for them. Let us not be too hard on our
ancestors for the rough-and-ready ways in which
they were forced to meet the difficulties of
their position. We are not quite sure yet
whether we have devised a substitute; but we
hope that such will be found in the new
institution of a Reserve Force of Royal Naval
Volunteers.

What is the gist of the project, in a sentence?
It is this: To attract, by offering advantages, a
reserve of thirty thousand trained men ready on
an emergency to serve in Her Majesty's fleet.

Such schemes are not now propounded for the
first time. The "Coast Volunteer" Bill of 1853
was similar in principle. It bid for ten
thousand volunteers, subject to twenty-eight days'
training a year, and entitled to able seamen's pay
while at drill or in service. The proof that it
did not secure all the objects of defence in view
is the necessity for the much more extensive
plan; of which we here propose to give an
analysis.

Her Majesty then invites Jack, while in the
prime of his life (before thirty, if possible, and
not later than at thirty-five—too small a limit,
we think), to enrol himself as willing to turn
out upon proclamation, on the following
conditions:

He must be a British subject of sound health
and good character. He must prove that he has
been five years out of the last ten at sea, one year
of them as able seaman. It would be preferred
that he had a fixed residence, and was personally
known to the shipping-master; or that he was
regularly employed coasting, or in short voyages
to and from the same port. He may be a
discharged man-of-war's man of good character
without pension, but he must not be a pensioner,
or already bound to serve. No soldier or militiaman
is eligible to be a volunteer, nor will any
volunteer be permitted to enlist in army, militia,
or "coast volunteers."

So much for his qualifications. Let us now
see how he is to be enrolled.

The authorities rely much on the shipping-
master of each port in this matter. He is to
communicate freely with the coast-guard and
customs officers of his district, to make the
scheme well known about among seamen, to
inform each candidate of all the details necessary
for him to know, and put him in the way of
being medically examined, &c. He is to forward
the necessary forms, when signed, respecting
such examinations to the Registrar-General of
Seamen in London, who, if all is right, will at
once return the volunteer's certificate.

Supposing the volunteer duly eligible and
enrolled, the first condition required of him is to
present himself before a shipping-master every
six months. He cannot, therefore, undertake
voyages of more than six months without leave,
and he must inform the shipping-master of every
engagement for a voyage that he makes. To
break these regulations, aimed expressly at
securing the essential conditions of a reserve, will
subject the volunteer to the loss of his place in
the reserve.

Our volunteer next undertakes to submit to
twenty-eight days' drill per annum at great
guns and small arms. He may break the time,
and may vary the place of such drill to suit his
convenience, but he must drill for not less than
a week at each period. The Admiralty pledges
itself to do all it can to suit the time and place
of drill to the convenience of the men. A volunteer
must consult the shipping-master when he
wants to take his turn at it, and, if need be, his
travelling expenses will be paid. During the
time of drill his pay, victualling, bedding, and
mess-traps will be the same as those of the seamen
of the navy, to whose discipline (deliberately
made as little irksome as possible) he will,
while drilling, be liable. A qualified man may
be rated as A.B.—able seaman—and on actual
service in the fleet, would, if so, be eligible to
higher ratings. Penalties are, of course,
provided for making away with arms, clothing, or
stores, as well as for absence without excuse
from the proper drill of each twelvemonth.

The retainer, in consideration of which Jack
is expected to comply with these regulations,
will be six pounds a year—payable quarterly.
When absolutely employed in the fleet—being
summoned by proclamation on an emergency—
the retainer is discontinued, because then he
has his naval pay. But should the navy
dispense with his services, before the expiration of
five years from the date of his certificate, the
retainer becomes again payable. The retainer
may be lost by inexcusable absence, without
leave, for more than six months; and will be
suspended during absence with leave, beyond six
months, unless the volunteer bargains to be liable
to serve while abroad.

Let us now glance at the service in the navy
to which every volunteer so enrolled, drilled,
and paid, will be liable.

The reserve is expressly intended for
emergencies; for occasions when a sudden increase
of the naval force of the country is necessary.
A foreign potentate shows signs of intending
immediate mischief; England blazes up; and
out comes a royal proclamation summoning the
Royal Naval Volunteers. Forthwith our friends
must present themselves to the nearest naval
officer, or shipping-master, for instructions.
If abroad—unless he has been called on to serve
there—his liability to serve will commence when
he reaches home. Tide-surveyors or other
customs officers will give notice to all vessels
joining in, that the proclamation is out, and
that now is the time for Jack to pay the price of
his retainer, and show the effects of his drill,
under the pendant. When once aboard a man-
of-war, he will rank in point of pay and allowances
with continuous service seamen or petty
officers of the same rating. He will be
required to serve for three years, but should there
be war at the end of that time, he may be
called on to serve two years more, receiving in
compensation an extra 2d. a day. With five
years his compulsory service ends, though of
course he may enter again as a volunteer if he
pleases; and under ordinary circumstances he