The title page is elegantly inscribed: “A Plan of Mathematical Learning taught in the Royal Academy, Portsmouth; performed by Philip B. V. Broke, a Student there: 1792.” The subjects comprise arithmetic, geometry, plane trigonometry, the use of the terrestrial globes, geography, chronology, spherics, astronomy, latitude, longitude, dead reckoning, marine surveying, fortification, gunnery, mechanics.
A PAGE FROM BROKE’S BOOK.
In addition to this very comprehensive mathematical course, the students, as we have seen, were taught French and drawing, fencing, dancing, seamanship, and ship construction.
A considerably longer period was allowed for this than for the somewhat similar course now in force on board the Britannia, the maximum time being three years; and as Broke did not get through under this, he was evidently not among the most brilliant scholars, for not a few finished in two and a half years, and some in considerably less. The master, certainly, says of Broke, in his last report, that he “has a good capacity, and is very diligent”; but the fact remains that his time in passing places him below the average, and his work book therefore speaks well for the Academy.
FIRST AND SECOND CLASS VOLUNTEERS, EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY.
From an old print in the possession of J. Gieve & Sons.
Broke was sixteen when he went to sea; and twenty years afterwards, having worked his ship’s company up to an admirable state of discipline and efficiency, he fought the famous duel with the Chesapeake, in connection with which his name is familiar to every schoolboy.