For some reason the Admiralty decided to go outside the Service in seeking a suitable man, and the gentleman selected for the post was the Rev. J. C. P. Aldous, who had never had anything to do with the Navy, and was a much younger man than some of those over whom he was called upon to exercise a certain authority, and to whose advice and guidance he had nevertheless to look in the discharge of his duties. Whatever motive the authorities had for this unusual step, it might very well have caused incalculable mischief; they must, however, be accorded credit for considerable insight in their selection, for Mr. A. C. Johnson, one of those over whose heads he was placed--the very man, in fact, who might reasonably have expected promotion to the post--writes thus of him:--"Fortunately, he was a man of estimable character and good sense, so that there was little or no friction between him and the naval instructors and others," which is at once a generous appreciation and a high meed of praise to Mr. Aldous. [Illustration: REV. J. C. P. ALDOUS. _Photo: Smale & Son, Dartmouth._] Possibly the introduction of "new blood" in the naval instructor's department was the outcome of an inquiry which was held in 1874. It is not quite clear on whose representation the Admiralty took this step, but an inquiry certainly took place by a committee appointed by the Admiralty, and composed as follows:-- Rear-Admiral E. B. Rice. Captain the Hon. W. C. Carpenter. Rev. H. A. Morgan, M.A. Captain Wm. Graham. Rev. Osborne Gordon, B.D. Geo. Busk, Esq., F.R.S., F.R.C.S. Jas. Vaughan, Esq., R.N. The Lords of the Admiralty addressed to each member of the committee the following memorandum:-- A question has arisen as to whether the conditions under which naval cadets are trained on board H.M.S. _Britannia_ are favourable to their health and physical development. Their lordships are desirous that this matter should be investigated by a committee, and your attention is drawn to the following special points:-- I. (_a_) The effect of confinement on board a stationary ship. (_b_) Ventilation. (_c_) Sleeping arrangements. (_d_) Diet. II. (_a_) The course of study as regards the subjects, the number of hours, and the routine. (_b_) The nature of the examinations, including that of entry. Under I., heads _a_, _b_, _c_, _d_, the committee report most favourably, and have no improvements to suggest, nor is this at all surprising, since the number of entries had fallen from 131 in 1869 to an average of 62 in the five following years, and there should certainly have been no difficulty in providing adequate cubic space and ventilation in the two large vessels for numbers not exceeding 100.