1830.] [ 57 ] 



NAVAL AFFAIRS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



IN resuming our discussion of the important subject which the pam- 

 phlet of Sir Charles Penrose has forced on the consideration of men in 

 power, we are led to revert to the Admiral's practical suggestions touch- 

 ing the necessity of an alteration in the tonnage and artillery of our 

 vessels. In order that this desired alteration should be made on a safe 

 and satisfactory basis, Sir Charles recommends, as will have been seen in 

 our last, a series of experiments. 



" These experiments would necessarily lead to much of that increased 

 exercise and experience afloat which I so strongly recommend. It is only by 

 seeing ships of different classes together, in all the various circumstances of 

 wind and sea, that any correct opinion of their real qualities can be formed; 

 and many of our younger officers must necessarily be completely uninformed 

 in these particulars. I should therefore try together one or more of our 

 first-rates, new eighty-gun ships, razzed seventy-fours, twenty-four and 

 eighteen-pounder frigates; and as we have unfortunately a considerable 

 number of almost new twenty-eight-gun ships, which in their present state 

 are only calculated to disappoint and disgrace us, I should see whether, by con- 

 verting them into corvettes, their sailing qualities might not be considerably im- 

 proved, and they would at all events be reduced to their real denomination in 

 point of force. A larger class of corvette, with sufficient breadth to carry heavy 

 Jong guns, is however so indispensably necessary, that I should not rest until I 

 had succeeded to my full satisfaction in this particular. Here such officers as 

 Captains Hayes and Symonds, who are experienced seamen as well as excellent 

 naval architects, would afford the greatest assistance ; and I have no doubt that 

 the second, if not the first attempt, would produce a most desirable vessel of this 

 class." 



Here we disagree with the Admiral. The measure, as regards the 

 Eight-and-twenties, is an impolitic one, as we feel certain would be 

 admitted by those scientific officers alluded to. To convert any one of 

 this class of frigates to the description of corvette designated, is totally 

 impracticable, inasmuch as the original structure is deficient in that 

 breadth of beam indispensably necessary in the formation of the vessel 

 proposed to carry such weight of metal as would be required. No, no; 

 this is not the way to rid ourselves of those (f fatal and perfidious 

 barks," which, in the words of Sir Charles, are " only calculated to 

 disappoint and disgrace us." Let us have no half measures : banish 

 them at once from his Majesty's service, and, by so doing, give con- 

 fidence to our captains of frigates, who, although proverbially brave 

 and loyal, would scarcely feel themselves justified in meeting an Ame- 

 rican or French vessel bearing the same delusive name, but being, in 

 point of fact, of nearly double force. Had it not been for this calami- 

 tous oversight, or rather obstinate resistance to improvement, on the 

 part of our Admiralty board, the natural tendency of " Jonathan" to 

 imitate the little self-flatteries of that worthy gentleman Captain Bobadil 

 would have been useless for lack of matter. 



Were we asked how we should propose to free ourselves from these 

 miscalled frigates, which are the reproach of our navy, our reply would 

 be, f ' Sell them to the merchants of the country, for they are just 

 calculated for West Indiamen, or East India register ships." If our 

 naval administration design to put our ships of every class on a par 

 respectively with those of other nations, let us do as other maritime 



M, M. New Series. Vol. X, No. 55. H 



