Mathematics, harder questions 300 Latin: translation, grammar, prose composition (no dictionary allowed) 300 Geography, based on Grove's Primer 150 English history, a selected period 150 Drawing: freehand and rectangular model 100 This for boys of an average age, under thirteen! What benefit to the Service was likely to result from such measures it is not easy to perceive; and their unpractical nature was evidently speedily realised, for two months later came fresh regulations, altering the limits of age from 12-1/2 to 14, and subsequently 13 to 14-1/2, abolishing quadratic equations, the latter half of the first book of Euclid, and exercises thereon, and allowing a dictionary for French and Latin. These regulations had, however, scarcely been in operation for twelve months before another alteration was made--a circular dated June, 1888, reintroducing the harder examination of May, 1887. There may have appeared to be some good cause at the time for these extraordinary vicissitudes, but it is difficult to trace them at the present day. Naval education appears to have attracted a good deal of attention in 1882, for several letters and a long article are to be found in the _Times_ on the subject. [Illustration: THE "BRITANNIA" AND THE "HINDOSTAN." CADET RACQUET COURTS IN FOREGROUND. _Photo: Smale & Son, Dartmouth._] In January of that year a writer, over the signature of "E. E. Bowen," deprecates the early age at which boys are subjected to competitive examination (then recently introduced for the second time); and in April, "Flag Officer" writes in reply to a suggestion from some quarter that cadets should not be entered until the age of 16, and then go straight to sea. After pointing out that they could not then have sufficient time to qualify for lieutenant at 19, he goes on to say that complaints are made of the inappropriateness of the subjects taught in the _Britannia_. These, he says, should include rigging, from the lower masts upward, stowage of holds and magazines, laying out anchors, steam, a little gunnery, and, as a matter of course, navigation, geography, and drawing. This officer is evidently a "Collegian" of the old days, under Inman, for he refers to what they learnt in 1824 and 1825. In conclusion, he says, "No, sir, let us keep the education in our own hands; we know better than any schoolmaster what we want."