and firing, so as to avoid accidents, and pointing a gun passably.

Now as an illustration, let us suppose that there are within two miles of the Tower Stairs 5000 seamen afloat, and half that number ashore. Those afloat are only partially employed, those on shore not at all; and surely, to ask an hour of their time, occasionally, to learn a-man-of-war's-man's duty, would be no harder than to tax a landsman's time for training in the militia. We will suppose, then, that close to the Tower Wharf,*, and opposite a screen wall (built for the purpose of avoiding any danger), a frigate's hulk is moored with a few light guns on board. The present "receiving ship" might answer the purpose. Competent officers and a few ❝seamen-gunners" are appointed, with instructions to teach, not the strict exercise, but that sort of "loose drill" which, to the young and healthy, is really rather an amusement than a task. Next comes the question, "The instructors being there, how are we to get the scholars?"

First, either by a separate act, or a clause in the New Militia Bill, it might be enacted, "That whereas seamen are exempted from the militia ballot, but it is nevertheless expedient they should contribute to the public defence, they shall therefore be required, when within the limits of the port of London for more than days, to attend at least

times on board H. M. S., or other vessel appointed, for the purpose of being instructed in the gun exercise." To enforce this, it would be sufficient to provide that

* This might be done on the crown-land, thus causing little expense.

no vessel should receive her custom "clearance" without a certificate from the commanding officer of the exercising ship," to the effect that the crew had attended at least times for the purpose of instruction. Of course every care should be used to prevent this requirement being felt as a burthen; and where the master of any trader declared that the temporary absence of any part of his crew would be prejudicial, a written exemption should be granted. All man-ofwars'-men might be exempted, as well as all those who, having learned their exercise, should receive a certificate to that effect. Seamen unemployed might be invited to attend, with the inducement of receiving a certificate which should thereafter exempt them, and probably some other inducement might be devised. As to the young hands, they would soon take an interest in the exercise (if not kept too long or too strictly at it), and the mere pleasure of firing away blank cartridges would be inducement enough. A small prize for proficiency, an encouraging word, a little tact in management, would soon make the exercise popular with them; and the elder seamen, where either indisposed or unapt to learn, might be excused. At first there might, and would, be some opposition on the part of merchants, ship-owners, and others; but by carefully considering their interests (which should in no case suffer), by conciliation and accommodating treatment, this would be removed. One effect of thus bringing merchant sailors in contact with naval officers, properly selected for the service, would be the removal of their prejudices against the navy, and a consequent increase of its popularity; but this would be only a secondary, though a valuable, result.

The same arrangements should be extended to Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, &c., at each of which ports, whether on shore or afloat, there might be a place for gun exercise. To complete the system, power might be given to the commissioners of H. M. ships on foreign stations to exercise the crews of merchant vessels lying unemployed at the same anchorage, and to grant certificates for future exemption; but this only with the consent of the master. I am aware this consent would often be refused; but still it would not always be so; and perhaps the power of refusal would lead to a better understanding, and, in time, to a general assent.

Indeed it might be well that the masters and mates themselves should be invited to attend the exercise, leaving it of course quite optional with them. I am much mistaken, if many of that loyal and enterprising class would not be glad to acquire the knowledge which would enable them to emulate the fame of gallant "Sir Nathaniel Danse," who beat off Admiral Linois, and saved a China fleet worth 3,000,0007.

Whatever arguments establish the propriety of training the militia, a mere reserve force, must apply with still greater cògency to training seamen, on whom the first brunt of war will fall. We do not delay training the first until invasion occurs, nor ought we to delay training the second until war breaks out. It is true, that, under different circumstances from those of the present day, we have thought any previous instruction unnecessary for seamen, but that was before naval gunnery became an art.

With respect to the objections which may be urged against training our merchant seamen, it may be worth while examining the principal ones.

It may occur to many persons, that the crew of a merchant vessel in harbour (suppose in the port of London) will find enough to do in fitting the ship for sea, and taking in or discharging cargo. Such used to be the case when merchant vessels employed their own hands for the purpose; but at present they are usually rigged and loaded by a class of men known about the docks as "lumpers," before the crew is entered. In cases where the crew were really employed taking in or discharging a cargo, or fitting for sea, it would not, of course, be expedient to interfere with them.

In foreign ports, again, it is common to see our merchant vessels lying idle for weeks and months while waiting for a cargo, and in such cases there could surely be no objection to requiring a part of their crews to attend exercise on board of any ship of war present. The intercourse which would thus ensue between the merchant sailors and those of Her Majesty's navy, would not fail to make the Queen's service popular, while the merchant sailors would rather enjoy the companionship of their brethren, and the novelty of the exercise.

That any system of compulsory training must be at first unpopular, I do not deny; but I believe the good effects would far outweigh this temporary evil, more especially with judicious mildness on the part of exercising officers.

The minor inconveniences to be apprehended are not to be placed in competition with the security given to the state, by adding above 100,000, at least halftrained, men to its defensive power, and that at hardly any expense.

At the same time, while explaining one particular method of organising our resources in personnel, I claim no superior advantages for it. Other methods may be just as good; and no plan by which a supply of trained seamen is ensured can be so bad as trusting entirely to chance, in the manner which we do at present. I say trusting to chance," for the only reasonable ground upon which we can rely for future immunity from defeat is, that our fleets may not encounter a disciplined enemy, until time has changed our untaught crews into efficient fighting men.

No. 5.

EXTRACTS FROM AN UNPUBLISHED PAMPHLET BY A FLAG OFFICER.

There is no captain who has been employed during peace that will not admit that he did not consider his ship in all points an efficient man-of-war until she had been from twelve to eighteen months in commission, and particularly in relation to the management of her guns. However anxious a captain may be to have his ship perfect in that respect, he at first meets an obstacle at every step. To exercise the guns as they ought to be, breaks in upon the whole day's work: it is therefore postponed from time to time, and just enough exercise performed to fill up the quarterly report.

About the period before mentioned, a ship becomes in