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31-i DOCKYARDS and brought in a few hours, without change of medium, to the side of the ship which is to use the material. This dockyard, accordingly, is by far the most capacious of all ; and the safe and extensive harbour, the noble anchorage at Spithead, the central situation with respect to the English Channel and the opposite coast of France, render Ports mouth of the very first importance as a naval station ; and in this view of it, every possible attention appears to have been paid to the extension and improvement of its dockyard. In the centre of the old wharf-wall, facing the harbour, is the entrance into the great basin, whose dimensions are 380 by 260 feet, and its area 2J acres. Into this basin open four excellent dry docks, and on each of its sides is a dry dock opening into the harbour ; and all of these six docks are capable of receiving ships of the largest class. Besides these is a double dock for frigates, the stern dock communicating through a lock with the harbour, and the head dock with another basin about 250 feet square. There is also a camber, with a wharf-wall on each side, G60 feet in length, and of sufficient width to admit of transports and merchant ships bringing stores to the dock-yard. In the same face of the yard are three building slips capable of receiving the largest ships, and a small one for sloops, Vesides two building slips for frigates on the northern face of the yard, and a smaller slip for sloops. The range of storehouses on the north-east side, and the rigging-house and sail-loft on the south-west side of the camber are magnificent buildings, the former occupying nearly 600 feet in length, exclusive of the two intermediate spaces, and nearly 60 feet in width, and the two latter 400 feet. The sea-store houses occupy a line of building which, with the three narrow openings between them of 25 feet each, extend 800 feet. The rope-house, tarriug-house, and other appen dages of the ropery are on the same scale ; but since the sup pression of the Portsmouth ropery (in 1869), and the con centration of rope-making at Devonport and Chatham, these premises have been used as general storehouses. The two sets of quadrangular storehouses, and the two corresponding buildings, with the intervening timber-berths and saw-pits, at the head of the dry docks, issuing from the great basin, are all excellent, and conveniently placed. The smithery is on a large scale, and contiguous to it are the various factories for metal work used in the building and repair of iron ships. Formerly there was also a copper mill, capable of turning out 300,000 sheets a year, besides bolts, bars, and gudgeons for ships use. But since 1869 the whole business of remaking old metal of whatever kind has been concentrated at Chatham. Most of these factories were constructed under the direction of General Beutham. At the head of the north dock are the wood mills, at which every article of turnery, rabetting, &c., is performed for the use of the navy, from boring the chamber of a pump to the turning of a button for a chest of drawers. But the principal part of these mills is the remarkable machinery for making blocks, contrived by Brunei (see BLOCK- MACHINERY). The northern extremity of the dock-yard is chiefly occupied with seasoning-sheds, saw-pits, and timber-berths, the working boat-house, and boat store-house. Ou the eastern extremity are situated the houses and gardens of the superintendent and principal officers of the yard, the chapel, and the late royal naval college. Portsmouth yard, in 1877, employs 4910 men, at a cost of 324,844. Naval College. The establishment of a college at Ports mouth for the education of young gentlemen for the navy was first formed in 1729 under the title of the Naval Academy. It contained 40 scholars, the sons of the nobility and gentry. In 1806 it was reorganized under the name of the Ro.val Naval College, and the number of scholars was raised from 40 to 70 ; of whom 40 were to consist of the sons of commissioned officers of the navy, and to receive their board, clothing, lodging, and education "ree of all expense ; the remainder to consist of sons of noblemen, gentlemen, civil and military officers, on pay ment of 72 a year. The age of admission was from twelve and a half to fourteen years. No student to remain at college longer than three years ; at the end of which time, or sooner if he should have completed the plan of education, lie was to be discharged into one of Her Majesty s ships, tho college time being reckoned two years of the six required to be served to qualify for such a commission. In 1837 the Royal Naval College for the education of young gentlemen for the navy was abolished, and by an order in council of 1838 it was reopened as an establishment for tho scientific education of a certain number of officers and mates of the naval service, the latter to have passed both their examinations in seamanship and in navigation, and to remain one year in the college. A. limited number of commissioned officers of any rank were also permitted to study at the college, but no expense was incurred on their account. 1 Naval Arcltitectural School. The number of students formerly did not exceed 24. Candidates were admitted by examination at stated periods ; the age of entrance was from fifteen to seventeen, and the duration of apprentice ship seven years. At the expiration of their apprentice ship they were eligible to all the situations in the ship building department of her Majesty s dockyards, to be there employed as supernumeraries until regular vacancies might occur. This school, which wis subsequently em bodied with South Kensington, is now incorporated with Greenwich College. Victuallinrj Yard. There were formerly two victualling establishments at this port, the one in Portsmouth town, the other across the harbour, at a place called Weevil, - both of them inconveniently situated for supplying tho ships with water and provisions, more especially such as had to take them on board at Spithead. The former con sisted chiefly of provision-stores and magazines, with a tide- mill and a bakery ; at the latter there were a cooperage and a brewery. The victualling establishments are now con solidated at Gosport, and the Koyal Clarence Victualling 1 On 1st February 1873 Portsmouth College was superseded by tlie Royal Naval College at Greenwich. The means of education pro vided at Portsmouth were at once too limited and not technical enough. The disused buildings of Greenwich hospital furnished the extra space required, and the new system of higher education of naval officers, which was pronounced by the select committee on that subject to be necessary, was considered and carried out by Mr Goschen, then first lord of the Admiralty. Rear-admiral Sir Cooper Key, K.C.B., was the first president of the college. The minute of the Board of Admiralty consequent upon the Order in Council of 16th January 1873, whereby Greenwich College was founded, states that "My Lords intend that the Royal Naval College at Greenwich shall be so organized as to provide for the education of naval officers of all ranks above that of midshipman, in all branches of theoretical and scientific study bearing upon their profession ; but my Lords will continue the instruction given in the Excellent gunnery ship as here tofore, and arrangements for instruction in practical surveying will also be continued at Portsmouth. My Lords desire, by the establish ment of the college, to give to the executive officers of the navy generally every possible advantage in respect of scientific education ; but no arrangements will be made at all prejudicing the all-im portant practical training in the active duties of their profession." All matters relating to the particular classes of officers admitted to study, and the different subjects of study, are determined by such regulations as may from time to time be laid down by the Admiralty. Special pecuniary concessions are made to officers on half-pay who may enter for study, and officers of the lower grades are put upon full pay, while in all cases there is a Government contribution in aid of the mess. Special professional inducements to study are offered, and everything is done to make the college answer thoroughly the purposes for which it was founded. Practical knowledge is taught on

the Thames and its estuaries, as theory is taught in the college.