There seems to be only one way of solving this problem. Initial fitness must be secured, as at present, by careful selection at the outset, and if the promise is not fulfilled as time goes on, ruthless exclusion, whether of duke’s son or of cook’s son, must be the inflexible rule. But do not exclude for poverty alone, either at the outset or afterwards. Let every fit boy have his chance, irrespective of the depth of his parents’ purse. This might, of course, be done by a liberal system of reduced fees for cadets, midshipmen, and sub-lieutenants whose parents were in poor circumstances. But in the first place there would be a certain element of invidiousness in the selection of the recipients of the national bounty, and, in the second, mischievous class distinctions would inevitably arise among the cadets themselves--between those who were supported wholly or partially by the State and those who were not. It is most essential that there should be no such distinctions--that the cadets should be taught to look up only to those who are eminent in brains, character, and manners, and to look down only on those who are idle, vicious, vulgar, or incorrigibly stupid. Now, a common maintenance by the State would put them all on a common level of equality. Though the additional cost to the State would doubtless be great, the result would be well worth the extra expenditure. The quarter of a million sterling required would be lost and unnoticeable in the millions of the Education Vote, yet it would be worth all the millions of the Education Vote if it makes the Navy more efficient, because _The British Nation Floats on the British Navy._ It would put the Navy once for all on a basis as broad as the nation; it would immeasurably widen the area of selection, and place at the disposal of the Admiralty all the intellect and all the character of all classes of the people. THE NEW NAVAL EDUCATION. Masts and sails disappeared irretrievably with the demand for high speed. Now, what went with them? Why! The education that the sole use of sail power gave to the eye, brain, and body, in battling with the elements! It was a marvellous education which we had in the pure sailing days! One was alert by instinct! You never knew what might happen! A topsail-sheet carrying away, or a weather brace going, or a sudden shift of wind, or squall! One thus got habituated to being quick and resourceful, and it was more or less a slur and a stigma not to be so! _Also_ (_as Officer of the Watch_) _men’s lives were in your hands!_ For instance with men on the yards, and any lubberly stupidity with braces or helm! Both for Officers and Men then we no longer have this magnificent education by _the Elements_! Steam has practically annihilated the wind and the sea! What are we to do to get the same ready and resourceful qualities by other methods? The answer is: The Gymnasium, Boat Sailing, the Destroyer, the Submarine, and the Engine Room.