lowest commissioned rank in this branch of the service. The board is composed of the director of the school, the director of engine construction at the dockyard, or his deputy, as examiner in engineering, and the instructor in languages at the Naval Academy as examiner in German, English, and French.

The Commander-in-Chief of the station is required to attend the oral examinations and to sign the report embodying the result. In the examination in engineering three extensive papers are given, two of which are descriptive in their character, and the third dealing exclusively with calculations. The oral examination is chiefly upon the construction and use of economical engines. In German an essay is prepared. In English and French the examination is both oral and written, and calls for a high standard of proficiency in reading, translation, and conversation, especially in English.

PAYMASTER-APPLICANTS' CLASS.

The object of this class or school is to give to applicants for appointment as naval paymasters, the necessary preliminary training for their profession. For convenience of organization it is made a part of the machinists' and pilotage school, and it has the same direction and government. The instructors are naval officers, intendants, and paymasters. They are detailed for this service, in addition to their other duties, by the Commander-in-Chief at Kiel, on recommendation of the director of the school; and they receive extra pay according to the work they perform.

The paymaster-applicants are ordered to attendance at the school by the Commander-in-Chief at Kiel. If they belong to the division of the North Sea, their orders are issued upon an understanding between the commanding officers at Kiel and Wilhelmshafen. They may perform regular duty at Kiel while pursuing their studies in the school, and they have accordingly to maintain official relations not only with the school director, but also with the commander of the naval battalion, and the intendant or the commander of the naval division, according to their assignment.

The course lasts from October 1 to March 31, and the studies are so arranged as not to interfere with the regular duties of the students. The studies comprised in the course are as follows;

1. Laws of exchange and commercial law: 2 hours a week.

2. Currencies, merchandise, and mercantile affairs: 2 hours.

3. Official duties: 1 hour.

4. English: 4 hours.

5. French: 2 hours.

6. Other modern languages or stenography: 1 hour.

All the duties are obligatory except the last, which is purely optional; but the programme is subject to such minor modifications as the director and instructors may judge necessary.

At the close of the course, examinations, both oral and written, are held in all the subjects. Certificates of graduation are given to the students, signed by the director and all the instructors, stating the acquirements, conduct, and application of the students. In case of failure, the student may be recommended for a second trial of the course; and the final decision as to this recommendation rests with the Commander-in-Chief of the station.

PART IV.

ITALY.

CHAPTER XXX.

THE NAVAL SCHOOL (Regia scuola di marina).

The Royal Naval School of Italy is composed of two divisions, the first at Naples and the second at Genoa. The course lasts four years, of which the first two are passed in the first division, and the last two in the second. The Naples school may therefore be considered as preparatory to that of Genoa.

The existence of two separate schools is explained by the fact that upon the formation of the Kingdom of Italy, in 1861, the government found itself in possession of two educational establishments, one of which had formerly belonged to the Sardinian Government, the other to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Neither was a school of a very high order, but it was thought best to build upon the foundations already existing rather than to attempt immediately the formation of a new establishment. The schools, therefore, continue to occupy their antiquated and ill-adapted buildings-at Naples, the old palace of the consulate, and at Genoa, the former convent of Santa Teresa-but their courses have been so arranged that they form respectively the preliminary and advanced stages of a single system of education.

This arrangement is, of course, attended with inconveniences, and is particularly objectionable on the score of expense, as it nearly doubles the necessary force of officers, instructors, and employés. Attempts have accordingly been made from time to time to unite the schools, or to establish a new school, with an academy for advanced instruction, at Spezia, Leghorn, or elsewhere. When such a plan is adopted it will doubtless lead to essential changes in the details of the present system, but as yet none of the attempts at reorganization have succeeded.

The examination for admission takes place on the 15th of June of each year, before a commission appointed by the Minister of Marine. Applications from those who desire to become candidates are sent some time previously to the commandant of the school at Naples. Candidates must be natives of Italy, and they must be not less than thirteen nor more than seventeen years of age at the date of admission. The physical qualifications are similar to those of other countries, and are ascertained by the usual medical examination.

The mental examination is both written and oral, the latter being con