This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 Excerpt: ...and almost exclusively discipline and bravery. Now it exacts all things in heaven and earth, or very nearly all--for there is no form of knowledge which is not advantageous to a naval officer in his career. During the French wars, indeed, matters were so lax that it was not even expected that a ship's chaplain should ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 Excerpt: ...and almost exclusively discipline and bravery. Now it exacts all things in heaven and earth, or very nearly all--for there is no form of knowledge which is not advantageous to a naval officer in his career. During the French wars, indeed, matters were so lax that it was not even expected that a ship's chaplain should be a more serious-minded man than a surgeon, a purser, or a first lieutenant. A captain was cruising off the Guinea Coast--it is an old tale but a significant one--and his first lieutenant came to inform him that the chaplain had just died of fever; "but I am sorry," added the Scotch officer, "to inform you, sir, that he died a Roman Catholic." "Well; so much the better," said the captain. "Hoot awa! sir," cried the lieutenant; "how can ye say sae of a Breetish clergyman?" "Because," replied the captain, "I believe that I am the first captain of a man-of-war that can boast of having had a chaplain who had any religion at all." The story is historical. 103 VIII.--THE ROYAL NAVAL ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS. H.M.S. Frolic, which lies in the Thames off Somerset House, and which a year or two ago took the place of the smaller vessel Rainbow, must by this time be tolerably well known to all Londoners. It is probable, however, that not a tithe of those who are familiar with her external appearance are aware of the precise nature of the service to which, in her old age, she has been devoted. Any loafer on the Embankment can explain that she is the headquarters and drill-ship of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers; but the information does not convey much to the mind which is ignorant as to what the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers are; and I fear that a good many minds are in this state o...
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