Many works have been written on the tactical and strategical superiority of those who have led British Fleets to victory; but in the great majority of cases there is little to show that the majority of our admirals were really more clever than many of their opponents. He would be a bold man who set out to prove in black and white that Collingwood had more brain than Villeneuve, or would have done better than that unlucky admiral had they changed places with each other. Nor would he have much more luck in attempting to prove that at any era in history British sailors were really braver than French ones. In one critical period of English history Drake appeared--and the most lasting sign of “how he did it” was “spit and polish”! In another dark time came St. Vincent--and his sign manual was “tailoring” and “routine.” In yet another critical hour came Nelson who supplied enthusiasm by his care for the health of his men. But it was Nelson who went out of his way to congratulate St. Vincent on hanging mutineers out of hand on a Sunday instead of keeping them till the Monday! These three great men knew what they relied upon. The real secret of British naval success has surely lain in the possession of naval architects able to create the kind of ship best calculated to stand hammering, and hard-hearted folk in authority who created a discipline which, however unreasonable some of it may now seem, has ever ensured victory. Superior British courage then, as now, was a pleasing topic for the music hall or its equivalent; but the real driving power of the British battle fleet in the past was “discipline.” Those who to-day would amend or alter even the most seemingly ridiculous anomalies of discipline will do well to ponder and walk warily, lest they upset greater things than they wot of--lest they damage the keystone embodied in the crude words of that unknown stoker who said: “It’s just this--do your blanky job.” WARSHIP NICKNAMES PAST AND PRESENT.