The Story of the Britannia

The Story of the Britannia deals with the training ship for naval cadets, with some account of previous methods of naval education and of the new scheme of 1903. The preface says the material for the account of the Naval Academy and the old Naval College has been obtained, with very little exception, from official documents. The preface also says there is, unfortunately, a considerable period which is not covered by any papers to be found in the Record Office.

The text finds a sad lack of method in regard to the majority of entries in Nelson’s time, though that great man himself was of the relatively mature age of twelve when he went afloat in 1770. Jack Easy, it will be remembered, received some valuable preliminary training at the hands of Mr. Bonnycastle, who literally “licked him into shape” with a good pliant cane. The lecture-room is on board the Britannia, fitted with rising tiers of seats, and all appliances for practical demonstration in physics.