This is a great deal less than the cost per boy on board the Warspite the oldest established of the mercantile training-ships in England). There the cost of each boy sent afloat is over £60. The Exmouth makes no better showing when the number of boys sent out is considered, nor does any one of the many others stationed about the British coasts. The total cost of the Greenwich Hospital School per boy (ride post) is about £20 a year, but the circumstances are quite different. The boy may be kept as long as four and a half years, thus making his total cost much greater.

Nor even if the cost of the training-ships of the mercantile marine were much less, would it be advisable to take many from them into the Navy, instead of training the full complement in naval vessels. By ar. rangement with a certain number of these ships, boys who can pass the naval standards, after receiving the mercantile training, can be received into the naval training-ships as second-class boys; but not more than forty a year pass. And in the language of Admiral Nicolson, R. N., "The boys are no more trained as compared with our boys, than a mere militiamen with a guardsman."

CHAPTER VIII.

ROUTINES.

In the following, the word "instructor” refers to the petty-officer instructor, whose status has been before described. Only the essential parts of the routines are given.

SUMMER.

MONDAY.

A. M.

5.00.-Turn hands up.

5.10.-Instructors inspect and stow hammocks. 5.20.-Watch clean upper and main decks.

Watch below wash and bathe.

6.05.-Watch below to quarters, to clean guns.

6.30.-Breakfast.

7.00.-Watch stow bags.

Watch below clear up mess-decks.

7.15.-Watch to muster; to be exercised at stations by the instructors and boatswain's

mates.

7.40.-Assembly; cross upper yards and exercise at station.

8.00.-Watch below to quarters; watch on deck square yards. 8.30.-Assembly. Boys fall in for inspection, towels in hand.

Inspection is made by instructors, ships' corporals, barbers, and tailors. After inspection towels are hung on the lines to dry. (NOTE. I would mention here that the lines on which towels are hung are left up until the towels are dry. They remained up even at an inspection by the port admiral which I witnessed).

9.00.-Divisions and prayers.

9.15.-General sail drill.

10.15.-Stand easy ten minutes, afterward continue sail drill, other watch aloft. 11.30.-Down top-gallant and royal yards, clear up decks, reeve clothes lines. Cooks and captains of messes prepare dinner tables. Messes, when ready, are inspected by a lieutenant.

P. M.

Dinner.

12.45.-Stand by towels.

Assembly. Boys fall in on quarter deck. Offenders are punished in the presence of all the boys. Boys told off as per routine.

2.25.-Stand easy five minutes.

2.30.-Change drills.

Boys of first instruction go over mast-head.

3.30.-Retreat. Up bags; shift into night clothing; wash clothes.

5.00.-Tea.

5.30.-Fire stations; afterwards one watch of boys to go in boats to practice pulling. The other watch to bathe.

7.30.-Up boats.

Supper, prayers, and hammocks.

8.30.-Captains of messes report to instructors that messes have been cleared up. 8.45.-Pipe down.

9.00.-Rounds.

(The differences only from the routine of Monday are noted in the following :)
7.40.-Assembly; cross-yards; make and shorten sail with square yards.
9.00.-Prayers; boys told off for instruction and drill.

10.00.-Stand easy five minutes; boys of first instruction go over mast-heads.
10.05.-Change drills.

11.30.-Retreat; assembly; down upper yards.

P. M.

3.45.-Down top-gallant masts; lower boats for pulling exercise.

5.30.-Divisions; inspect night clothing; remainder same as on Monday.

WEDNESDAY.

7.40 A. M.-Up top-gallant masts; cross-yards; make sail; brace for casting; hoist jib; brace round; shorten and furl.

Remainder of morning as on Tuesday.

P. M.-Boys not at school at general boat exercise; sailing and rowing. 3.30.-Down top-gallant masts.

Remainder of routine as on Monday.

In afternoon boys not at school to be landed as a battalion.

General cleaning in the morning.

SATURDAY.

At 7.30, target-firing party to be sent to the Circe for practice.

11.15.-Air bedding; the blankets (which are all fitted with permanent stops) are stopped onto the lines separately; the habit of passing the lashing around the hammock and bedding and tricing it up into the rigging is not permitted.

In the afternoon the boys are sent to the bath-rooms to bathe.

Clean hammocks to be served out on alternate Saturdays; clothes lines are rove on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11.35 a. m.; clothing is always washed after 5.30 in summer; mattress covers are washed once a month.

The winter routine only differs from that in summer in such things as must be changed on account of weather and exposure. Clothes are washed but twice a week, and hammocks every three weeks. No washing of decks takes place in very cold weather. No sail drills take place during the winter months.

The following are the regulations regarding the manner of conducting the morning inspection :

The boys are to muster towels in hand; as soon as the towels have been inspected they are to be hung on the lines; when the boys reassemble the following inspection

is made:

1. The sleeves are to be turned up and the cleanliness of the person is to be minutely ascertained.

2. "Right about face." Examine clothing critically.

3. "Right half face." Each boy is to hold up first his right arm; then left, to see that the frock is in good repair.

S. Ex 52-4

4. "Front." Off shoes and stockings; roll the trousers above the knees; examine legs and feet.

5. "Right about face." Examine heels, heads, and legs.

6. "Front." Off caps; inspectors and police see hair properly cut; examine caps. Tailors, shoemakers, and barbers are always to attend at this inspection. The tailors carry with them a preparation for removing spots, which is applied during this inspection.

A portion of the boys are detailed every Monday morning for work under the tailors, in order to learn how to make and mend their clothing; a large part of the tailors' duties consist in giving this instruction.