NAVY. 



I of necessity restrained within certain limitation* as to the size of 

 their ma*U atid the quantity of sail available, inasmuch u beyond a 

 certain amount of canvas, it was found that a ship tinder sail could in a 

 breeze actually orvmui the paddle, which at such times became an 

 incumbrance ; and further, with diminished mould and rigging, the 

 reduction in a sailor's work aloft threatened to deprive England t lu-r 

 so lung boasted advantage over other nations in the superior skill of her 

 Msuneu, thus, indeed, threatening to reduce her to the level of other 

 powers ; but the success of the Rattler demonstrated, in 1845, that 

 while the dominant superiority of the screw-propeller restored space 

 for the broadside armament, it did more, it renewed, in the full rii; of 

 a screw steamer, necessity for that experience and dauntless activity 

 and proficiency in seamanship aloft which has been so universally 

 acknowledged and eulogised as an attribute of a British sailor. Happily, 

 therefore, the screw line-of-battle ship, or the screw frigate of tin- 

 present day, when under sail with her funnel reefed, presents no 

 peculiarity of rig, except the neatness peculiar to an English man- 

 of-war. 



This also obviates another difficulty which long embarrassed the 

 naval affairs of the country. With a paddle fleet, hiving reduced 

 masts, and therefore less able to fully avail themselves of a favourable 

 the expense, though large, bore but little proportion to the 

 many other inconveniences attending the necessary supply of coals to 

 ahips in coinmiaion ; whereas in a screw fleet the assistance offered 

 by the wind is always available, and much less coal is required, for 

 after all the screw is but an auxiliary, to be used only in adverse winds 

 or calms, except under emergency ; while it fortunately admits of 

 being used with sailing power, because it has been proved that a 

 crew propeller can always be made to increase the speed of a ship 

 under sail, and should accident happen to the machinery, the screw 

 can be lifted, so as to give full benefit to the vessel as a sailer. 



Perhaps the most important advantage over the paddle introduced 

 by the screw is, that whereas the machinery of a paddle ship unavoid- 

 ably exposes her main shaft and cranks and connecting rods to an 

 enemy's shot, from their necessary elevation above the centre of 

 gravity of the floating mass, the machinery for the screw and its main 

 shaft admit of being placed below the water-line, and close to the 

 keelson ; while, again, the necessity for finer lines and greater length 

 of hull in a screw ship produce an additional space, which generally 

 suffices for the engine and fuel, without any decrease of stowage for 

 provisions and stores. 



NAVY. 



eot 



The success of the Rattler encouraged the construction of a fine 

 screw frigate, the Arrogant, launched in 184$, mounting 46 guns, 

 and of the burden of 1372 tons. This ship may be said to be 

 the pioneer of a new system, as regards frigates, for in 1852 was 

 launched the Impcrieuse, the first of a heavy class of frigates whu-h 

 are now the pride of the service. This fine ship is armeil, !ik<- In T 

 successors, with 51 guns (60, and a pivot gun), and U of the bunion 

 of -j:i47 ton*. 



The year 1852 U also remarkable as being that in which the Leopard, 



the last (and it is supposed to be the betl) of all our paddle steamers, was 



' ii.t., the xt-rvice : and also because in that year the first 



screw line-of-battle ship of two fighting decks was introduced, in the 



the iir-t of the 91 ', being of 3074 tons, t 



with which several of our three-dockers have since been cut down an \ 

 similarly armed. 



In the same year also the class of 21 -gun corvettes, with one flush 

 fighting deck, first made its appearance in the 11 

 1153 tons, and armed with OS's. The Scylla and others are of thin 

 class; but as war steamers the class w'ill probably be allowed to 

 wear out. 



The superior speed of steamers, and the regularity with which 

 voyages could be performed, threw upon the hands of the admiralty a 

 large fleet of sailing-sir .if which in a calm would 



scarcely be a match for a screw-corvette of the present time. Although 

 it must be borne in mind that the one important and only a\ 

 test of the value of a steam fleet had been happily withheld ; although 

 the world has yet to learn the details and the horrors of an engagement 

 between steam fleets ; the judicious, though gradual increase in the 

 numliiT of screw-propellers used in the navy, seems in a IIU-:LMU-U to 

 have cleared the political horizon of many threatening* and misgivings 

 as, to our continued superiority. The old English p.itriot again may 

 breathe freely when he contemplates the apjiarently full rigged line- 

 of-battle ship, fitted with screw-propeller, and differing nothing in 

 appearance from the old " walls " on which his youthful gaze dwelt 

 with confidence and pride. 



Enough for our purpose has been said of the general events whii-h 

 attach to the past of the naval force of Great Britain. We now 

 consider it* present condition, first presenting a condensed view of 

 the forces of all the navies of the world, as compiled principally 

 from Hans Busk's and other elaborate works on the subject, for the 

 year 1859. 



Coxsricrt's OF TIIE NAVAL Fontu or THE WOULD. 



The naval force of Great Britain, according to the Navy List of July, 

 I860, is as follows : 



Ships. 



IB the effective Ibt we have of all sixes and arms . . 572 

 Uo-bo.u, of which 58 arc <u*4 u tenders, ate. . .164 

 Ships and vessels In harbour service . . . . 125 

 Cutters, *c., used aa coast-fuard tenders ... 47 



Total 90S 



The total number of 908 ships does not include Admiralty lighters, 



hoys, and various small craft employed in coasting and about the 

 Koyal Dockyards. 



The number of seamen and marines voted for the navy in tho ses- 

 sion of 1860, was 84,100. In addition, a reserved volunteer force of 

 seamen to the number of 80,000, was provide.! l.y tin- ::. 

 cap. 40, passed in the session of 1859. 



The engineers of the navy consist of 8 inspectors of machinery, 

 of whom 6 are afloat; 139 chief engineers; 6 acting first-class in 

 charge; 148 first-clans assistants; 207 second-class; and 530 third- 



rl : -.. 



All mere abstracts regarding maritime forces must bo def. 

 unless the number of guiut, weight of metal (distinguishing solid shot 



