226 On the Force, Construction, fyc. 



from its previous state, as a three-decker, without detriment to 

 its sailing qualities. 



Thinking that it is very improbable that ships of the line, of 

 more than three decks, will ever become common, if even 

 attempted, through physical causes, we have to remark, that 

 there remains now only one way of increasing the force of a 

 ship of the line, the calibre of its artillery being given, and that 

 is, by making use of the second adjustment of the ordnance 

 we have mentioned. Actual trial has not yet pointed out 

 where it ceases to produce improvement. The American line- 

 of-battle ships of two decks are, for the most part, 206 feet 

 long, and mount 102 guns of the calibre of forty-two and thirty- 

 two pounds* : and they have ventured on a three-decker of at 

 least 220 feet length, and corresponding force. The French 

 are resuming, with vigour, the prosecution of maxims which 

 originally emanated from them, and are said to be constructing 

 a first-rate of 232 English feet in lengthf . These enlarged 

 two-decked ships have been proved in actual service by the 

 Americans, and found to answer the expectation formed of 

 them. Whether the enlargement of the three-deckers exceeds 

 propriety or not, remains to be determined. For our own parts 

 we have very little, if any, doubt, as to the successful issue 

 of this important and interesting experiment ; and if a pro- 

 per modification be made in the masting and canvas, there 

 will not be any necessity for a size of masts and yards be- 

 yond what nature allows in sufficient plenty to our wants in 

 this case. 



Having endeavoured to shew the influence which the force 

 of a ship of the line exercises over the principal dimensions, 



ship, similar to the San Josef, or Salvador del Mundo, except, probably, 

 in possessing rather more breadth of beam. It appears that, some time 

 between the commencement of 1793 and 1796, her quarter-deck and fore- 

 castle were formed into a whole deck, barricades built up along the 

 gangways, and ports cut through them, so as to make the total number 

 of 8-prs. on that deck equal, in amount, to the 12-prs. on the deck next 

 below it. This accounts for 126 guns : the remaining four, we may sup- 

 pose, were mounted on the poop. The Santissima Trinidada was, there- 

 fore, a flush four-decker that exceeded the three-decked 112's in force 

 only by fourteen 8-prs., and four pieces of a still smaller calibre." 



* The North Carolina, one of these ships, discharges at a broadside 

 1972 pounds of iron, whilst our Caledonia can only project 1568 pounds. 



f A length of 232 feet would allow nineteen ports of a side on the 

 lower battery. 



