Before proceeding to describe the arrangements which are to supersede the old _Britannia_ course, it may be interesting to give a few figures showing the numbers who have passed through the ship. These are not available earlier than January 1st, 1862. Since that date the number of cadets actually entered, up to the close of 1902, is 5,009; the number who have presented themselves for final examination out of the ship, from December, 1862, to August, 1903, is 4,741; and out of these there have been 151 failures--3·1 per cent. This is not a large percentage over so long a period; but taking the last ten years separately there is a very marked improvement, 1,770 cadets examined giving only 27 failures, or 1-1/2 per cent.; and the last five examinations--up to August, 1903--have brought no failures. There is no record easily available as to the numbers withdrawn, or discharged, for misconduct, earlier than midsummer, 1879; since then, up to August, 1903, 79 have been withdrawn, and eleven discharged for misconduct, or 2·9 per cent. in all; and these numbers include six who were discharged at the time of the bullying investigation, during Captain Digby's command. During the last ten years, however, only 1·6 per cent. have left before completing their course, there being only one case of dismissal for misconduct. Since 1884, 66 cadets have entered the Service from the two training-ships of the Mercantile Marine Service Association, the _Conway_ in the Mersey, and the _Worcester_ in the Thames. These lads, after two years in the training ships, provided they fulfil certain conditions as to age, etc., are admitted for examination with the cadets in the _Britannia_. Some details as to the cost of the _Britannia_ will be found in the Appendix; the figures are high, and do not include the cost of the sea-going training ships now in commission, which is not small. [Illustration: MR. J. H. SPANTON.] If the gross amount named in the estimates be taken, without deducting the parents' contributions, the rate per head per annum in 1882-3 would be £258, and in 1901-2 £187. Whether this is excessive in respect of what is obtained for it, or how it compares with the cost per head at the most expensive public schools, it is not precisely within the scope of this volume to inquire; but probably a ship school of the high type of the _Britannia_ is a very expensive affair, and, after all, when the amount of the Navy estimates, year by year, is taken into consideration, forty or fifty thousand pounds does not seem an extravagant sum to pay for the training of executive officers: it will come a good deal heavier in the future, however. The course of study will be found in the Appendix; but something should be said about the masters and their work. The instructional staff consists of the chief naval instructor, eight naval instructors, two French masters, two drawing masters, one English master, and one natural science master.