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A Description of Commander Marshairs.n^tt* mode of Mount- 

 ing and fForking Ships' GurisiC^&.^^ii^f, AlhenrnvlQ'- 

 street, London. ^' ^J^' ^ btnfr ulfln. 



tity, and that dexterity in the use of instruments is acquired 

 by practising with them, it will appear that the efficiency of 

 naval force depends chiefly upon two concurring circumstances, 

 viz., the excellence of the ships of which it is composed, 

 and the powers of its artillery equipment. 



The military qualities of ships of war will therefore be in 

 proportion to the knowledge and exertions, generally, of two 

 distinct classes of persons, — those who construct them, and 

 those who have the control, contrivance, and management of 

 their warlike apparatus. 



The business of the naval constructor is to furnish a ship 

 of a given force with the best sea-going qualities, amongst 

 which, velocity and celerity of evolution should be of pre- 

 eminent consideration. He is, in fact, the contriver of a 

 vast locomotive machine, by which a warlike apparatus is 

 conveyed to a certain sphere of action ; but the efficacy of this 

 apparatus depends, not only upon its intrinsic powers, but also 

 upon those who handle it and manoeuvre the ship. Now, 

 admitting the skill, manual strength, and dexterity of these 

 agents, it ultimately appears that the effect of this appara- 

 tus must depe7id on its own capabilities. 



The capabilities of naval artillery include its quality or 

 calibre ; its range; the celerity with which it may be served ; 

 the power of easily directing its fire on remote points or 

 passing objects ; and the safety with which it may be 

 attended. 



No one, we presume, will pretend to doubt that the larger 

 the calibre, and the longer the range, the more destructive 

 will be the blow, and the wider will be the extent under com- 

 mand ; nor will any one scruple to admit, that the crew 

 which handles its guns with the most celerity (supposing 

 that accuracy of fire is not sacrificed) will stand the best 

 chance of coming off victorious : we shall proceed, therefore, 

 to examine how far this object, and the no less important one, 

 the power of directing the fire of a ship on remote points and 

 passing objects, have been, until now, effected ; for it is by an 

 entire departure from old principles that the author of the 

 work before us has effected decidedly the most important im- 

 provement that has yet been made in the means of rendering 



