Chapter 22: 2nd Class

August 1804

Before classes started, Thomas was called to the headmaster’s office where the lieutenant governor formally appointed him as head boy and gave him a short lecture about his duties. Thomas thought of this as droll, since he had acted in that function for a half year already.

The 2nd class was two scholars short of their previous numbers, with one of them recovering from very severe injuries from a fall. He would return once healed. The other was Mister Timothy Mackinrod, who, after having spent the 3rd Class at the bottom of the rankings, had joined the gunroom of a third-rate as a 1st class volunteer, forfeiting the time already spent at the Academy.

Thus down to 15, the 2nd class started into their last year. On welcoming them back, Mister Bayly then announced that the first examinations would be held in April, for those far enough progressed to graduate. The second examinations would be in June. He also told them that once graduated, they would be required to report their progress in the Navy every year and until they would be commissioned. They could also enjoy the hospitality of the Academy if their ship was laid up or in repairs in Portsmouth.

Following those announcements, Bayly recapitulated the main topics from the 3rd class. This set the tone for the other subjects — a recapitulation followed by an outlook.

During 2nd class, Mister Bayly would relegate all mathematical teaching to Mister Johnson, whilst he himself began to teach them his speciality, Astronomy, a subject highly relevant for shipboard navigation.

Mister Folger, in his lessons, now taught them about function, use and maintenance of the chronometer, so important for determining their longitude when on long sea voyages, relative to the Greenwich meridian. This came in addition to the use of the necessary tables. Yet, as Thomas and Robert knew, very few ships were equipped with the very expensive chronometers; typically the first- and second-rates, which rarely needed them, for they sailed only in European waters and never in the far reaches of the realm.

When Mister Bayly taught them about the lunar cycle and its rules, Folger complemented that with the use of tide tables in the British waters. This was now very close to what they would do after graduation, and the scholars followed the presentations with great zeal.

They were also seconded to the watch ships guarding the harbour, getting practical experience with sailing manoeuvres in the Spithead, but also in the Solent. When it was Thomas and Robert’s turn, the master of the cutter even rounded the Isle of Wight, with each of the aspiring officers going one-hour watches sailing the ship. It was both exhilarating and scary for them, but after a few repeats, they became accustomed to the tasks. Whenever sitting in a classroom, they began to yearn for their next turn in the guard ships.

Thomas also maintained his regular calls at the Sea Rover. Captain Conway, his acquaintance and fairly good friend from that establishment, agreed to serve as his beard, assuring the Academy’s Governor, Admiral Moorbanke, that Thomas spent his Sundays under Conway’s tutelage. After some wheedling from Thomas, Conway even added Robert to his teaching schedule, and the three of them kept the young ladies in the Sea Rover busy on their Sunday afternoons, always ending in dinner on board the Ville de Bordeaux hulk which Conway commanded. In return, they would carry his reports and reckonings to the Dockyard and submit them at the right places. It was little enough effort for them.

In this manner, the weeks flew by, with September turning into October, November and finally December. Serving in the guard ships became less pleasant during the autumn gales, but no less exciting, and they often had to serve as additional quartermasters if they were not commanding the deck. Their cutter, the Warwick Warlord, of just 80 tons in spite of her impressive name, even caught a fishing boat, out of Cowes, and laden with French brandies, and five young scholars were overjoyed when the Warlock’s master, Mister Crewes, delivered their shares of the sales to the Academy — £5.10s .6d for each of them. With the permission of Mister Bayly and Captain Haversham, the 2nd class scholars had a celebration in the brewery cellar with parts of that little windfall.

When the Academy released them for Holiday leave, Robert once again joined Thomas in the stage coach to London, which they used in stead of a cart ride thanks to their relative affluence. It was, they realised, their last holidays together, since they would join ships’ companies ere the next year would be over.

Theodore and Margaret Grey were also aware of that, and they made it known to Robert that he would always be welcome on the Greys’ lands and in their house.

The weather was dismal, with a strong northeastern wind whipping along low hanging rain clouds, drenching the soil and turning the roads into mud. Much time therefore was spent inside, eating good food, drinking good ale and even wines, reading and playing card or board games.

The Christmas service in the chapel was still an uncomfortable affair, but Caplan gave a regular length service that year and held himself back from chastising the congregation for any perceived misbehaviours or faults. Thomas surmised — correctly as he later learned from his father — that the elder Grey’s complaint to the Bishop had resulted in a warning, and Caplan was toeing the line, at least for now.

In that year, the New Year’s Eve soiree planned at Mister Egerton’s manor had to be cancelled, due to a sickness of the hostess, Missus Madeleine Egerton. Word was that she had suffered a stillbirth, but the elder Greys forbade any discussion of such an unsavoury rumour. Instead, the Greys invited three neighbouring families to a small dinner, the Paddingtons, Sir Joseph Whipplethwaite with his nephew, and Mister Rufus Cobb, the Justice of the Peace, with his wife.