Royal Insiifutlon of Great Britain, 429 



that the ships during the Commonwealth were not increased in size, 

 but greatly in number, for in nine years the navy was doubled. In 

 1649 the first frigate which this country possessed was built ; she was 

 constructed by Mr. Peter Pett, and called the Constant Warwick ; 

 she carried 42 guns, but was only 85 feet long, and 26 feet broad. 



The navy was much neglected by Charles the Second ; in his 

 reign, however, the first ship to carry 74 guns (the Royal Oak) 

 was built; this ship was 157 feet 6 inches long, and 41 feet 

 4 inches broad. The dock-yard at Sheerness was commenced at 

 this period. 



James the Second paid much attention to the navy ; and, with 

 the assistance of Mr. Pepys, carried many wholesome jegulations 

 into effect. < • 



At the abdication of James, the fleet was in a good state. Wil- 

 liam and Mary increased it in numbers ; and in order to provide for 

 its future resources, established a dock-yard at Plymouth. At this 

 period the doubling or girdling of ships was first introduced. ' 



Queen Anne gave her .whole attention to, the efficiency of the 

 army, — the navy was consequently neglected, which caused great 

 murmurs among the people. 



George the First increased the size of the ships of the several 

 classes, and took vigorous measures not only to build and rebuild 

 ships, but to repair those left in a bad state by his predecessor. 



George the Second still further increased the size of the ships, 

 and added to their numerical force. It was during his reign that the 

 practice of building 80-gun ships on three decks was discontinued, 

 and those of 60 and 50 guns were no longer considered of the line. 

 At the demise of George the Second it was found that the navy 

 had been doubled in real force dnrinff his reig-n. 



The ships were much increased in size during the early part of 

 the reign of George the Third, and the constant naval warfare car- 

 ried on caused a more than ordinary attention to the fleet. In 

 1783, it was determined that copper bolts and copper nether hinges 

 (called pintles and braces) should be substituted for those of iron ; 

 as it was apprehended that several ships had foundered at sea 

 from the oxidation of the iron bolts, in consequence of the ships 

 being copper sheathed ; this was then attributed to the iron being 

 a less pure metal than copper ; for it remained for the master-mind 

 of a Davy to discover the physical law, that when two dissimilar 

 metals are in contact, and also with sea water, that a voltaic effect 

 is produced, which occasions a rapid corrosion of the more oxid- 

 able metal, while the other remains perfect. *' I have great satis;* 



APRIL— JULY, 1828. 2 F 



