14 HOSPITALITY AT MILFORD. 



importance of having some public means of in- 

 struction in this branch of practical science must 

 be manifest to every one. The general adoption 

 of steam power in the foreign packet service, and 

 the large capital invested in private steam-vessels, 

 hold out sufficient inducement to individuals who 

 make the profession their study; and it only re- 

 quires government to make it an honourable pur- 

 suit, by establishing a class of master engineers, 

 to draw hundreds of young gentlemen into it who 

 are now frittering away their time waiting for 

 commissions in the army or navy. Surely there 

 can be no great difference between adjusting a 

 screw or packing a piston, and examining a splice 

 or scrutinising a knapsack. 



Our stay at Milford was rendered agreeable 

 by the hospitality and kindness of Mr. Leach 

 and Captain Chappell. The latter gentleman, 

 as agent for his Majesty's post-office packets, 

 granted us the use of their hulk, which enabled 

 Captain Harries to get our decks cleared and 

 stowed for sea, and to fill up with coals to the 

 very moment of our departure. To both these 

 gentlemen my grateful thanks are due for their 

 kind attentions, which were the more unexpected 

 as we were personally unknown to them. 



