488 Loss of Life at Sea. (October, 
height of Napoleon is 4°9 feet, that of the Achilles only 
3°1 feet! The disturbing force of Napoleon may be repre- 
sented by the cube of 55, that of the Achilles by the cube of 
58; but then the latter is 147 feet longer and has only 
4400 tons greater displacement! Moreover, the French 
ship not being an ironclad did not possess the alleged soporific 
of weighted sides. The theory here is doubly in fault. The 
true explanation is a lowcentre of gravity, great metacentric 
height, and weights on the floor. 
Then the Achilles is said to be rather superior to the 
Magenta, when she ought to be very superior, being so much 
larger, that is, go feet longer and 2600 tons more displace- 
ment, with same breadth of beam, 7.e., an equal disturbing 
element. Here, also, the theory fails, and the explanation 
is a lower centre of gravity and weights on the floor !. 
Also, Achilles is stated to be decidedly superior to the rest 
of the French squadron, excepting the Tourville. Why, the 
metacentric height of this ship is 5°3 feet, that of Achilles 
3°1 feet ; she is without the soporific of armour, is 140 feet 
shorter and 4000 tons less displacement than Achilles. Again 
the theory is doubly wrong. 
Achilles is superior to the rest of the French squadron, 1.e., 
to the Couronne, the Invincible, and the Normandie. Really 
we are surprised that a direct comparison should have been 
made; she is 110 feet longer than Couronne, and 3300 tons 
more displacement, 118 feet longer than each of the other 
two, and 3600 tons greater displacement than one, and 
38go tons more than the other. That these did not roll very 
much more than her is due to their higher centre of gravity 
and greater metacentric height. 
For, comparing the French ships amongst themselves in 
respect of their metacentric height, there is not even the 
show of reason; for, first, the two unarmoured ships must 
be struck out, as it is now admitted that they roll less than 
ironclads. ‘The theory as to the contrary is now abandoned 
by Mr. Reed—reason and experience have re-obtained their 
sway. 
The French ironclads take their places in the order of 
their size, the largest rolling least. The two first are sister 
ships, as also the two last, but of a lower class ; the propor- 
tion of breadth to length in these last is greater than that of 
the other three, therefore they ought to roll more. The 
Magenta is 1100 greater displacement than the Normandie. — 
Then the: Edgar* 1s said to be “inferior to the Napoleon, 
* We take the metacentric height of Edgar to be the same as her sister ship, 
4°6 feet. 
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