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COMMODORE GOODENOUGH.

CHAPTER I.

CHILDHOOD AND SCHOOLDAYS ENTRANCE INTO THE NAVY H.M.S. COLLINGWOOD FOUR YEARS IN THE PACIFIC-H. M. S.

CYCLOPS

COAST OF AFRICA-ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE-H.M.S. CENTAUR-SOUTH AMERICA-BALTIC-H. M.S. HASTINGS.

JAMES GRAHAM GOODENOUGH was born on December 3rd, 1830, at Stoke Hill, near Guildford, in Surrey. His father, the Very Rev. Dr. Edmund Goodenough, a son of the Bishop of Carlisle, had lately resigned the Head Mastership of Westminster School, and was at that time a Canon of Westminster. His mother was a daughter of S. Cockerell, Esq., of Westbourne. In the following year, Dr. Goodenough became Dean of Wells-and there was James Goodenough's home until he went to sea.

The Dean directed his children's education, and made them share in his pursuits, whether of natural history, architecture, or music; and no doubt this assistance, the early associations of his home, and the interest and beauty of Wells Cathedral and the surrounding scenery, cultivated

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in James the love of architecture and music, and that critical taste which could not be satisfied with anything short of the best and purest in art, and which formed a source of enjoyment to him through life. He often recalled in later years one of his early lessons in perseverance and hardihood. When about seven years old he used to ride with his father. His pony had a habit of bolting in at the stable gate, instead of coming round to the front door; and on one winter evening the Dean insisted on the little boy riding up and down the road, till long after dark, and till he had mastered his pony, and made him quietly pass the stable door.

The accident of his godfather, Sir James Graham, having been First Lord of the Admiralty at the time of the child's christening, had led Dr. Goodenough to choose the following of the sea as the profession for his son James; and the boy's mind was from the first led to look upon the Navy as his future career. From his earliest years he showed determination and strength of character-even his elder brothers and sisters were accustomed to abide by his decision in a disputed matter, always recognising his desire for justice; and they remembered that when only about eight years old he for some time voluntarily contented himself with dry bread at the school-room breakfast, in order to harden himself, and make himself more fit to encounter any difficulties he might meet with in the profession which had been marked out for him.

At seven years old he went to a school in Berkshire, and before he was ten he was sent to Westminster School, where he remained till he entered the Navy, at thirteen.

Of his school life a schoolfellow and intimate friend thus writes :

"At the early age of nine and a half he was sent to Westmin ster school, in June, 1840. He was, as a boy, what he continued to be as a man-honourable, true, tender-hearted, modest, brave, and a hater of all things evil. There was something in his society which raised others unconsciously, yet he was not one of those boys who were never to be found out of bounds or in the fighting green. On the contrary, while joining heartily in all that other boys did, whether allowed or forbidden, he kept all real evil from himself and his companions by a sort of natural force. Every one liked him, and rejoiced at his successes in school and on the water, which were extraordinary for so young a boy."

In these three years he passed from the third form to the shell (next to the sixth form). Owing to the traditional customs of the school, he was involved in one or two severe fights, successfully beating boys older than himself. The only time he was severely punished at school was for a systematic disregard of a rule which he considered an encroachment on the privileges of the scholars; he persistently rowed up the river on a whole holiday, not presenting himself at the roll-call (or "early play," as it was called) in the middle of the day, which he considered unfairly broke into his holiday. But he soon learnt to yield to discipline and to obey orders unhesitatingly, whether just or not. A few years later, when in the Pacific, having gone on shore for a ride, on which occasions it was allowed that a midshipman should leave his sword behind, he was reproved by a superior officer for being on shore without his side arms, and ordered on board his ship. He

immediately went on board, and lost his ride, rather than remonstrate with his superior.

On May 7th, 1844, he obtained his appointment in the Royal Navy. The examinations in those days were not what they are now. He went down to Portsmouth, and should have gone on board the "Victory "to be examined; but, as it was blowing hard, he was desired to sit down in the flag lieutenant's office, given a sum and a piece of dictation to do, and the examination was over. As the

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Collingwood," the ship to which he was appointed, was still fitting out, the naval cadets were sent away on leave. He came down to Portsmouth again early in the summer, with his father and mother, to be confirmed (the Bishop holding a special confirmation for those who were soon leaving England); and in July of the same year he joined the Collingwood at Spithead. His father had a house in the Isle of Wight at the time, and a yacht in which he constantly visited the ship, and in which, when the Collingwood finally sailed for the Pacific, on September 7th, the Dean and his family accompanied the old two-decker for some distance down Channel.

In the Collingwood, Goodenough had the advantage of being under officers who materially encouraged and assisted him in his endeavours to advance in his profession. The admiral, Sir George Seymour, interested himself in the youngsters; and the kindly presence of Lady Seymour and her family on board the ship infused a refining influence and homelike feeling which were fully appreciated, and never forgotten by the young boy thus early taken away from the home that he loved.

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