ctively
twenty-three and nineteen men.
A few miles up the Dart another Arctic navigator--Sir Humphrey Gilbert--
was born. Here also Sir Walter Raleigh resided; and from the Dart he
led forth those expeditions against the Spaniards, in his ship the
Roebuck, in which the Madre de Dios and other argosies laden with
treasure, rich spices, and jewels rewarded the valour of his followers.
The most interesting person connected with Dartmouth of late years is
Newcomen, the inventor of the steam engine. He carried on business in
the town as an ironmonger. All honour is due to his memory, although
others perfected the work which he commenced.
Dartmouth contains many picturesque, highly ornamented old houses,
although a large number have been pulled down to make room for modern
residences. Amongst the most interesting of the former is the curious
old Butter Row. Some little way up the harbour, on the west side, is
King's Wear, where the Dart Yacht Club have their headquarters. Near
the mouth of the harbour is the Britannia school and training-ship for
Royal Naval Cadets. Here they remain until they have attained a
sufficient knowledge of navigation and seamanship to become midshipmen,
and make themselves really useful. Their regular schooling goes on all
the time. Officers in the navy are far more highly educated than they
used to be in days of yore, when a knowledge of navigation and
seamanship was all that was required.
Papa knew one of the officers, so we went on board the ship. It is
fitted up with a large school-room, class-rooms, and dormitories. She
has only the few guns necessary for exercising. Though once a
line-of-battle ship--being built of wood--she would be unable to compete
with ironclads, and of course her fighting days are over.
The wind being fair, we stood out of the Dart in the afternoon, and
steered for the Start. At the end of the Start is a lofty tower. It
was visible at sunset, when the wind fell almost calm. The tide was
favourable, however, and we made some way. In a short time a brilliant
revolving light flashed across the waters. It can be seen nineteen
miles off, the tower being two hundred and four feet above high-water.
In the tower is a bell, which is rung during fogs, to warn ships from
approaching too near. The light is a dioptric or lens-light of the
first order. The apparatus consists of a central powerful lamp; round
this is placed an arrangement of glass, so formed
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