Encouraged by the indulgent attitude of my brother officers towards my late effort, in conjunction with the kind comments of the Press ; I have ventured to bring out this second, and generally enlarged edition of " Whispers from the Fleet."
The chief additions comprise a " Chapter Concerning Midshipmen," and an increase to the " Remarks on Steam Evolutions," and as I have been questioned, more than once, why there was but little mention of Gunnery in my first volume, there will now be found a few pages set apart for some "Hints" on that subject by Lieutenant H. Stirling Lecky of this ship,—as being no expert in that most important branch, I have not dared to plunge unsupported into an element in which I should be straightway choked by the knowledge and utterances of many competent authorities, and the shoemaker should stick to his last.
Nevertheless whilst on the above topic, I can make the perhaps needless assertion, that the Navy fully recognizes that the Art of Gunnery is now far more vital to the Fleet than in former times.
