Of these, Mr. J. H. Spanton, the senior drawing master, has been 36 years in the ship; Mr. P. Brunel, the senior French master, 28 years; Mr. Hamilton Williams, the English master, 27 years; and Mr. Tims, the chief naval instructor, is in his twentieth year. In the past, there have been several naval instructors who have remained for over 20 years—to wit, Mr. A. C. Johnson, 24 years; the Rev. J. C. P. Aldous, 23 years; Mr. W. W. Lane, 22 years; Mr. G. B. Mason, 22 years.
Mr. Aldous, it will be recollected, was appointed, in 1875, as chief naval instructor, though he had never been connected with the Service in any capacity; during his long tenure of office he retained the goodwill of all his colleagues, and entirely justified his selection by the Admiralty for this important post.
Mr. Johnson was—and is—an enthusiast in the science of navigation, and has published several books on the subject, one of which—on finding the position of the ship at sea, by observations, in cloudy weather—has run into over five-and-twenty editions. He also edited a text-book on trigonometry for the use of the cadets.
MR. G. B. MASON.
The cadets are divided into two watches, and those who join each term are divided into two classes, half of each class being in either watch. Thus, if 64 cadets join in one term, they would be known as first and second class starboard and first and second class port; and as one watch is always “out of study”—i.e. at seamanship or other work—the class actually present with the naval instructor would number sixteen. A cadet captain has charge of this sixteen, and has to see that they enter and leave the study quietly, and pay due attention to whatever work they may be about, in the absence of the instructor.
There is also an excellent arrangement by which the boys of each class have to inform their captain every evening how they have employed their leisure time; and this has to be accounted for under numerous headings on a regular form provided for the purpose, and covering a week, Sunday excepted. Thus, so many will be swimming, or photographing, walking, playing cricket, tennis, racquets, fives, etc.; or out in sailing boats or blue gigs, and so on; 23 headings in all, including “punishment,” the total number in the last column showing that all the class have been accounted for each day; and this form is presented to the captain on Sunday.
