The Treasury at first granted ail allowance of 7/- per week for each boy, but afterwards
reduced this to 6/- , which fell very far short of meeting the expenses of the ship. The different
Counties who then sent boys for training were required to pay towards each one.

One Ex-Cornwall boy wrote to the Chairman of the Cornwall stating that lie had left the Army and had secured a very comfortable situation, and was about to marry, and that he owed his success in life to his early training on board the Cornwall

At that time Captain Morrell received many most gratifying letters firom old boys who were
in the South African war; one of these letters is as follows:-

Ladysmith, Natal, May 16 th, 1900

I am proud to think that I am an old boy of the good
old Ship, which I can safely say was the means of making a
man of me, otherwise I might. have been a street loafer or
a jail bird.

You might think very little of the Ship while
you are on board, but I can assure you when you are away
from it, you will think more of the good old Ship as I have
thought, and it has been my ambition to keep up the name
of the old Ship, and proud to be an old Cornwall boy.

Sir. I have sent you- 10/- - towards the Sports of the boys on board,
along with Sergt- who is at present staying at Durban on leave, . . .

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another Ex-boy who visited the ship was presented with the Distinguished Service Medal. The Committee also presented him with a silver watch, and the officers and boys added to it a chain.

The ex-boy , in thanking the Comittee and Captain Morrell, said the Cornwall " Had made a man of him".

Another gratifying instance of the lasting beneficial influence over the boys of Captain Morrell, was that of an "old" boy who, enjoying a good position in one of our Colonies, visited the ship, and gave a most valuable address to the lads.

One more interesting case may be mentioned, to show the brave conduct of those who have been trained in the Cornwall. It was that of an ,old " boy who had gone into the Army, and was the Band Sergeant of the Gordon Highlanders. He was in one of. the early engagernents in the late South African war; his Colonel was wounded, but disregarding the storm of bullets around him, the Sergeant endeavoured to shelter and help his wounded Colonel, who unfortunately died from the effects.

These satisfactory results, and many more
which inight be related, are a great encourage-
ment to the Committee, and all incentive to them
to maintain the good work of the Institution,
From the years 1886 to 1897 there is nothing
of any importance to relate ; everything went
on satisfactorily, and the general health of the
boys was good.
The Government Inspector's Reports were
always most favourable.
In order to mark Her Majesty QUEEN
VICTORIA'S Diamond Jubilee, in 1897, it was decided
to erect a small flospital on shore, on part of
the land leading from the high road to the
landing stage, which was rented for the pur-
pose of having a private approach from the road to the river.

Any suspicious case of
illness could thus be at once sent to
Hospital, or if a lad required 'special treat-ment', he could be nursed more comfortably
than on board.

Through the energy of Captain Morrell and his
friends, this hospital was completed
in one year.

Several important improvements were at this time made in the ship; acetylene gas was laid on , the school room was enlarged, and later oil a lodge was erected close to the gates of the recreation ground, to accommodate all officer of the ship, and furnished quarters were fitted up for the nurse who has charge of the hospital. A fully qualified nurse was engaged, who devotes her whole time to the sick boys. A new stage was built, and a gymnasium and a giant's stride have also been provided, through the kindness of friends.

On the ship itself a drying room has been put in the forepart, where the magazine used to be in olden time, a hot-water apparatus has been added, and shower baths fitted, and the sanitary arrangements generally have been considerably improved and made quite up to date.

The diet and clothing have also been adjusted, the former particularly, on the lines suggested by the officials of the Home Office.

A boy on joining is met by an officer on shore, and the boy is examined by the Medical Officer, then bathed, and fitted with a sailor's uniform ; his old clothes are destroyed.

On arriving on board lie receives his kit and bedding, and is then given his number, division, and the mess he will belong to; he is. after-wards examined by the head Schoolmaster and placed in his School Standard.

The boys turn out at six in the morning and have a bath daily, regular instruction, recreation, and turn in at eight; the effect of regular hours and routine produces a wonderful change in the lads, and the parents who come to see their boys after they have been there a few months are sometimes un-able to recognise them.

The School is divided into three groups, junior, Intermediate, and senior-and these are each again divided Into junior and senior sections. The junior and senior sections of each group attend School alternate days. The mininium hours of attendance for each boy, allowed by the Home Office, is fifteen hours per Week.

It is necessary, of course, to deal with the problem of education ill its broadest sense, i e., to provide for the lads, mental, moral and physical education-as will fit them, manfully and honestly, to fight the battle of life, and make them useful members of society.

The lads receive all elementary education, similar, and as far as circurnstances permit, not inferior to that which other boys receive between the ages of 12 and 16 .

Note that H.M. Inspector, at his annual inspection - in July last (1903), noted that over 4,ooo boys
have passed through the the highest mark obtainable on the Cornwall since
its establisimient.
And over 2,400 have been
licensed to Sea,

Many have also gone into the Army and the fire brigade.
They are also taught swimming, and given physical education.
Drill and gymnastics are also taught in the Gymnasium.

The Band numbers twenty-six, under the care of a Bandmaster, and special attention is given to encourage boys to enter the Army Bands.

The spiritual welfare of the boys was from the first attended to by the Chaplains of the The Church Mission, and by the Vicar of the neighbouring village of West Thurrock; within the last few years this important duty is carried out by the Chaplains of the Missions to Seamen, who hold a service on board every Sunday, and a short address once a week; a Communion Service is also held once a month, at which fifty or sixty boys regularly attend.

During the last six years 344 boys have been confirnied by the Bishop of the Diocese.

Reference has been made to the system of licensing of the boys, the advantages of which can scarcely be over-rated. To the boys, the prospect of a license is a strong incentive to good conduct. They know that by behaving well they call earn their freedom. When they leave the ship the license is a protection to them against the dangers of their position.

One of these dangers is the sudden transition into the world outside. They have, during the time they have been on board, lived entirely according to rule, and everything has been provided for them. The license renders the transition gradual, and it is in the nature of an apprenticeship to complete freedom, for whilst on license the boys are free, but yet they are on probation.

After a ship, or situation, has been found for the boy, a license is granted for three months, and, providing his conduct continues good, the license is renewed for further periods of three months, until his term of detention expires.

Another danger is the interference of parents, and here also the license is a protection. It often happens that, from selfish or other motives, the parents endeavour to induce the boy to return home, although no proper employment may be in view, and the surroundings of the home may be bad.

For these, and many other reasons, it is, maintained that the boys should be licensed. out at the earliest moment that they are fit to go, and that every day which they are detained beyond that is not only a worry to the boys then, but is detrimental to their future.

Care is taken that the boys are sufficiently established in character, and that they can be trusted and recommended to employers before being licensed.

The object of the ship is, of course, to train the boys for a seafaring life, and of the 136 boys licensed last year (1908), it is worthy of note that no less than 300 of these boys went to sea.

The average time of detention before release on license was 2 years 44 days.

As none of these boys are sentenced to the ship for less than three years, it will be seen that every endeavour is made to give a boy a chance of doing well, on probation, for some months before he obtains his freedom. If during that period his conduct is unsatisfactory, or circumstances arise so that it would be better for hirn to be back in the ship, he is recalled to complete his original sentence, if necessary, or another vessel or situation pro-cured for him.

This system has been adopted from the commencement of the Institution, and the early reports of boys on license was always most satisfactory.

Every boy on leaving the cornwall to go to sea, is provided with a card, called the 'Cornwall "Boys' Good Conduct and Visiting Card." Upon visiting the Institute,, the boy produces this card, and asks the Chaplain or Reader in charge to initial it.

The cards are returned to the Captain Superintendent during the months of June and October of every year, and if it is shown that the boy has been a regular attendant at' the Institute, an award is either paid into the Post Office Savings Bank, " Boys' "Fund," or sent direct to the boy.

The Cornwall aims to make every boy who passes through her useful and honourable inembers of society, and thus maintain the ideals of the founders of the Institution.