The subject of my paper is one which has been dealt with before, and I make no pretence to new or original views. So long ago as 1874 Sir John Laughton gave an address in this theatre on the Scientific Study of Naval History, and again in 1896 he read another paper dealing with the same question. Whatever we have learnt of naval history in these recent years is due to him, and I should be sorry to read a paper on it without an acknowledgment of the deep indebtedness of the Navy to that distinguished historian.

I want to approach the subject of naval history from the point of view of its value to the naval officer. This may appear a narrow point of view, but I do not mean to say that I believe that the historian who makes this branch of history his particular study has only naval officers for his circle of readers; but it is as one of that circle that I venture to put my views, with a lingering apprehension that what the naval officer wants to get out of naval history is not really very different from what everybody else does. However, I can speak only of what I am acquainted with.

To the naval officer, naval history can be of great value, provided it is so treated that some practical end is served.