LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, TRANSMITTING, In compliance with resolution of the Senate of January 19, the report of Prof. James R. Soley on the foreign systems of educating naval officers. JAST ARY 21, 1820.-Referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs and ordered to be printed. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 20, 1880. SIE: In compliance with a resolution of the Senate, of the 19th instant, I have the honor to communicate to the Senate herewith “ the report of Prof. James R. Soley on the foreign systems of education of Daral officers." I am, sir, very respectfully, R. W. THOMPSON, Secretary of the Nary Hon. WILLIAM A. WHEELER, Vice-President of the United States. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY, Annapolis, Ma., November 20, 1879. Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report on foreign systems of naval education, prepared in compliance with the order of the Sary Department of March 11, 1878, while on duty at the Paris Exposition. In addition to the material obtained at the Exposition, which was not large, I have utilized such official documents and papers as came into my possession from other sources. I also made a personal inspection of the naval schools and colleges of England and France, and of the German practice-ship for cadets. In my risits to foreign establishments, I was received by the official authorities with the greatest kindness and attention, and given every facility in pursuing investigations. I have to express my obligations to the ministers of the United States in England, France, Germany, and Italy, for obtaining the necessary authorizations and documents to enable me to study the systems of naval education in those countries. I have also to acknowledge particularly the assistance given me by Admiral Sir C. F. A. Shadwell, K. C. B., President of the Royal Naval College, and Dr. Hirst, Director of Studies, at Greenwich; Captain Fairfax, Commander Lord Ramsay, and Mr. Aldous, of the Britannia; Captain Herbert and Commander Acland, of the Excellent ; Vice-Admiral Bourgois, Préfet Maritime of Brest, and Captain Guépratte, commanding the Borda ; M. A. Lebeau, Chef du bureau des Equipages de la Flotte , at the ministry of marine, in Paris; Lieutenant Collet, of the Polytechnic School; and Captain Zirzow, commanding the German practoe-ship Niobe. I have also to report that the documents, programmes of study, lectures, and other works relating to naval and military education, which I collected at Paris and elsewhere , to the number of about three hundred volumes, have been deposited in the library of the United States I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. RUSSELL SOLEY, Saval Academy Hon. R. W. THOMPSON, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. CONTENTS. Page. CHAPTER I.--General steps in the career of line officers... II.-Executive officers assigned to special duties ..... III. – Organization and education of the staff and civil corps. 3. Chaplains and naval instructors. 3. Marine Artillery and Light Infantry 6. Paymasters, secretaries, and clerks IV.- Former systems of education...... V.-Naval cadets and the Britannia course 1. Examination for admission.... 6. Mode of life, health, amusements VI.-Service at sea as midshipmen VII. — The Royal Naval College at Greenwich... 1. Gunnery and torpedo lieutenants and half-pay officers.... 2. Probationary lieutenants of the Royal Marine Artillery. 3. Acting sub-lieutenants...... 4. Engineers and construction students.. VIII. — The gunnery ship Excellent ... 3. Acting sub-lieutenants' examination.. 4. Gunnery lieutenants' examination.... X-General character of the English system .... II.—Organization of the personnel ...... III. Miscellaneous staff corps |