EXTRACT FROM LATE CIRCULAR. No. 288.

Admiralty, 23rd February, 1857

XI. All Midshipmen, until they shall have passed their examinations for Lieutenant, are to keep a book in which the ship's reckoning is to be worked out and noted, and when they are at sea this book is to be sent in every day to the Captain, instead of the slip of paper containing a day's work, which is now usually presented. It is also to be produced at their examinations; and during the last six months of their service as Midshipmen it must contain the working of the Observations as give in Sheet B.

XII. A Midshipman when he shall have served eighteen months in the rank, will be required to pass an intermediate Examination. In addition to the subjects embraced in former Examinations he will he required to have:

1. A good knowledge of practical Navigation, showing that he understands the principle of Navigating a Ship from one distant port to another, by Dead Reckoning and by his own Observations; and that he can explain the principles of the same; and that he can also take and work a double Altitude and Azimuth.

2. A sufficient knowledge of the Chart as will enable him to place thereon the position of the Ship by Observations as well as by Compass Bearings; and to lay off True and and Compass Courses.

3. Such knowledge of Nautical Surveying, as may enable him to measure a base line and determine position by angles, and the manner of ascertaining heights and distances.

4. If he has served in a Steam-Vessel, an acquaintance with the different parts and working of the Steam Engine.

5. A Proficiency in French.

6. He must be a fair practical observer.

7. He must produce Log Books kept by himself from the time of entry into a Sea-going Ship, and Certificates of Good Conduct.

e. He will likewise be examined re to his progress in the knowledge of rigging of Masts, Bowsprits, &c. in getting tops over and placing a lower cap, in setting up rigging, and especially as to the precautions required in staying lower Masts; in hoisting a quarter or stern boat up in a strong breeze with a Sea on; in making up a course and topsail for bending at Sea; in shifting topmasts, yards, and sails at Sea, and the effect of the sails on the Ship both in tacking and wearing; in the detail arrangements for mooring and unmooring Ships and getting under-way. He must likewise know the Great Gun and Small Arm Exercise, the use of Tangent Sight, the charges for the Guns of the Ship, and be able to Exercise the Men at his Quarters. A report of the progress he has made in each of the above subjects is to be made to the Secretary of the Admiralty in the Half-yearly Return.

XIII. The Examinations under Articles X and XII are to be conducted by the officer in command, not below the rank of Commander, and the next Senior Officer in the Ship, and the Examinations in Navigation, in the presence of a Captain or Commander, by two Naval Instructors when it may be practicable, or by a Naval Instructor and a Master, or where there is no Naval Instructor by two Masters, that in Gunnery by a Gunnery or other competent officer; and at these Examinations the Candidate is to be made to take and work out his own observations for Latitude, Longitude, Variation, &c., as the case maybe. 1st or 2nd Class Certificates are to be given according to the merit of the Candidate, in the Form A. page 9, or he is to be rejected if found incompetent.

XIV. A Midshipman, when he shall have passed the Examination referred to in Article XII, must continue to serve in that rank for a further period of two years, and having completed such two years, he may, if he has attained the age of 19 years, present himself to pass his Examination for the rank of Lieutenant, in accordance with the Forms Nos. II., III., IV.

XV. The Examination for the rank of Lieutenant is to be conducted before three Captains or Commanders, by order of the Commander-in-Chief or Senior Officer of two or more ships present together; but a Midshipman having completed his term of service, and being 19 years of age who is serving in a ship or vessel so far separated from other ships that the foregoing Regulation cannot be complied with, may be provisionally examined by the Captain or Commander of such ship or vessel, with the aid of other competent Officers - Lieutenant, Master, or Second Master, and if they find him to be duly qualified, they are to give him a certificate to that effect, dated on the day of such examination, and the Captain may forthwith give him an acting order as Mate; but he must be re-examined on the first opportunity that shall afterwards offer by three Captains or Commanders, as before required, and if he passes successfully, he will receive from the Commander-in-Chief, or Senior Officer, an acting order as Mate to take rank according to the date of the first certificate.

As the above is the final Examination in Seamanship, the Examining Officers are to be most strict in their investigation of the qualifications of Officers, and they are to see that everything required by these Regulations has been complied with by the Candidate, and that he produces Certificates of good conduct from Captains he has served under for 5 years.

XVI. All Midshipmen and Acting Mates will be required to undergo the following final Examinations

l. In Gunnery - On board the Excellent. 2. In Navigation and the Steam Engine - At the Royal Naval College.

Acting Mates who have already passed abroad are to present themselves for Examination on board the Excellent on the first* Examination Day after their arrival in England or after being paid off, and having passed in Gunnery, they are then at liberty to select either the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Examination Day at the Royal Naval College.

XVII. Any Officer rejected on his first Examination at the College will incur the forfeiture of three months' seniority in his rank as Mate. He may present himself on the next Examination Day, but a second rejection will incur the forfeiture of three months more seniority; he may again present himself on the next Examination Day, but a third rejection will cause his name to be removed from the List of the Navy.

XVIII. Officers when they have passed their final examination at the Royal Naval College, as provided for in these Regulations, will be confirmed from the date of their first Certificate.

The non-appearance of an Officer for Examination at the Royal Naval College at the times required by these Regulations will be considered as an acknowledgment of his not being qualified, and he will be dealt with in the same manner as if he had been actually rejected on each day on which he may have omitted to appear, unless under certified ill-health, to be duly reported at the time.

XIX. Naval Instructors are to keep a School Journal or Register, which is to be produced when required by the Captain of the Ship or the Examining Officers and the captain is to allow them reasonable access to the charts and chronometers, for the purpose of instructing the Officers in their use.

*By an Order dated 6th June, 1862, Officers are allowed to present themselves to pass in Gunnery on the second, instead of on the first examination-day, it being distinctly understood that such indulgence is not to interfere with the Regulations as to the time in which officers are required to pass the final examinations at the R. N. College.

XX. The Examinations under Articles X and XII are to commence with those Officers who shall enter the Service after May, 1857, and the final Examination at the Royal Naval College required by these Regulations, is to commence in August, 1862; but any Midshipman, previous to that date, when he may have completed five years service, and who shall have attained the full age of 19 years, may present himself for final examination in Seamanship, Gunnery, and Navigation, in accordance with the foregoing Regulations, instead of having to serve six years as now required; but if he fails in passing his first Examination he will not be allowed to come up for re-examination until he has completed his six years' service.

XXI. With reference to Circular No. 58, of the 17th December, 1849, The final Examination at the Royal Naval College, established by the foregoing Regulations, for the rank of Lieutenant, shall also be extended to the Examination of Officers for the rank of Master, with the exception of the knowledge of French; and the Regulations in regard to the rejection of Candidates, shall equally apply to them. Officers passing for the rank of Master will not be required to pass a Gunnery Examination.

XXII. The Captains of H.M. Ships are to take care that a convenient place is set apart and proper hours are fixed for instruction by the Naval Instructor, and all Acting Mates and Acting 2nd Masters, as well as all executive Officers under that rank, are to attend, and care is also to be taken that they are regularly instructed in Practical seamanship, Rigging, and the Steam Engine, and a Monthly Examination Day is to be established.

No. 1.

The Examination on leaving the Training Ship will embrace all the subjects of the former Examination, except Latin, and in addition to them it will include

In Arithmetic - Involution, Extraction of Square Root

In Algebra - Simple Equations.

The Elements of Geometry as contained in the text-book published for the use of the Boys of Greenwich School by John Murray. 1854.

Plane Trigonometry and the Solution of practical useful Problems.

Spherical Trigonometry, the mode of solving Triangles and its application to Simple Astronomical Problems.

In Navigation - A Day's Work and Meridional Altitudes, Longitude by Chronometer.

Nautical Instruments. To explain and use the Sextant, Azimuth Compass, Artificial Horizon, and Theodolite.

Some knowledge of the mode of Surveying, and the Construction of Charts.

French, as far as 50 lessons of Ollendorff's method of learning French, and the reading and translating of an easy passage from a French author without the aid of a dictionary.

Explanatory Lectures will be given on the Steam Engine, practical Astronomy, Nautical Instruments, Mechanics and Hydrostatics, and other subjects of general interest and instruction.

Certificates must be produced, approved by the Captain, from the Master of the Ship that the Candidate has gone through and is competent in the course of instruction in Rigging and Seamanship, and from the Naval Instructor, as to the Candidate's attention to the various branches of his education, as well as to his general conduct whilst on board the Training Ship.

PASSING DAYS IN NAVIGATION AND 1N GUNNERY.

The Examination of Officers at the Royal Naval College will take place on the following days, viz.:

In Navigation... At the Royal Naval College, second Wednesday in each Month, at 9 A.M., except in January and July.

In Gunnery ... On board H.M.S. Excellent, on the Fourth Monday in each Month.

PASSING DAYS IN SEAMANSHIP AT THE HOME PORTS.

Portsmouth... Every Wednesday in each Month.

Plymouth......Second ditto ditto.

Sheerness.....First ditto ditto.

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