Force of our Ships of War, 111 



influence on the displacement and stability of the vessel ; it is 

 chiefly on the latter account that in ships of two or more 

 decks, it becomes necessary to diminish successively the 

 weights ; and, according to the common constitution of artillery, 

 the calibres in the upper tiers. 



Since, therefore, it appears that the guns of the greatest 

 weight should be placed on the lowest battery, it will be im- 

 portant to see how far experience has determined this maxi- 

 mum *, which^ of course, must, above all other considerations, 

 depend on the power and ease of management in time of action. 

 Manual exertion is confined within comparatively narrow 

 limits ; but it is possible to construct a vessel that should carry 

 much heavier ordnance than the heaviest now used. A mass 

 of about 80 cwt. seems, from experience, to be the maximum 

 of weight that can be allowed without losing the requisite cele- 

 rity in the service of the guns. This we ascertain, not from 

 our own practice, but from that of a foreign nation. The 

 weight of a French 36-pounder and carriage is 83 cwt. f ; that 

 of our highest calibre of sea service long-gun and its carriage is 

 only 64 cwt. J : we see, therefore, that the French retain, as 

 manageable, a weight exceeding ours by 18| cwt., or nearly 

 one ton. 



Admitting, however, that our 32-pounder is equivalent in 

 force to the French 36-pounder, and is otherwise as good a 

 gun, it would have the advantage in a long action, since it 

 could be served with much less fatigue and with fewer hands. 

 This is certainly an important consideration ; but the same re- 

 commendation, in a considerable degree, will be found to have 

 been attached to a higher calibre of English ordnance now 

 discarded from the naval service, excepting in the form of car- 



* This quantity is much greater in the sea service, than in the land 

 service, on account of the loco-motion which naval ordnance possesses in 

 common with the ship on board which it is mounted. Garrison ord- 

 nance, however, from being stationary, is as heavy as that of the sea 

 service ; and, indeed, is generally, in the British service, supplied 

 from it. 



t The weight of the French 36-pounder used on the lower decks of their 

 ships of the line, is nearly 71 i cwt., and the carriage weighs 11^ cwt., 

 making together 83 cwt. 



t The English 32-pounder gun of 9J feet long, weighs 56 cwt., and its 

 carriage 8^ cwt., m^ing together 644 cwt 



