Natal Construction in this Country^ .'^ 



advancement of science in them, increased and kept increasing 

 the dimensions of their ships, more especially the length, thie 

 ratio of which to the breadth has been augmented by them from 

 about 3:^.1, to 4.1 within the last century. While this princi- 

 ple was acted on, the improvement of their ships was gradual ; 

 and by referring to our own progress in the art, in tardy imita- 

 tion of the practice of the French, we shall likewise conclude 

 that our navy has derived precisely similar advantages from the 

 same causes. Here we have at once two grand but concurring re- 

 sults derived from an experiment, not made on one or half a dozen 

 different vessels, but on the whole navies of the two most pow- 

 erful maritime states in the world : and if to these we choose to 

 add the result of the practice of the same means on the Spa- 

 nish and other navies, we might surely be warranted in saying, 

 from this broad but certain analysis of facts, that, in relation 

 to the hull, the general increase of dimensions, with a greater 

 relative length, is one cause of the improvements that have 

 been made in the sea-going qualities of the ships composing 

 the fleets of the present maritime powers : the question there- 

 fore that remains to be decided on in relation to this principle 

 is, whether we have arrived at its utmost practicable limits, or 

 rather, whether we have arrived at the maximum of improve- 

 ment it is capable of producing. 



This brings us again to the experimental squadrons, as far as 

 they are connected with, and illustrative of, our observations ; 

 and the first question naturally put forward about them is, 

 whether there be any thing very peculiar in the formation or 

 dimensions of the rival vessels ? We suspect that the answer 

 cannot otherwise than disclose, that neither in principle, dimen- 

 sions, nor in the formation, can they be said to differ very ma- 

 terially from each other, or from ships of the common construc- 

 tion : indeed we perceive in some a retrogression of ideas and 

 a violation of the principle, that the increase of the ratio of the 

 length to the breadth, in conjunction with a general increase of 

 dimensions, has been a predominant cause of improvement. 

 The fact also of so immaterial a difference necessarily includes 

 a system of masting and sails equally confined, and totally ina- 

 dequate to produce any great superiority of sailing over ships 

 to which they are so nearly equal in principal dimensions. 



