Naval Construction in this Country. wo 



Our frigates were so inferior to theirs in every way, that they 

 brought nothing but disasters iipon us, excepting in the action 

 between the Shannon and Chesapeake, and one or two others, 

 where, assured by their previous successes, our gallant oppo- 

 nents threw awiy the advantages possessed by their ships, by 

 coming to close quarters at once, and deciding the contest hand 

 to hand. — Our ships of the line could never bring these frigates 

 to action, and owing alone to their extraordinary sailing, did 

 they evade and mock a large British fleet. We were finally 

 obliged to build 60-gun frigates after their method, but when 

 it was too late for the exigency of the period ; and thus it has 

 ever been our fate, for want of science in the constructors of 

 our navy, to follow the steps of our enemies at a humble dis- 

 tance, and to be only then driven out of the old track by a 

 terrible experience of its inefficiency. 



Nor have the Americans stopped here ; — Mr. Huskisson 

 plainly tells us that "America is, year after year, augmenting 

 its military marine, by building ships of war *of the largest 

 class*." According to Capt. Brent on, they have built a first- 

 rate f of 245 feet length on the gun deck, and 56 feet broad J, 

 to carry 42-pounders on the lower deck, and 32-pounders on 

 the other decks. 



Our small class of 74-gun ships lately converted into frigates 

 carrying fifty 32-pounder guns, we are fearful can only produce 

 disappointment if ever brought against the American frigates 

 (not byconversion, but by construction), which carry sixty-two 

 guns of the same calibre, and are 180 feet long oil the gun 

 deck. 



We must not forget also that our active neighbours the 

 French have now adopted a most formidable description of 



* Vide this gentleman's speech on the Shipping Interests in the 

 House of Commons, May 1827. 



t Called by Capt. Brent on the Ohio ; but it appears from Lieut. De 

 Roos' personal narrative, just published, that the Ohio is a two-decker 

 of 102 guns. It is to be supposed, therefore, that the three-decker of 135 

 ffuns, called the Pennsylvania by the latter, is the ship alluded to by the 

 former. It is a matter of gieat regret that Lieut, de Roos has not pre- 

 sented us with the precise dimensions of these ships. 



X These dimensions carry tlie ratio of the length to breadth above 

 4i to I. 



D2 



