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 their journals, and examine them regarding their advancement in the theoretical and practical knowledge of this profession.

This academy, as established by the order in council already mentioned, was confined entirely to the education of young cadets for the navy: but in the third report of the commissioners, appointed to inquire into the civil affairs of the navy, laid before Parliament in June 1806, a regular system of education for shipwrights was also proposed; and the suggestion was accordingly carried into effect, though not till some years afterwards. The professor of the naval academy is also the instructor of the shipwright apprentices, but his instructions extend only to that class who are to serve on board his Majesty's ships of war. No apprentice can be admitted to the academy under sixteen years of age; and he must be previously examined by the professor, before a committee of the navy board, in arithmetic, the first six books of Euclid, and in French. If the candidate is approved, he must be bound to the resident commissioner of the dock-yard, for seven years, six of which he spends at the academy, and one at sea. The salary of the apprentices increases yearly, from L. 60, to L. 140; out of which they pay L. 8 to the professor. The number of these apprentices was originally limited to twenty-five; but latterly, six more have been added. They spend half the day under the professor; and the other half under the master shipwright, in the mould lofts, learning the management of timber, and manual labour in ship building. Lectures are delivered three times a week, after working hours, on the branches of science connected with naval architecture; and annual examinations take place before the resident commissioner, the master shipwright, and the professor.

Ont of the class of shipwright apprentices, thus educated, are selected the master measurers; foremen of shipwrights; master boat-builders; master mast-makers; assistants to master ship-builders; mechanists in office of inspector-general of naval works; assistants to surveyors of the navy; master ship-wrights; second surveyor of navy; inspector-general of navy works; and first surveyor of navy.

II. The Royal Military Academy at Woolwich was established by George II. by warrants dated 30th of April and 18th of November 1741; for the purpose of instructing “raw and inexperienced people, belonging to the military branch of the ordnance, in the several parts of the mathematics necessary for the service of the artillery, and the business of engineers.” We find no further notice respecting this institution till the year 1776, when the number of scholars, then called cadets, amounted to forty-eight. In the year 1786, they were increased to sixty; in 1796, to ninety; and in 1798, to one hundred, forty of whom were educated for the service of the East India Company. This number continued till the year 1806, when the establishment was improved and further extended; the number of masters being increased, and the cadets being divided into two bodies. This latter regulation took place in consequence principally of the unhealthy and confined situation of the old buildings in the royal arsenal; new buildings haying been erected on Woolwich Common, on the side of Shooter’s Hill, in a more open and dry situation. As soon as these were finished, one hundred and twenty-eight cadets were lodged in them; sixty continuing in the royal arsenal. At this period there were nine masters of mathematics. In 1810, the cadets for the service of the East India Company were withdrawn from Woolwich; and the extra cadets, who, for want of room, had been sent to Marlow, or to private schools, were taken into the college, under the name of supernumeraries. The establishment at present consists of two hundred cadets, one hundred and twenty-eight of whom are in the new buildings, and seventy-two, including twelve supernumeraries, reside in the arsenal. The number of cadets is not fixed by warrant, but is at the discretion of the master-general of ordnance, who, with the board of ordnance, have the entire superintendence of the institution. The immediate direction, however, is vested in the lieutenant-governor and inspector, who are chosen generally from the artillery or engineers by the master-general of the ordnance. It is the duty of these officers, aided by the assistant-inspector, to control the masters and professors, and to see that the cadets are taught the necessary branches of instruction. The professors and masters are appointed on the recommendation of the lieutenant-governor, who, assisted by men of science, previously examines them. One master is appointed for every sixteen cadets. At present there are a professor of fortification, with two assistants; a professor of mathematics, with six masters and assistants; two French masters; a drawing-master for ground, and an assistant; a drawing-master for figures; and another for landscape; a dancing-master; a fencing-master; two modellers; and a lecturer on chemistry. Lectures are also given on the different branches of natural philosophy. The inferior branches of education are taught at the lower institution in the arsenal, and the higher branches at the buildings on the common.

The young men educated at the Royal Military Academy of Woolwich are the sons of noblemen, gentlemen, or military officers. They are called gentlemen cadets, and cannot be admitted under fourteen, nor above sixteen years of age. They are nominated by the master-general of the ordnance, as governor of the academy; but they must be well grounded in English grammar, arithmetic, and French, and they undergo a previous public examination before the masters of the academy. The cadets educated at Woolwich are considered as the first company of the royal regiment of artillery, of which the master-general of the ordnance is the captain. They are also divided into companies; each company having a captain and two subalterns, as military directors. Each cadet receives 2s. 6d. a-day, or L. 45, 12s, 6d. a-year, which covers all his regular expences, except keeping up his linen. The annual vacations consist of twelve weeks.

Monthly returns of the studies of the cadets, shewing the relative progress of each in every branch, with his particular character subjoined, are sent to the master-general of the ordnance; there are also public examinations before the general-officers of the