Such is briefly the history of the Royal Naval Academy and College during its existence as a preparatory training school for young naval officers, for over one hundred years. That much good work was done there, especially during the long presidency of Professor Inman, there can be little doubt; but the authorities evidently formed the opinion that the youngsters would in future get on better without it, and so returned to the "pitchfork" system of sending lads to sea without any previous training whatever, to pick up their knowledge as best they could, with the aid of a naval instructor, who was, as a rule, afforded as little facility for imparting knowledge as the commanding officer could manage. The College, on January 1st, 1839, entered upon another phase of existence, being reopened, under the command of the captain of the _Excellent_, for the admission of a limited number of mates, who were permitted to volunteer for a special course of mathematics, etc. They were borne on the books of the _Excellent_, and resided in the College for one year. Every six months an examination was held, and the officer who passed best was awarded a lieutenant's commission. Ten commissioned officers of higher rank were also admitted, to study steam, etc., under Professor Thos. J. Main, a very worthy successor to James Inman; for he was, like the latter, Senior Wrangler and Smith's Prizeman of his year. Professor Main will be well remembered by many naval officers still living; he was thirty years at the College, and wrote more than one book, in conjunction with Mr. Thos. Brown, engineer, R.N., on the marine steam engine. He retired in 1869, and died in London December 28th, 1885, at the age of sixty-seven. The history of the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth subsequent to April, 1837, does not come strictly within the scope of this volume. It was used eventually as the headquarters of sub-lieutenants, gunnery lieutenants, and naval instructors who were qualifying, and a small number of senior commissioned officers who studied steam, etc., as before. But since the opening of the college at Greenwich, in 1873, it has lapsed, both in title and office; no longer is it known as the "Royal Naval College," but simply "The College, Portsmouth Dockyard"; no more are the voices and footsteps of Senior Wranglers heard within its walls. Its glory has departed, and, as a mere temporary residence for officers who are studying gunnery, etc., in the port, the title of "College" can, in fact, no longer be justly applied, save in the most crude and literal sense. During a period of twenty years after the abolition of the Portsmouth College as a training school for young gentlemen, all candidates for admission to the Navy were sent straight to sea; though an Admiralty circular, dated December 18th, 1833, remained in force for some time; and in this a distinction is made between "Volunteers of the First Class" and "College Volunteers."