S40 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1817. 



same denomination carry 74, and 

 this is one of tlie very few cases in 

 wliich the real and nominal force 

 agree. 



In the fourth rate, of the ships 

 rated at 50 guns, one class (that 

 on two dtcUb) carries 58 guns, 

 another, (that on one deck) carries 

 60 and upwards. 



In tlie fifth rate there are three 

 frigiitesratedasof 44guns, nan)eiy, 

 the Sybille, taken from the French, 

 which carries 43 guns ; the Lavi- 

 nia, built after her, which carries 

 50 nuns ; and the late American 

 ship President, the guns mounted 

 in which, on the day of her cap- 

 ture, were .'J4, besidei one 42- 

 pounder howitzer. 



The frigates rated at 40 guns 

 carry 50, and those rated at S8 

 cany 46 and upwards. 



The majority of those rated at 

 36 guns carry 44, and some of 

 those rated at 32 cany 46 and 48, 

 being moie than otiiers that are 

 rated at 38 and 36. 



Similar differences between the 

 real and the nominal amount of 

 force exist in the fifth rate, but it 

 is unnecessary to specify the de- 

 tails. 



We trust we shall be excused 

 for observing to your Royal High- 

 ness that It is wholly unwoithy 

 the character of the Royal Navy of 

 this kingdom to maintain this sys- 

 tem, which, though introduced by 

 the accidental cause we have men- 

 tioned, and without any design of 

 deception, yet may give occasion 

 to foipit;n nations to accuse us of 

 misrepresentation, when we state 

 that a British frigate of 38 guns 

 has taken a foreign frigate of 44, 

 when, in fact, the British frigate 

 was of equal, if not superior, 

 force. 



We therefore humbly recom- 

 mend, that your Royal Highness 

 will be pleased to order, that the 

 rule for stating the force of his 

 Majesty's ships, which prevailed 

 prior to the year 1793, and which, 

 in fact, never was formally abro- 

 gated, should be revived and esta- 

 lilished ; and that in future all his 

 Majesty's ships should be rated at 

 the number of guns and canonadcs 

 which they actually carry, on their 

 decks, quarter-decks, and fore- 

 castles. 



The recurrence to this ancient 

 practice of the service will render 

 some slight variation, as to the 

 limits of some of the rates them- 

 selves, necessary ; and we thei e- 

 fore humbly propose that the fol* 

 lowing scale of rates be adopted : — 



The first rate to include all 3- 

 deckers, inasmuch as all sea-going 

 ships of that description carry 100 

 guns and upwaids. 



The second rate to include all 

 ships of 80 guns and upwards, on 

 two decks. 



The third rate to include all 

 ships of 70 or upwards, and less 

 than 80 guns. 



The fourth rate to include all 

 ships of 50 and upwards, but less 

 than 70 guns. 



The fifth rate to include all ships 

 from 36 to 50 guns. 



The sixth rate to Include all 

 ships from 24 to 36 guns. 



Though, by this regulation, no 

 ship under 24 guns will hereafter 

 be a post ship, we, in pursuance 

 of the ancient practice of the ser- 

 vice, propose that all his Majesty's 

 yachts should lie considered as 

 post ships, and should be rated, 

 one as a second rate, and the rest 

 as third rates, but with such com- 

 plements as we may appoint. 



It 



