He did not, however, take up his quarters on board the Illustrious, but attended daily for instruction in seamanship, navigation, etc.
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.
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 5½-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.