He had now to try his hand at turning out similar youngsters, and, though he found the way paved for him by the results of his predecessor’s forethought and experience, he probably felt that he had his work cut out.
Shortly afterwards Lieutenant Nares was promoted to commander, and, though he retained his post as senior executive for a time, he was superseded in December by Commander William H. Edye,[4] a very smart and energetic officer, who was held in great respect by the cadets.
[4] Now Admiral W. H. Edye.
Nares’ departure was doubtless a great loss to the ship; he identified himself very heartily with the cadets in their games, etc., and displayed remarkable activity in playing “Sling the Monkey” and “High Cockolorum” with them.
A very pleasant reminiscence in connection with him is an excursion which he “personally conducted” at Easter, 1862, taking about fifty cadets, whose homes were too far distant for them to avail themselves of the brief holidays, for a three or four days’ trip to Wells, Glastonbury, Cheddar, etc. The boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and made a good show at the service in Wells Cathedral on Easter Sunday, where the preacher “gie’d ’em a sight o’ gude advice.”
On one occasion a number of the cadets were on the west side of Chesil Bank, watching the rollers coming in after a heavy gale: a very fine sight. The beach—entirely composed of large loose pebbles—runs down steeply, so that the sea breaks in one great “comber,” coming in like a wall, and dragging back the pebbles in the “undertow” with a tremendous clatter. Some of the lads thought it good fun to run down after the receding wave, as far as they dared, right under the next advancing one; a most dangerous amusement.
Lieutenant Nares unexpectedly came on the scene, and, arming himself with a long piece of tough seaweed, something like a South African sjambok, he gave chase, and scored heavily off several, being very fleet of foot. Having afforded this practical proof of the probable consequences of being caught at such games, he gave them a lecture as to the far more serious results of losing their footing, or being dragged out by the undertow—which, indeed, one or two had narrowly escaped.
It was not long after the appointment of Captain Powell that the Admiralty decided to introduce corporal punishment for serious offences among the cadets. It is not quite clear at the present time what gave rise to this innovation, but there were probably some unusually reckless spirits among the youngsters, of whom it was deemed necessary to make an example.
There was considerable awe among the cadets the first time they were assembled to “witness punishment”—for it was publicly inflicted—and the culprit was lashed, in true man-o’-war fashion, on one side of the deck, facing a port, while his comrades were drawn up opposite.
The deterrent effect was probably somewhat discounted by the amazing sang froid of the young gentleman under punishment, who took his birching without a murmur, and, having a good view of Portland Roads through the port, had apparently been interesting himself in the manœuvres of a merchant vessel which was beating in; for, as the last stroke was given, and the corporal advanced to release him, he remarked, in a genial, conversational tone, “Ah, she’s missed stays! I thought she would!”