205 CHAPTER XII. WOOLWICH. "Let us then be up and doing, With a heart for every fate; Learn to labour, learn to wait." ON October 12, 1871, the Prince Imperial, then in his 15th year, was entered as a cadet at the Royal Military College, at Woolwich, and albeit that he laboured under the disadvantage of not having undergone the usual preparation for the Woolwich course of study, he yet passed a creditable examination prior to his entry there. The As is well known, the studies at Woolwich are chiefly military, and preparative for commissions in the Artillery and Engineers Corps. courses include pure mathematics, up to differential and integral calculus; mixed mathematics, up to mechanics; hydrostatics; the principles of building; construction and theory of the steamengine. The higher part of these studies are voluntary. The cadets also learn fortifications, theoretically, and practically as regards the construction of earthworks; artillery, chemistry, and physics; with military history, military drawing, as well as freehand and landscape drawing. Independently of Greek and Latin, which are voluntary, they can take up any of the following languages Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, German, and Hindostani. It is to the cadets' interest to take up as many voluntary subjects as they can, in order to increase their marks. It was the Emperor's wish that the Prince should undertake as much of the above course of studies as possible, in which desire he himself participated. The studies are organized at the Academy by means of lectures given by the Professors and Instructors, which the cadets attend; after which the Instructors explain to the pupils what they may not have understood at the time. An examination takes place every term, in which the proficiency of the pupils is shown by the number of marks they have acquired, and upon this result the cadets are passed into higher forms. The Emperor Napoleon III. was well acquainted with the entire military system at Woolwich, and was satisfied that nowhere could his son be better trained for a soldier's career. On first arriving at the Academy the Prince took up his residence within its walls, taking his meals in the dining-hall, and sharing the same classes as the rest of the cadets. The only privileges accorded him were two private rooms, one as a study, the other as a bedroom; and these were shared by his friend Louis Conneau, who had followed him to England, and who, at the Emperor's request, had been likewise entered at Woolwich. The Prince's private rooms were, by the Queen's command, furnished at her expense. Her Majesty had from his birth testified a warm regard for him, and took a personal interest in his studies during his career at Woolwich. The Queen often sent for him to Windsor, and he became a general favourite with the various members of the royal family. The Prince's study was simply furnished. It contained a bookcase, well filled with standard works, amongst which were found most of his father's literary productions, and Napoleon I.'s "Campagnes d'Italie, Egypt," &c. A handsomely bound Shakespeare, a birthday present from the Queen, bore the following inscription: "To my cousin, the Prince Imperial of France, with many wishes for his happiness. "His affectionate Cousin, "16th March, 1873." "VICTORIA REGINA. A copy of the Queen's "Journal in the Highlands," was likewise so inscribed. The bookshelf was ornamemted by bronze statues of French soldiers, which had been brought from the Emperor's library in the Tuileries. In this study the Prince worked during his first term at Woolwich. After that period a small house was taken for him on Woolwich Common, where his French tutor, M. Filon, joined him. The Prince's dwelling was recognizable by the two tall men-servants, in their imperial liveries of green and gold, who were in attendance on him, one or other of whom might generally be seen by the passer-by standing at the door, and looking somewhat out of character with the size of the house, which might truly be termed, in every sense, "a maisonette." Every Saturday till Monday the Prince went to Chislehurst, to spend the intervening time with his parents, but was never known to miss returning to Woolwich on the Monday morning, in time to take his place in class at the appointed hour. The Emperor rarely visited his son at the Academy, as he was fearful of interrupting his studies; for the same reason, the state of France, and the many political questions which the Republic involved, were almost forbidden topics, the Emperor wisely deeming that at the Prince's age the acquisition of knowledge was far more important to him than useless discussions and conversations as to their fallen fortunes and clouded hopes. The Emperor, however, thoroughly imbued his son's mind with his own unswerving idées Napoleoniennes, as being his best study for the future. responsibilities which lay before him. During his first term at the Academy the Prince worked very hard, feeling himself behind his companions, and determining by assiduity to recover lost ground. One privilege only above others was allowed him, viz. to receive private lessons from one of the instructors, Captain Edgar Kensington, R.A., at present head of the Royal Military College at Kingston, Canada. This gentleman has kindly furnished me with an account of the Prince's progress while under his care at Woolwich, and I reprint it as received, it being valuable as coming from so undeniable an authority. In acknowledgment of the Prince Imperial's birth, on first entering the Academy the offer was made to him, as to others of like rank, viz., that if he preferred it his examinations could be conducted separately. His first examination was so, after which the Prince of his own accord begged that in future he might be placed on exactly the same footing as his fellow-cadets, taking his chance in open competition with these, which, he said, would be far more satisfactory to himself. The cadets in these examinations send in their papers under numbers, withholding their names, in order that the examiners may not know to whom Р |