86 / 222
63
M id sh ipm en , 3 0 in n u m b e r, are in structed in R e
ligion, M athem aticks, A lgebra, N avigation, H isto ry,
G eo g rap h y , E n g lish , F re n c h , and G erm an. E v ery
S um m er a certain n um b er of them are sen t a six
w eeks cruise in a C orvette, equipped for th a t p u r
pose, to obtain a know ledge o f practical seam ansh ip.
T h is h a s been m ore re g u la rly the case since the
comm encem ent o f th e reign o f C hristian V III.
T h e re is an incident in connection w ith this
A cadem y w hich m u st be interesting to every E n g
lishm an. A fter the b attle o f Copenhagen, in 1801,
L o rd N elson paid a visit to the N aval A cadem y,
then occupying one o f th e p alaces o f the A m a
lie n b o rg , o f w hich he spoke in the hig hest term s
o f p raise, and p resented it w ith som e m edals struck
in comm em oration o f th e victory o f th e Nile. H e
took the o p p ortu nity o f eulogizing the b ra v ery and
n au tical skill o f his antagonists in th a t b a ttle , an d
singled out a you n g officer, w ho h ad bu t a sh o rt
tim e b efo re left th e A cad em y , Lieut. V illem oes,
and w ho h a d comm anded a gu nbo at w h ich , he
said, h ad greatly annoyed his own ship during the
action.
T h e encouragem ent w hich L ord N elson
gave to th is g allant y o u th to anticipate the h ighest
ho n o rs and rew ard s if he steadily and zealously
devoted h im self to his cou ntry’s
service w as,
d o u b tle ss, cherished by h i m ; b u t his p rospects