1865.] on the Magnetism of Ships. 305 



ship a judgment may be formed of the effect of the deviation in causing any 

 error in the course of the ship. 



"3. The education of Masters and Mates. 



" At present it may be said that entire ignorance of the subject is the 

 rule. 



" The subject has not hitherto been a recognized branch of the educa- 

 tion of the seaman ; and the most skilful seamen frequently either ignore it 

 altogether, or look upon it as a mystery not capable of comprehension. 

 Now, however, that the principles of the science have been established, it is 

 found that the subject is not one of any serious difficulty ; and although it 

 might not be considered just to require Masters and Mates already certifi- 

 cated to pass an examination in a new subject, yet an opportunity might be 

 given them of passing a voluntary examination ; and as regards future Can- 

 didates for a Certificate of competence, notice might be given that after a 

 certain period, say two or three years, a certain amount of knowledge of the 

 subject will be required from Candidates (and in the mean time a text-book 

 containing the necessary amount of information might be prepared and 

 published), and the Examiners of the Local Marine Boards will themselves 

 receive instruction, and, if necessary, undergo an examination on the 

 subject. 



" For the purposes indicated, it seems desirable to establish a department 

 of the Board of Trade under a competent Superintendent, the whole, or 

 greatest part of whose time should be devoted to this subject. Almost all 

 the advances which have hitherto been made in the science, and which 

 have placed England at the head of the science, are due to there having 

 been for the last twenty-five years one Officer charged by the Admiralty 

 with this duty almost exclusively. Such an Officer becomes the depositary 

 of all that is known on the subject, and has no difficulty in obtaining the 

 best scientific assistance. It seems desirable that for some years at least 

 the Board of Trade should take advantage of the ability and experience of 

 the present Superintendent of the Compass Department of the Navy. It 

 is understood that there would be no practical difficulty, and there would 

 be many advantages in the present state of the science in having the 

 superintendence of the compasses of the Royal and Mercantile Marine 

 united in one head, with competent assistants in the two branches of the 

 service. The subject, as has been observed, is not one of difficulty. Any 

 intelligent man could speedily be instructed in all that would be necessary 

 to enable him to discharge the duties of Assistant for the Mercantile 

 Marine ; and in the selection of such an Assistant, probably it would be 

 more important to look to general ability, intelligence, docility, and the 

 habit of, and aptitude for, dealing with men, and particularly with Masters 

 of merchant vessels, than to any previous knowledge of the subject." 



