Promptly as the institution of a Naval Academy was decided upon, and plans prepared, the completion of the building appears to have dragged on heavily. Improvements and additions were carried out meanwhile, and it was not until the early summer of 1733 that it was actually opened--a very long period to be occupied in the erection of such a building. The original plan appears to have included the present west front, with the cupola--intended for, and for a long time used as, an observatory--with the north wing, and a very short wing on the south side, which, however, was prolonged during the process of building, the large study, now the billiard-room, and a small infirmary, being added. Over the latter were subsequently built some more rooms, including that now used as an observatory and chronometer room. A large number of minor alterations have since been made from time to time, so that it is not easy to identify the rooms frequently alluded to in letters, engineer's plans, etc. Some important alterations and additions were made about 1807, when the whole scheme was reorganised, and the name changed to Royal Naval College, of which more hereafter. The original curriculum appears to have included the following subjects: Geometry, navigation, writing and arithmetic, French and drawing, fencing and dancing, for which purposes the following staff was maintained:-- Head mathematical master £150 Second mathematical master 100 Drawing and French master 100 Fencing and dancing master 80 Dockyard surgeon (for attendance) 20 Seamanship and ship construction were taught by the master attendant of the Dockyard and master shipwright respectively, who received 10s. per lesson (presumably to a class), while a boatswain and gunner received 5s. each per lesson, and a sergeant the same amount, for teaching the use of the "firelock." [Illustration: THE ROYAL NAVAL ACADEMY, PORTSMOUTH, 1806.] The Commissioner of the Dockyard was _ex officio_ Governor, and received £100 a year additional for his duties in connection with the Academy. He was bound to pay frequent visits thereto, and to satisfy himself that the masters were carrying out their duties in a proper manner, and the pupils duly attentive and of good behaviour. Each student was to have a room, or cabin, to himself, and a warrant to the Clerk of the Cheque, in the Dockyard, authorises him to expend the following amounts for furniture:-- 33 Bedsteads, if plain, or "field" £1 0 0 £33 0 0 33 Bedsteads, if to turn up 2 9 0 80 17 0 33 Buroes (_sic_)? bureaux 3 0 0 99 0 0 8 Stoves 2 0 0 16 0 0