The illustrations give a correct idea of their general appearance; and though, as has been observed, they are utilitarian rather than ornamental, they are very well fitted [!-- original location of illustration --] [!-- blank page --] in every way, and quite up to date. There are twenty-five beds in a dormitory, and room for a few more if necessary; each cadet’s chest stands at the foot of his bed, and a wash-stand beside it; there is a plunge bath, with three ordinary ones, at the end of the dormitory, and a capital lavatory besides, for use in the daytime.
The officers’ quarters are very comfortable and well furnished, and the cabins are of sufficiently liberal dimensions to be dignified by the name of rooms.
The whole establishment is lit by electric light, the current being brought from Newport at a high voltage, and transformed at East Cowes, so as to be delivered at 240 volts.
The playing fields are very large in extent—much larger than those at Dartmouth—and though they are now somewhat in the rough, they will in time be excellent, the subsoil being gravel and the drainage consequently very good.
The officers of the Osborne College are to be found in the “Navy List” under our old friend the Racer, formerly attached as a rigged cruising vessel to the Britannia, but now denuded of her yards and sails, and used as an instructional ship for the College.
Captain R. E. Wemyss is in command at Osborne, and his staff comprises a commander, four lieutenants, two engineer lieutenants, and an engineer sub-lieutenant, a captain Royal Marine Artillery, chaplain, staff surgeon, surgeon, staff paymaster, and assistant paymaster, besides some warrant officers and petty officers for instructional and disciplinary purposes.
There are also eight masters for studies, who do not, however, at present reside in the College, but have a comfortable sitting-room appropriated to them.
More dormitories, etc., are in course of construction, in anticipation of a considerable increase of numbers in the near future.
This does not, however, include the whole establishment, for down by the river-side, about three-quarters of a mile distant, there is an excellent workshop, with all necessary machines of the latest description, run by electric motors. This was also run up in record time, but is built of brick, and in every respect most workmanlike and suitable for its purpose.
There are—in October, 1903—about eighty cadets, whose course is in full swing, and who appear to be thoroughly happy and comfortable, and keen about work and play alike.