Note 60 — EDGAR, 74

Without quite being ‘one of the first mathematicians in Europe,’ it is probable enough that Macbride was really an able man. The old schoolmasters were of two sorts: either they were respectable, half-educated men, who were rising in life and sometimes became pursers, occasionally even lieutenants; or, and more commonly, they were clever, highly educated men, ruined by drink, and on the down grade. We may believe that Macbride was a man of this stamp. Cf. also Byam Martin’s experience on board the Pegasus (N.R.S. xxiv. 57). Some of our most distinguished captains and admirals endeavoured, at their own expense, to remedy this utterly disgraceful state of things:—e.g. Pellew in the Caledonia, Sir Samuel Hood in the Centaur; but it was not till 1836 that the Admiralty tried to make an entirely new departure by the institution of naval instructors. Complete success, however, came very gradually. Some of the earlier officers so appointed were not uncommonly put to bed by a posse of their pupils; and even less than fifty years ago, one of them—a capable instructor and a clever writer—went on four days’ leave to his cabin, in company with half a dozen of brandy. All might have gone well—from his point of view—had not the supply run short after two days, and the wretched man, in his night shirt and a state bordering on delirium tremens, appeared in the ward room clamouring for drink.