A writer in _Fraser's Magazine_ for April, 1855, on "The Naval School on board the _Illustrious_," speaks in terms of the highest eulogy of the excellent management and good tone prevailing on board, and mentions that the captain gave the young men under him an occasional evening's amusement, in the form of easy lectures on astronomy, etc., illustrated by a magic lantern. Describing his arrival on board, the writer says: "The captain is on the quarter-deck, awaiting his visitors; he is a tall, upright, good-looking man, having an air of much activity and determination, but being apparently on the best of terms with those about him"; a description which those who were personally acquainted with Captain Harris will endorse. Probably his popularity with his subordinates was due in no small measure to the conscientiousness which marked his discharge of every duty. They knew him to be incapable of an act of injustice; and while he exacted a punctual performance of duty from every man under him, he set them an example which could not fail to win their respect. [Illustration: VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ROBERT HARRIS, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., AS A MIDSHIPMAN.] Great as was his success in the training of young seamen, Captain Harris was not content to rest on the laurels he had earned. If previous training proved so beneficial to seamen, why not institute a similar school for officers? The Royal Naval College was, as we have seen, only available for a certain proportion of young aspirants for the service, many going straight to sea, and even this had, nearly twenty years since, been for some reason abolished. Why not revive a training school under a new aspect, in which every cadet should be compelled to undergo a course of instruction before going to sea? Having conceived this idea, Captain Harris proceeded to urge its adoption, but met with small encouragement at first. Old officers, some of whom had possibly been instrumental in bringing about the closing of the College, opposed the notion strenuously, holding the opinion that a lad had a better chance of turning out a good seaman and officer if sent to sea straight from school. The captain of the training ship had, however, the courage of his convictions; and an opportunity presented itself before long of demonstrating this fact. He had a son, for whom he obtained a nomination as naval cadet; and he immediately applied for permission to have the boy for twelve months under training before going to sea. This was conceded, with the result that Robert Hastings Harris (now Vice-Admiral Sir Robert H. Harris, K.C.B., K.C.M.G.) was, on January 10th, 1856, entered on the books of the _Illustrious_, and received his training in seamanship with the novices, and instruction in navigation and nautical astronomy on board the _Victory_, under the Rev. Robert M. Inskip.