The Voyage Alone in the Yawl "Rob Roy" Part 20

"The brig was built in 1866, between which date and the end of last year 748 boys (about an average of 70 per annum) have been trained and sent to sea.

"There is a home at Poplar for the reception and care of boys about to be sent to sea under the charge of the s.h.i.+pping officer, who is duly licensed by the Board of Trade. This is a most valuable branch of the school, offering a home to lads returning from sea, who would otherwise fall into the hands of low lodging-house keepers.

"The school authorities constantly receive the most favourable accounts of the lads thus sent to sea, who are well reported on by captains of s.h.i.+ps both as regards character and ability in seamans.h.i.+p.

"The result of this experiment, now extending over a period of ten years, proves beyond question that boys can be as speedily and efficiently trained on board a model training s.h.i.+p built on land, as on board a stationary one moored in a harbour or river.

"This opinion has been fully and publicly endorsed by Captain Burney, R.N., Superintendent of the Royal Hospital School at Greenwich, where a large model full-rigged s.h.i.+p (most complete and thorough in all its arrangements) has been built, and by means of which, he maintains, he can prepare boys for sea as efficiently as on board a floating training s.h.i.+p.

"In this, as in many other matters, there is a great deal of popular prejudice to overcome, and perhaps the most effective way to do so would be by inducing the governing bodies of such schools as Eton, Harrow, and Rugby to erect model training s.h.i.+ps on their grounds for the use of their boys. It cannot be doubted that these s.h.i.+ps would be as popular amongst them as their present School Volunteer Corps undoubtedly are."

[After many visits to the floating training s.h.i.+ps, and inspection of the 'Endeavour,' and of the Greenwich School, where 1000 boys are trained for sea without the expense and inconveniences of a s.h.i.+p, I fully concur in the opinions of Captain Brookes and Capt. Burney, C.B., and I consider that the best mode of training boys for the commercial navy is to have a light and roomy building on sh.o.r.e with one or more "tender" brigs for cruising, and plenty of boats, and a good gymnasium and swimming bath. A floating hulk is more costly to maintain. It is inconvenient for education from want of light below, and for exercise all the winter from wet decks above, and moreover, the need of a "tender" for each hulk is already acknowledged, so that her sheet anchor is only sentiment.]

J. MACGREGOR.

'ENDEAVOUR.'-(LAND s.h.i.+P.)

About thirty-five years ago, this land-s.h.i.+p, with masts and sails and guns, was set up at the Norwood Poor Law Establishment, by the exertions of the late Sir J. K. Shuttleworth, Bart., and one somewhat similar and useful (to a certain extent) was established in a Union School at Stepney. Of the boys instructed by this means, 95 out of 100 voluntarily entered the Army or Navy, but doubtless the supply for sea life is now better obtained from establishments more distinctly nautical. In the report of the North Surrey District Schools "the mast and shrouds" of the Land s.h.i.+p there are said to be useful in inducing boys to go to sea.

(_Times_, September 3, 1878.)

'EXMOUTH.'-(GRAYS, _Thames_.)

This vessel accommodates 600 boys, and was subst.i.tuted for 'The Goliath,'

which was burned two years ago (as was also the old 'Warspite' at Charlton). The latest report (which is more full and clear than that of several other s.h.i.+ps) deals with the ten months ending the 31st of December, 1877, when 545 boys were under training. These were sent from the Poor Law Unions of Poplar, St. Pancras, Stepney, Marylebone, Woolwich, and others, under the special Act, which very properly requires Metropolitan Parishes to contribute towards the maintenance of the s.h.i.+p, whether they use it or not. A brigantine, the 'Steadfast,' is attached as a "training tender," and accommodates thirty boys, who cruise in the Mouth of the Thames for a week at a time, when ten of them are changed.

A causeway from the sh.o.r.e improves the approach to the 'Exmouth,' and a small house and office near the London Docks enables eight boys to be taken daily for engagement in s.h.i.+ps.

From March, 1876, to December, 1877, 689 boys were admitted, seventy-nine were discharged to sea service, twenty-one to the Army as musicians, forty-three to their respective Unions, and one absconded.

"Every boy in the s.h.i.+p soaps and washes himself _all over_ every morning with carbolic soap, and then goes through a plunge bath under inspection, having a clean towel every time he washes." The lads are remarkably healthy-there was not one death in the year. The charge for maintenance and clothing has been at the rate of 1_s._ per head per day. The swimming bath is sixty feet long by thirty feet broad, and the boys are cla.s.sed by the number of "bath-lengths" they can swim at a stretch. At the beginning of the swimming season, 340 could not swim at all, but there were only 56 in this predicament at the end of the season. Music is taught carefully, and a band of about 60 boys plays twice a week for the other boys to dance. Of 242 boys absent from one to seven days to see their friends, only one broke his leave, and he absconded altogether.

'FAME.'-(GREENWICH ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL.)

Established 1872.

This land s.h.i.+p is part of the splendid establishment at Greenwich for training sons of seamen and marines of the Royal Navy. Candidates must be between 10; and 13 years of age, physically fit, able to read an easy sentence, and with some knowledge of arithmetic.

The origin of the school was in 1692, when, after the victory of "La Hogue," an asylum was established for seamen's widows and orphans at the suggestion of Queen Mary, who died before it was accomplished.

In 1712 ten boys were instructed (in the buildings of the present Naval College, part of which had been erected in 1618), and in 1783 there were 60 boys. In 1805, there were 200 boys, and the inst.i.tution was no longer a charity, but admitted officers' sons.

Another school, "The British Endeavour," started in 1798 as a private venture in London, was transferred to public management in Greenwich.

The "Royal Naval Asylum," for 680 boys and 200 girls, aided by Parliamentary grant, was amalgamated in 1821 with the other (the Royal Hospital School), forming a "Lower School" and "Upper School" for 1000 boys, in the quadrangle now occupied opposite the Royal Naval College.

In 1841 the girls' school ceased. In 1860 the distinction between "Upper" and "Lower" School was given up.

In 1870 industrial work was introduced in addition to the other instruction, and the splendid land s.h.i.+p 'Fame' was erected in 1872, which, with boats on the river, large sized moveable models in lofty halls, and a fine swimming bath, gymnasium, cla.s.s-rooms, and workshops, are the means for instructing 1000 boys most admirably under the supervision of Captain Burney, C.B., and an energetic staff. From the report of July, 1878, it appears that there were 39 pupil teachers, and 958 boys between 10 and 15 years of age. Total 997 in the school. The number of boys admitted during the year was 334, number discharged 333, of whom 99 went into Her Majesty's Service, and 4 died; 329 boys between 13 and 15 years of age now in the School, have signed continuous service engagements to serve in the Royal Navy for 10 years from the age of 18.

The boys' industrial work in about 30 departments of useful labour is of great value to the school, so that the annual cost (exclusive of new buildings, but including all repairs) is under 18 per head.

The punishments are under 1 per cent., and 45 per cent. of the boys can swim.

'FORMIDABLE.'-(PORTISHEAD, _Bristol Channel_.)

Established 1869.

This is an "Industrial School s.h.i.+p" for boys between the ages of 11 and 14 years. During the eighteen months ending December 31, 1877, 84 boys had been admitted (including 41 from the London School Board), 18 from Bristol, and the rest from ten other towns, with 2 "volunteer" boys.

Of these there had been discharged during the eighteen months, 81 to the Merchant Service, 2 to the Royal Navy, 26 to friends, 5 to the Army, 13 elsewhere, and 2 died. The number of boys on board December 31, 1877, was 324. From the commencement of the s.h.i.+p, 800 boys had been admitted, including 50 "volunteers," and of these 366 had gone to the Merchant Service, and 27 to the Royal Navy, while 11 died. The receipts for the year, including 1500 from the Treasury, and 600 from annual subscriptions, amounted to 8213.

'GIBRALTAR.'-(BELFAST.)

Established 1872.

This Industrial School s.h.i.+p for Protestant boys is called "The Ulster Training s.h.i.+p for Homeless and Dest.i.tute Boys." The number on board the 31st of December, 1877, was 289, of whom about half could read, write, and cipher well; 64 had been admitted during the year, nearly all of them from Antrim, and of these, 33 could not read or write at all, while only 7 could read, write, and cipher well; 32 of these had lost their fathers, and 18 were orphans.

'HAVANNAH.'-(CARDIFF.)

Established 1855.

This is an old "man-of-war," banked round, so as to be a "land s.h.i.+p,"

with a causeway to the sh.o.r.e, and it accommodates about 70 boys, many of whom have industrial employment in gardening and as porters, &c. Of the 66 boys discharged in the three years, 1874, 1875, 1876, 58 were known to be earning honest livelihoods, 2 were convicted, 2 unknown, and 4 have died. According to the report of August, 1878, 68 boys were in the s.h.i.+p, of whom 61 were sent under the Industrial Schools Act. There were 2 on license, and 7 appeared to be voluntary cases. The expenditure in 1876 was about 1500, but 200 was earned by the Industrial Department. In that year 3 boys went to sea, and in 1878 6 boys.

'INDEFATIGABLE.'-(MERSEY.)

This vessel was established in 1864 to train orphan and dest.i.tute boys for sea-boys from the port of Liverpool having a preference. The report issued in March, 1878, shewed the average number on board to be 250, of whom 80 had lost both parents. About 50 boys go out to life each year.

The funds are from voluntary contributions, and about 5000 a year is expended.

'MARS.'-(DUNDEE.)

Established 1869.

This is an "Industrial School s.h.i.+p," under the Act of Parliament, and it has a "tender," "which makes men of the youngsters; she has just brought 100 tons of coals to us from s.h.i.+elds (July 5, 1878)." The accommodation is for 350 boys. In 1877, 122 boys were admitted and 95 discharged, leaving 350 on the register, while "there is great pressure for admission." Of the 95 boys, 6 entered the Royal Navy, 55 the Merchant Service as first cla.s.s boys, 27 went to sh.o.r.e trades (but seven of these returned and went to sea), and 7 died. One-third of the boys admitted were unable to read at all; of 309 discharged during 3 years, 248 were "doing well."