Autograph Memorandum Signed "C.W. Paterson", Vice Admiral of the Blue about his son's interview for the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, in 1822. With his son's account.

One page, c.18 x 11cm, fold marks, and chipped but text clear and complete. He records that the day after the Examination his so, Charles, had partly recovered from the disappointment (of failure presumably) - "deeply affected" because he had set his heart on the College. He says that he advised him to relate what had happened the day before "in the Passing-room" to his sister who would take notes and the "attached paper is a fair, and a literal Copy of what he told her." With the said "attached paper, 4pp., 4to, fold marks, staining but text clear and compete, giving a full account of everything that occurred on the day of the interview, commencing: "There was twelve boys of us . . .". After a whispered conversation which Charles could not make out between a Dr Inman and a Capt Loring, Dr Inman set mathematical problems. Charles decribes his movements while he worked, and other minutiae Dr Inman helped a deaf boy whi had made a mistake. Seven boys called up to make an "inner circle" and asked to write "Their duty to their neighbours". The others including Charles and the deaf boy were set another mathematical oproblem. Dr Inman told him he got it wrong and he found his error. The seven boys were given a piece of paper and sent somewhere else. Those left were asked to write the phrase about neighbours. Inman told hinm to put the stops in, then someone who looked like an Admiral came into the room, patted the deaf boy on the head and went out again. Inman looks at his work without comment, and asks what an oblong was, then do some "parsing", and identify parts of speech at which he was successful, except when confused about which word Inman meant. The deaf boy and the three others were given pieces of paper by Inman who rang a bell tosummon an escort for teh four boys. Capt. Loring took Charles by the hand and led him into the room "where Papa was" and said "He has tried all he can poor fellow but it won't do". The other boys had thought he had succeeded, and he didn't make "any other mistake, than what I have told you". Paterson has added a biblical quote "But if when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently . . ." Also with the combined school bills, 1822, for Charles and George Paterson with signed receipt addressed to Admiral Patterson - "Mr Neaves acct for education [Portsea] for half year ...". The bills list expenses from slate to shoes, drill to dancing.