Order in Council of 20 March, 1857
From The Dreadnought Project
YOUR Majesty, by Your Order in Council of the 28th day of July, 1856, was graciously pleased to authorize us to reduce the period which an officer is required to serve at sea to qualify him for the rank of Lieutenant from six years to five, three years of which to be served as Midshipmen; and whereas, having had the subject under our further consideration, we are humbly of opinion that to qualify a gentleman for an appointment as Midshipman it is expedient that he shall have served one year and six months as a Naval Cadet, or three years in any other capacity; and further, that the period required to qualify a Midshipman for a Lieutenant's Commission should be extended to three years and six months.
