A/A' WILLIAM SIEMENS, /-:A'..s. 



345 



th.-y form convenient chambers for water ballast, but powerful 

 (iimps should in all cases be added to meet emergencies. 



The following statement of the number and tonnage of vessels 

 1 Hi ill ling and preparing to be built in the United Kingdom on the 

 80th of June last, which has been kindly furnished me by 

 Lloyd's, is of interest as showing that wooden ships are fast 

 becoming obsolete, and that even iron is beginning to yield its 

 place, both as regards steamers and sailing ships, to the new 

 material mild steel ; it also shows that by far the greater number 

 of vessels now building are ships of large dimensions propelled by 

 engine power : 



If, to the improvements already achieved, could be added an 

 engine of half the weight of the present steam engine and boilers, 

 and working with only half the present expenditure of fuel, a 

 further addition of 30 per cent, could be made to the cargo of an 

 Atlantic propeller vessel no longer to be called a steamer and 

 the balance of advantages in favour of such vessels would be 

 sufficient to restrict the use of sailing craft chiefly to the regattas 

 of this and neighbouring ports. 



The admirable work on the " British Navy," lately published 

 by Sir Thomas Brassey, the Civil Chief Lord of the Admiralty, 

 shows that the naval department of this country is fully alive to 

 all improvements having regard to the safety as well as to the 

 fighting qualities of Her Majesty's ships of war, and recent 

 experience goes far to prove that although high speed and 

 manoeuvring qualities are of the utmost value, the armour plate, 

 which appeared to be fast sinking in public favour, is not without 

 its value in actual warfare. 



The progressive views perceptible in the construction of the 

 navy are further evidenced in a remarkable degree in the hydro- 

 graphic department. Captain Sir Frederick Evans, the hydro- 

 grapher, gave us at York last year a very interesting account of 



