The Story of the "Britannia" The training ship for naval cadets. With some account of previous methods of naval education, and of the new scheme of 1903.

CHAPTER VII.

Chapter 7129 wordsPublic domain

THE "BRITANNIA" IN THE 'NINETIES.

Captain Digby--Alleged Gross Bullying--A Lively Correspondence-- Various Uninvited Opinions--A Gleam of Light from Within--"Old Etonian" and Admiral Richards--Captain Digby Sums Up the Case--"Navilus": His Book--Morning Amenities--"One Day's 'Four'"--A Typical Day--The Hardships of "Four"--A Day in the _Wave_--"A Nice Fresh Breeze"--Reefing Topsails--"Man Overboard"--Comfort for Mothers--A Trip in a Skiff--Forbidden Joys--A "Slippery Hitch"--A Half-holiday--Tea with "Ma Fox"--A Sunday Outing--"Fearful Fagging"--The "Baby's" Final Aspirations--Captain Moore--A Hot Reformer--Lieutenants as "Sea-Daddies"--Abolition of Cadets' Corporals--Chief of the Staff--Naval Warrant Officers--New Admiralty Regulations--The _Racer_ Arrives--Ship Struck by Lightning--Jubilee Day--The Queen's Medal--Captain Marryat's Spectacles--Cadets' Food--A Hard Case!--Remarkable Physical Development--Influenza Epidemic--An Ill-informed Parent--Ridiculous Allegations-- Visit of the King and Queen--John Gilpin--"Ye Mariners of England"--Captains in the 'Nineties 144