A large part of the striking prosperity which has attended the _Exmouth_ is undoubtedly due to the most competent Captain-Superintendent in Staff-Commander W. S. Bourchier. Entering the Navy in 1840, as a navigating midshipman on board the _Impregnable_, this officer had, previous to his appointment to the _Goliath_ in 1870, passed through a school of excellent training. After successive services as navigating sub-lieutenant, first in the Mediterranean, on board the _Polyphemus_; then on the south-east coast of America, on the brigantine _Griffon_, he had (upon being promoted navigating lieutenant) held the command of the _Myrtle_, steamer-tender to the flagship, for close on twelve years. And this varied and instructive career Captain Bourchier had been able to complete by a further service as navigating lieutenant to the then Captain, now Admiral, Sir Anthony Hoskins, on board the _Zebra_, engaged upon a lengthy cruise along the coast of Africa. With so thoroughly trained and experienced an officer in command the experiment could, therefore, hardly fail to prosper. [Illustration: CAPTAIN BOURCHIER, HIS DAUGHTER, AND GRAND-DAUGHTER.] So successful, indeed, has been the training and other educational work carried on on board this splendid three-decker that the last report of Admiral Bosanquet, than whom as Inspecting Captain-General of Naval Training Ships there can hardly be a better authority, may be taken as typical. In this report he says:-- The training ship _Exmouth_ for boys is in most excellent order. The drills and instructions are exceedingly well taught, and the comfort and well-being of the lads is sedulously attended to. Captain Bourchier's arrangements are admirable and conscientiously carried out by a very able staff of officers. It is a _model training ship_. [Illustration: THE FIRE DRILL.] [Illustration: AT GYMNASTICS.]