study," his boys usually coming well to the front in passing
out, besides learning some valuable lessons in repose of deportment.
Although there is, unfortunately, a great dearth of actual record
during these times, there is abundant evidence of an implicit nature
that the new experiment was turning out a complete success. The letter
of Sir Charles Wood to Captain Harris, already quoted, after the
training-ship had been established about nine months, testifies to the
fact in no stinted terms; and in July, 1858, the staff was increased
by two naval instructors, Messrs. J. G. D. Barton and W. D. Hay.
Moreover, about the end of 1857 the ship was devoted exclusively to
the training of cadets, the novices being abolished for the time.
Among Captain Harris's pupils was Prince Alfred (the late Duke of
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha), who entered the Service August 31st, 1858.
He did not, however, take up his quarters on board the _Illustrious_,
but attended daily for instruction in seamanship, navigation, etc.
[Illustration: MODEL OF THE FIRST "BRITANNIA," BUILT IN 1682.
_Photo: Cassell & Co., Ltd._]
He evidently retained a lasting impression of the excellence of the
instruction he had received in the training-ship, for on March 23rd,
1862, when he was getting on towards the time of his examination for
sub-lieutenant, he writes to Captain Harris thanking him for a number
of questions and answers in seamanship, for which he had evidently
applied, and which he states will be invaluable to him for his
examination.
Towards the end of 1858 it became apparent that a larger and more
commodious ship would soon be required for the increasing number of
cadets, the batches necessarily overlapping one another, and the
vessel selected for the purpose was the _Britannia_, a fine
three-decked ship of 2,616 tons, carrying 120 guns. She was launched
as far back as 1820, and was a large vessel for that time, and
considered an excellent sailer. The name has since been associated
with the training of young officers, no modern vessel having received
it until quite recently.
[Illustration: MODEL OF THE THIRD "BRITANNIA," BUILT IN 1762.]
There were several previous _Britannias_, as would naturally be
expected, the first being launched in 1682. She was of 1,739 tons, and
carried twenty-four brass 42-pounders, thirty 18-pounders, twenty
9-pounders, fifteen 5-1/2-pounders, and five 3-pounders, a formidable
armament in those days. She was broken up in 1715, and her successor
was launched in 1719. She was of 1,869 tons, and carried 100 guns.
The third _Britannia_ dates from 1762, and was also a 100 gun ship,
measuring 2,091 tons. This vessel was a very bad sailer, but was
constantly in commission, taking part in the action off Cape St.
Vincent in 1797, and finally being present at Trafalgar, where she
carried the flag of Rear-Admiral the Earl of Northesk, and had ten men
killed, and forty-two wounded. Her name was, for some reason, changed
after this to _St. George_.
The fourth _Britannia_, selected to take the place of the
_Illustrious_, carried the flag of Admiral Dundas in the Crimean War,
in the early days of steam, when several sailing line-of-battle ships
were employed, being usually towed into action by steamers; she took
part in the bombardment of Sevastopol, October 17th, 1854, and at the
close of the war was laid up, until the necessary alterations were
taken in hand, in 1858, to fit her for her new duties.
All being ready by the end of the year, on January 1st, 1859, during
the absence of the cadets for their Christmas leave, Captain Harris
shifted his pennant from the _Illustrious_ to her successor, thus
commencing a new epoch in the history of the cadets' training ship.