With so conservative an institution as the British Navy, it is yet too early to give a definite decision one way or the other on the subject. But it is worth noting that no one seems to have remarked on the fact that it was a tentative return, under modern and peace conditions, to what obtained in the days of the Great French Wars, and then at least satisfactorily answered requirements. No one really knew, and no one could do more than surmise, what would be required for manning the Fleet in the next great war in which the British Navy was engaged. It was generally assumed that in the present century the re-institution of the press-gang would be quite impossible owing to public opinion. Public opinion, however, is a variable quantity, and with a Navy in desperate plight for men there is no saying definitely what might or might not happen, either publicly or _sub rosa_. It was generally agreed on all hands that, large as the trained _personnel_ of the British Navy is, it might prove totally inadequate in a big naval war. In such case extra men would have to be found--sentiment or no sentiment. The Short Service System, despite all its drawbacks, has so far proved a loophole to avoid the horrors of the press-gang of the old days; and much which on the face of it was at the time obviously unsatisfactory may in the future prove to have been foresight of an unexpectedly high order. It only remains to add that nothing of this sort has ever been advanced in extenuation by advocates of Short Service, who have confined themselves entirely to the obvious point of economy and the more or less debatable point of an efficient reserve. To-day, of course, the crews do not find their ships a prison; but it is a moot question whether they are relatively much better off than in Nelson’s day. A great deal of leaven is given--far more, indeed, than is represented by philanthropic agitators--but it is mainly of the nature of “short leave.” This--in these days of travel--means very little relatively, since it rarely allows of a trip home. For good or ill, the bluejacket of to-day is a “home-bird”; consequently, what a hundred years ago would have represented “ample liberty,” to-day appears much on all fours with the old time confinement to the ship. Modern facilities for travel have swallowed up most of the difference! This is among the matters not understood by the Powers That Be. The perspective has changed; and Service Conditions have not yet been fully accommodated to the alteration.