seaport towns. In 1854, the Trinity House* of Hull reorganized its old school of navigation, after the plan of the Royal Naval School at Greenwich, with two divisions, the lower for a class of boys who need elementary instruction, and the upper, for boys in the technical studies of a seafaring life. With the latter was opened an evening school for adult seamen. Similar schools, with a junior or lower division to revise and complete the general and preparatory studies, and a senior or upper school for special scientific and practical instruction in navigation and seamanship, were established at Yarmouth, Leith, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Waterford, and other ports, fifteen in all up to 1862, giving instruction to over 3,000 persons, and all of them enlisting local co-operation and individual payment with governmental aid. As an example of this class of schools we cite a brief description of one of the earliest established, from a Report of the Inspector, Edward Hughes, one of the masters of the Greenwich Hospital Schools. London Navigation School. The London Navigation School is held on the upper floor of the Sailors' Home Institution, situated in Well Street, London Dock, and consists of two separate apartments, occupied by the Upper and Lower sections. The upper section is for the instruction of masters and mates of the merchant service in the following subjects, viz. : Sextant Observing. Chart Drawing. Geometry. Algebra. Trigonometry. The Sailings. Use of the Nautical Almanac and Mathematical Tables. Principle and Construction of Chronometers. Methods of determining the Latitude and Longitude. Nautical Surveying. Compasses and Magnetism of Ships. Theory of Winds, Tides, and Currents. Methods of taking and recording Meteorological Observations. Principle and Construction of the Steam Engine as applied to the Paddle Wheel and Screw Propeller. The Lower section is for the education of seamen and apprentices. The course embraces the following subjects: Reading. Writing. Dictation and Letter Writing. Arithmetic. Geogra phy. The Sailings. Sextant Observing. Method of Keeping Ships' Books. The hours of attendance are from 9 to 12 a. m., 2 to 4 p. m., and 6 to 9 p. m. on the first five days of the working week, and from 9 to 12 a. m. on Saturdays. The fees are six shillings per week for masters and mates, sixpence for seamen, and apprentices are admitted free. The instruction of both sections is conducted by teachers who have been educated and trained in the Greenwich Hospital Schools, and who hold certificates of competency for teaching Navigation and Nautical Astronomy, from Mr. Riddle, the Head Master of the Nautical School. As regards the students who at present attend the school, it is manifest that the masters and mates taught in the senior section come for the express purpose of learning to solve certain problems in Navigation and Nautical Astronomy, required for passing the examination of the Local Marine Board, and they are unwilling to devote any portion of their time to the other subjects that enter into the course of instruction. These, though essential to the education of every master mariner, are unfortunately not at present required of a candidate to pass an examination which proclaims him competent to take command of a vessel. The lower section is composed of seamen and apprentices, who are for the most part employed during the day at their ships in the docks, and have acquired * The Trinity Board of Hull was established in 1537, in imitation of Trinity House, London, incorporated by Henry VIII in 1515. (but existing long before,) for the promotion of commerce and navigation, licensing pilots, erecting beacons and lighthouses, &c. Both were probably in imitation of Charles V. who established at Seville, in Spain, at the Casa de Contratacion, lectures on navigation, and an examination of persons to act as pilots and mariners the rudiments of an English education before entering the school. They attend during their short stay in port from 6 to 9 in the evenings, and their chief object seems to be to acquire a knowledge of the sailings and the methods of keeping the books of a ship. Both sections are taught the use of nautical instruments, and for this important purpose the Board of Trade has granted a liberal supply of requisites to carry out an efficient system of instruction, as will be seen by the list appended to this Report. Those students who are sufficiently educated are accustomed to work out their own observations. None of them have been allowed to leave the school without receiving as great an amount as was possible of general information, in addition to the special instruction in the subjects for which they attended. Lectures have been delivered in the evenings upon the Steam Engine, Electricity, and Magnetism, with other branches of Natural Philosophy; and the Physical Geography of the Ocean has received particular attention. The following statistics are given in the Report of Capt. Ryder, of the Royal Navy, in 1858. The officers of the committee of management are: Chairman, Admiral Sir H. Hope. Secretary, Captain George Pierce, R. N. Head-Master, John Bowing, 1 certificate. The total number receiving instruction in navigation in or through the agency of the school during 1858 has been 149, showing a total increase of 25 since last year. The total fees have been 461. 15s. 6d. The entire number of adults and boys who have at any time paid fees during the year are, masters, 3; chief mates, 17; only mates, 2; second mates, 37; seamen, 62; apprentices, 28; total number of students, 149. The following is the rate of fees paid by adults and boys per week:-In the day classes-Masters studying for extra certificates, 6s.; chief mates studying for master, 68.; only mates studying for chief mates, 6s.; second mates studying for chief mates, 6s.; seamen studying for only mates, 6s.; for second mates, 68.; apprentices studying navigation, 6s.; those not studying navigation, 18.; seamen not studying navigation, 18.; boys learning navigation, 6d.; boys not learning navigation, 6d. In the evening classes-Adults learning navigation, 3s.; not learning navigation, 1s.; boys learning navigation, 3s.; not learning navigation, 6d. The average attendance at the classes has been : Day classes, Grand total of fees, 461. 15s. 6d. morning, 7; afternoon, 6. 6. The amount of aid afforded to the school by the Department has been 437. 16s. 4d., which sum includes the payments for the master's certificate and other allowances, the payments to pupil-teacher, the cost of medals, &c. School Ships. There is another class of nautical schools for destitute and endangered boys, which are aided by the government through the Ragged School Society, and are kept on board of ships, the practical seamanship of which might advantageously be incorporated into the navigation schools. The expense of these ships per day is thus given by Capt. Ryder, in his Report on Navigation Schools in 1858. I have collected some statistics showing the expense of school ships. The Akbar, a frigate at Liverpool, is a reformatory, and has about a 100 boys. The Venus, also a frigate, is in charge of the Marine Society, and anchored near Woolwich; she is a school ship for destitute lads, and has about 140 boys. In the Akbar, supported partly by local contributions and partly by the Government grant of one shilling a day for each boy, the expense of the establishment is probably reduced to as low a scale as possible. The Marine Society is a corporation which can afford to be more liberal in its arrangements. The Akbar was fitted out at an expense of 1,8007. but about 1,000l. is considered to be sufficient for a fit out, if the hull is in good repair. The Marine Society's ships are always fitted out by the Admiralty without charge. The Akbar costs about 250l. a year for repairs, &c. Estimate of Annual Expense per Boy, deduced from Report. Outline of Aims and Management of Navigation Schools. In 1858, Captain Alfred P. Ryder, of the Royal Navy, was appointed to inspect the Navigation Schools connected with the Department of Science and Art, and report on their condition and future management. The statements and suggestions of this report harmonize so fully with the conclusions which we have reached respecting the need and mode of establishing and managing this class of schools in our own country, that we can not better express our own views than by making liberal extracts. The Government is very anxious to raise the tone of the Commercial Marine for the following reasons: (a.) Because the Commercial Marine supplies even in time of peace a considerable number of men to the Royal Navy, and because in time of war we should have to rely upon it almost entirely to enable us to man our ships when our reserves were exhausted, which would soon be the case in a naval war. (b.) Because on the efficiency of our commercial marine depends to a great extent our position as a commercial country, and on our position as the greatest commercial country rests our supremacy among European nations. (c.) Because to the commercial marine is entrusted every year an immense amount of valuable property. Want of skill, intelligence, and readiness of resource largely increases the yearly loss of this property. (d.) Because to the commercial marine every year are entrusted the lives of a large and increasing number of Her Majesty's subjects. Want of skill, intelligence, and readiness of resource largely increase the yearly loss of life at sea. (e.) Because the commercial marine consists of more than 200,000 persons, and is, therefore, an important portion of the nation, considering it numerically. (f.) Because the commercial marine represents England, its religion, laws, customs, and habits, in every foreign country, and it is desirable that our repre sentatives should cease to exhibit (as is now frequently the case,) the worst side of the national character. Large numbers of the sailors in our commercial marine are at present neither good men nor good sailors, but are disorderly, addicted to drink, inefficient at sea and all but useless in harbor. Many of theni who reach the rank of mate and master compare disadvantageously in general knowledge with the mates and masters of foreign vessels. There are of course numerous brilliant exceptions. They are to be found chiefly in the service of the large ship-owners. In knowledge of seamanship English masters and mates need not fear a comparison with those of any other nation. The Government, anxious to raise the tone of the Commercial Marine, has endeavored to purify the stream at its source, by the creation or support of Navigation Schools, in order that as soon as possible, by the introduction of well educated lads, its character may be elevated and improved. The Navigation Schools referred to are supported by fees, by local subscriptions, and by aid from the Department of Science and Art. Their object is to offer instruction in the scientific branches of an Education specially adapted to the Nautical Profession. In commencing an investigation into the present position and prospects of the Navigation schools, it is evidently advisable to ascertain the number of vacan cies that occur annually in the commercial marine; these vacancies are occasioned by death, desertion, and change of profession. It is much to be desired that these vacancies should all be filled by well educated English, Scotch, and Irish lads, for in time of war we could only recruit from the Commercial Marine those sailors who are British subjects.* Capt. Ryder estimates the number of lads required to supply the annual vacancies by death in the British Commercial Marine at over 5,000, and by desertion and change of profession, by at least 1,000 more, or a total of over 6,000; and that schools for seamen and officers should be sufficient to give an annual supply of at least that number, and so accommodate 18,000 students. According to the Report of the Registrar General of Seamen, there were bound and registered at the several ports of the United Kingdom, in the year 1856, 7,410 apprentices. The 176,387 men (not including masters,) employed in the Home and Foreign Trade, were classified as follows: 21,204 mates, 13,232 petty officers, 83,682 seamen, 23,974 apprentices and boys, 12,640 other persons, 1,612 engineers, 4,896 firemen. Of this number 14,375 were foreigners, and 7,712 lascars. During the year 1856, examinations were passed for extra masters, 22; for ordinary masters, 1,223; for first mates, 689; for only mates, 12,223; for second mates, 940—a total of 4,097. Capt. Ryder calculates that the total number required every year to fill up the vacancies and meet the demands of an expanding commerce as follows: Capt. Ryder remarks that the system of nautical education should be broad enough and attractive enough to bring in all the boys of all classes who wish to go to sea, or may be required to meet the demands of the national and commercial marine. The education given should make athletic, intelligent, handy seamen, and impart such an amount of scientific knowledge of navigation and seamanship as will qualify a due proportion for a lower grade of officers. The first point to be aimed at would apparently be the establishment of an adequate number of schools, so as to offer scientific instruction on the lowest terms to a sufficient number of boys, to supply the demand for educated young men to fill the vacancies in the ranks of masters and mates. Their knowledge of seamanship must of course be gained before the mast. A commercial navy, fed by a supply of lads that had for three years attended • According to the Registrar General's Report for 1858, there were 13,200 Foreigners serving in the Mercantile Marine in 1854, natives of the following countries:-Americans, (U. S.,) 3,888; Austrians, 532; Belgians, 198, Danes, 423; Germans, 319; Greeks, 76; Hollanders, 1,3); Italians, 110; Norwegians, 570; Portuguese, 564; Russians. 44; Prussians, 563; Spaniards, 358; Swedes, 1,512; French, 479; Various, viz., South Americans, Chinese, &c., &c., 2,499; total, 13,200. the classes at a Navigation school would challenge comparison for general knowledge and information with any profession in England, and would soon cease to be the last resort of those idle, troublesome fellows, expelled from the agricultural class and the various trades, who are too old, too ignorant, or too profligate ever to make even indifferent sailors. Having stated what appears to me to be the ground that may be beneficially covered by a network of navigation schools, I will proceed to state what, in my opinion, are the means by which a Navigation School may be rendered most attractive and efficient. I. A Navigation School assisted by the Government should offer sound Instruction epecially adapted to the Nautical Profession. Although at first sight the number of subjects named hereafter may appear large, and the education of too high an order, these objections will vanish when it is remembered that lads are not acceptable on board merchant ships until they are 15-16, because they are of little use, and give trouble; and yet, as has been already stated, if not attracted to the Navigation schools at the age of 12-13, and induced to remain in attendance on the classes until they are 15-16, they will be drawn into some other profession. The course of instruction which is adopted must necessarily therefore be sufficiently comprehensive to extend over three years, and at the same time continue to the last to be specially adapted to conduce towards the boy's success in his profession. The subjects which appear to be suitable for boys destined for the nautical profession and retained under instruction from 12-13 to 15-16 are as follows:(1.) Reading and writing from dictation. * (2.) First four rules of arithmetic. (3.) Grammar. (4.) A complete course of arithmetic. (5.) Algebra to quadratics, with application. (6.) Geometry, Books of Euclid, I. II. III., and a few propositions in Book IV. (7.) Trigonometry, plane and spherical. (8.) Navigation. (9.) Nautical astronomy, including lunar double alt. and Sumner's method. (10.) Practical use of the instruments used at sea. (11.) Geography, descriptive, especially as regards products, climates, &c. (12.) Geography, physical, (13.) Chart drawing; surveying. (14.) Free-hand drawing. (15.) History, particularly Scripture History and English History. (16.) Letter writing; book-keeping. (17.) Mechanics and steam-engine. (18.) Magnetism and electricity in relation to ships. (19.) Laws of storms and tides. (20.) Knowledge of the code of signals. (21.) Mercantile laws and usages, as far as is necessary for the master of a merchant ship. (22.) Gymnastics. The above subjects are taught in the Navigation School at Hull. II. A Navigation School should provide a good supply of apparatus, viz., instruments, books, maps, slates, &c. without any charge to the pupils. In Ireland, where a class of Navigation Schools has been established as part of the system of National Education, a very liberal supply of sextants, books, maps, &c., is given to each school by the Board of Education. III. A Navigation School aided by Government should offer valuable prizes in the shape of exhibitions, instruments, books, &c. The great difficulty we have to contend with is the reluctance on the part of some parents, the inability on the part of others, to maintain their children during the three years' course. *The boys are expected to be proficient in these subjects before entry, and they need only be taken up in the way of review. |