for performing these duties), and twelve sub-inspectors, are maintained. The improvement that has taken place in the education of the army generally may be gathered from the reports and returns of the director-general, by which it appears that between the years 1858 and 1871 the pro portion of "uneducated" fell from 40 per cent, to 12 per cent., and that within the last few years the number pos sessing a superior education has risen from 6 to 32 per cent. And although much of this is doubtless due to the spread of education throughout the country, a comparison of the educational statistics of the recruits with those of the army generally proves that still more is due to the
regimental schools.
Garrison Libraries and Regimental Recreation.—Rooms have also been established at the principal barracks at home and abroad, and are open to the troops on payment of a small subscription, which must not exceed threepence a month for a private soldier. The garrison library forms a central depot from which the recreation-rooms are sup plied with books. All the rooms are furnished, warmed, and lighted at the public expense, and the recreation-rooms provided with billiard and bagatelle tables, chess, back gammon, and other games. An annual allowance of 2, 10s. is granted by Government for each troop or company; this, with the subscriptions, forms a fund to defray the cost of purchase and repair of books in garrison libraries, and of games, newspapers, &c., for recreation-rooms. Many recreation-rooms have a refreshment bar attached to them, where the men are supplied with tea, coffee, and other light refreshments at a very low price. A garrison librarian, usually a non-commissioned officer or a pensioner, takes charge of the libi ary, and a regimental librarian has charge of the recreation-rooms. These are managed by a committee composed of non-commissioned officers and privates; and the garrison libraries are managed by a committee consisting of members chosen from the regi mental committees, under the approval of the officer com manding the station.
Scientific and Educational Establishments.
The Department of Artillery Studies was established to give officers of the artillery the means of continuing their studies after they have completed the regular course at Woolwich, and of qualifying by a special training for appointments requiring exceptional scientific attainments. The establishment consists of a director, an assistant- director, and two instructors of artillery, and a number of instructors and lecturers for mathematics, languages, and sciences. Its duties include the instruction of an advanced class of artillery officers, selected by competition, to qualify for scientific appointments ; and the formation of classes in topography, astronomy, and languages, open to all officers of the artillery wishing to join them. A School of Gunnery is maintained at Shoeburyness for the purpose of giving practical instruction in gunnery to officers and men of the artillery, and carrying on all experiments connected with artillery and stores. The present site was selected for the school in consequence of the facilities afforded by the sands at the mouth of the Thames for artillery practice and firing at long ranges. The establishment consists of a commandant and brigade-major, with six instructors for the gunnery department ; and two superintendents of experiments. Officers and non-commissioned officers are selected from brigades of artillery to go through a long course of instruction in gunnery, use of military machines, <fec., and qualify as instructors to brigades and batteries; and squads of officers and men are sent there for instruc tion in the various branches of artillery service.
The Royal Artillery Institution at Woolwich was originally a private military society, but the present building was erected at Government expense, and the institution is now supported partly by the subscriptions of members, partly by a Government grant. It contains a museum, lecture theatre, laboratory, and a printing-press ; and minutes of proceedings, containing papers on professional and scien tific subjects, are periodically issued from it.
The School of Military Engineering at Chatham constitutes a special training school for officers of the Royal Engineers after they have passed through the course at Woolwich, as well as for recruits on first enlistment. Companies are also sent there previous to going abroad, and on return from foreign service, to keep up their knowledge. The establishment consists of a commandant and brigade-major, two discipline officers, and eleven officer instructors in construction, surveying, field fortification, telegraphy, &c.
The School of Musketry at Hythe was established shortly after the introduction of rifled fire-arms, to give a special training in the theory and practice of musketry to officers and non-commissioned officers qualifying to act as musketry instructors to their regiments, and to secure a uniform system of instruction and practice through out the army. With this view also, squads of officers and men from all regiments in the service are periodi cally sent there for a short course. The establishment consists of a commandant, a deputy assistant adjutant- general, and five officer instructors. The commandant is also inspector-general of musketry, and exercises a general supervision over the instruction and practice throughout the army ; for which purpose periodical reports are made to him from all regiments, and the annual musketry returns are carefully examined by him before being submitted, with his remarks, to the Comniander-in-Chief. To secure sufficient attention to this important part of a soldier s training, musketry instructors are appointed in every regiment ; and staff officers, formerly termed district in spectors of musketry, are appointed to the principal dis tricts. Every recruit is required to go through a course of instruction and practice before being dismissed drill, and every trained soldier is put through an annual course, lasting about a fortnight, in which he fires 60 rounds at fixed distances from 150 to 800 yards. Extra pay of Id. a day is given to those men who qualify as " marksmen," and additional rewards to the best shots of companies and battalions.
An Army Medical School was formed in connection with the great military hospital at Netley, to which candidates for appointments as surgeons are sent for a probationary course. The school is under the immediate direction of the principal medical officer at Netley, and has a staff of nine professors and assistant professors of military surgery, medicine, hygiene, &c.
The Military School of Music at Kneller Hall, Hounslow, was established in 1857 with the view of instructing non commissioned officers and soldiers in music, and supplying competent bandmasters ancl trained musicians to the various regiments. The staff consists of one officer and a number of civil professors : the students, limited to 148, are soldiers selected for good conduct and promise of musical proficiency, and remain for two years.
the Duke of York s School), and Royal Hibernian Military School at Dublin, are establishments for the maintenance and education of a limited number of boys who are the sons of soldiers. Candidates for admission must be between the ages of 5 and 1 2 years, and they are allowed to remain till 14, or, if they belong to the band, till 15. They are then allowed to volunteer into any regiment they may select, or, if not fit for the service, are apprenticed to a
trade or placed in some other civil employment. The