[Illustration: THE COURTYARD OF THE NAVAL COLLEGE. _Photo: Cassell & Co., Ltd._] In addition to his duties at the College, which were performed with characteristic ability and minuteness, he was for some years President of the School of Naval Architecture, established in the Dockyard in 1810, chiefly at his instigation. In 1821 he published the great work by which his name is so well known, "Navigation and Nautical Astronomy for the Use of British Seamen"; a work which for many years was absolutely without a rival, and which he supplemented in the second edition by the table of Half Versines (or Haversines), which proved of immense value to navigators and mathematicians generally. "Inman's Tables" were a necessity to every man and boy who went to sea, and were as familiarly spoken of as the mainmast or the compass. He was consulted by the naval or other authorities upon almost every conceivable subject which could be included under the head of mathematics, not excepting designs of ships, sail plans, etc.; he directed the construction of ten ships of war, and is said to have given some valuable hints to Captain Broke for improving the gunnery on board the _Shannon_. He also wrote a book on Naval Gunnery, and translated from the original a Swedish work on Ship Construction. Such was the man who was placed in charge of the Naval College; and in truth it would appear that he was to a certain extent thrown away there, for it is easy to imagine him Astronomer Royal, or anything else in a mathematical way. The Royal Naval College was opened, as has been stated, in 1808; and there is a considerable mass of correspondence extant in connection with it, containing some amusing incidents, until its final abolition, as a school for young gentlemen, in 1837. On January 20th, 1808, the second master of the old Academy writes to the Secretary to the Admiralty expressing his surprise and disappointment at not being appointed first master under the new _régime_; and, by way of setting forth how much he is losing, mentions that he has found that the salary and emoluments of his office amounted to about 200 guineas annually. As his salary was £100 a year, the Secretary is down upon him at once; he turns down the corner of the letter, and writes thereon: "Direct him to state in what manner his emoluments arise to make them, with his salary, equal to 200 guineas per annum." The unfortunate master is thus compelled to enter upon an analysis of his "emoluments," which in truth is somewhat lame and inconclusive: he makes the most, however, of his "commodious apartment, free from rates and taxes, with a very productive garden," free water and fuel, etc., but is obliged finally to complete the total by acknowledging the acceptance of "presents from the friends and relatives of the scholars for his general care and attention."