1847.J 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



31-5 



of interesting and somewhat romantic research, showing heraldry to be 

 chiefly a symbolical art. 



Mr. Partridge then directed attention to those heraldic figures called 

 " supporters"— such as the lion and unicorn of the royal arms; and he 

 subsequently noticed the analogy existing between heraldic and natural 

 forms. Supporters, it was said, came into use when tournaments and 

 feudal chivalry assumed a scale of splendour requiring a system of dis- 

 tinctions ; and it became a practice for the nobles and knights each to hang 

 his helmet and shield, richly emblazoned with heraldic insignia, on the 

 front of his tent when in the field. Two attendants or esquires, dressed in 

 armour, or in a fanciful costume imitative of certain characteristic ani- 

 mated beings, were placed to guard or support them, and also to receive 

 challenges when they arrived. Under such circumstances, it was argued, 

 it is absurd to represent supporters as lying down, walking away, or half 

 asleep, while the heraldic attitude rampant should be invariably maintained. 

 Mr. Partridge observed that frequent instances may be seen in St. James's 

 Street and PallMall, and even in the Gazette and the Times, in which the 

 supporters of the royal arms are represented as crawling in raeanspiriied 

 positions, instead of " rampait^, guardant, i|-c."— as set forth in the bla- 

 zonry. Mr. Partridge remarked that he had not been able to detect an 

 abuse of this kind occurring before about the commencement of the present 

 century ; and the supporters were never found in any other position than 

 rampant either in architectural remains or in old works on heraldry. He 

 attributed this infraction in a considerable degree to a volume of Peers' 

 Arms, with supporters, by Mr. Cattou, R.A. ; who, being a skilful painter 

 of animals, but quite ignorant of the science of heraldry (many of the 

 arms, it was said, are incorrectly given), gave the supporters every sanely 

 of attitude, so as to contribute to a novel and pleasing pictorial eflect. This 

 course was much calculated to mislead many who possessed some know, 

 ledge of drawing, but were ignorantly indifferent to the correct heraldic 

 expression and meaning. Mr. Partridge contended that, if one person may 

 change the attitude of supporters for the sake of pictorial effect, another 

 would be equally justified in changing colours, or in making still greater 

 deviations. Heraldry, he asserted, mainly consists of imitations of natural 

 forms, but which are nearly always made amenable to symbolic and con- 

 ventional treatment. In cases such as a stag, horse, or eagle " proper,' 

 nature may be in many respects faithfully copied from natural bodies; but 

 it will be found that each of these is frequently placed with a symbolic 

 form, such as a dragon, which must be depicted according to the regula- 

 tions of heraldry. Instances in illustration of these views were otfered. 

 The Duke of Devonshire has for supporters " two stags proper," in which 

 case colour and form must be true to nature, but the attitude remains 

 heraldic. The Duke of Northumberland has one gold and one blue lion— 

 which, if painted green, belong to the Earl of Roseberry, or if red, to the 

 Duke of Bedford. Several similar cases were cited. A regard to pro- 

 portion or relative size of the objects, the lecturer observed, would also 

 tend to produce absurdities; and this went far to prove that they were 

 never intended as pictures for natural history, but as symbolical distinc- 

 tions treasured by their possessors from feelings of high honour. Exam- 

 ples were adduced of beings of unequal sizes which are often brought 

 together side by side in arms — as a falcon and an elephant— a lion and a 

 cock, for supporters ; and similar ones were given applying to crests, 

 quarterings, &c. It was explained that supporters are attached to all arms 

 of peers ; and that, with a few exceptions, they do not pertain to those of 

 commoners. 



Mr. Partridge then noticed the opinion sometimes held that the extrava- 

 gant forms of animals used in architectural decoration, as well as in 

 heraldry, are the efiforts during a barbarous period, when the people 

 employed could do no better— and therefore ought not to be followed in 

 the present advanced state of manipulative skill. But he argued that this 

 is an erroneous view ; and that the human figure and animals were de- 

 picted with great fidelity together witli no small slioiv of spnf>olic art upon 

 ancient embroidered vestments, stained glass, and in illuminated missals. 

 He considered that the apparent eccentricity proceeded partly from causes 

 not unfelt at the present day ; and that many forms were devised to be 

 repulsive of evil spirits and demoniacal influences. The form and size of 

 shields and some other features in heraldry were pointed out for the pur- 

 pose of illustrating its importance historically,— referring to Winchester 

 School, Eton College, and otiier buildings— as well as to stained glass 

 windows at Chenies, Bolsover, and St. George's Chapel, Windsor. As an 

 example of family history executed in the present century, a view of the 

 Duke of Bedford's Dining-room was exhibited ; in which Mr. Partridge 

 decorated the panelling with shields bearing arms descriptive of all the 

 marriages in the Russell family. He also mentioned that he had been 

 employed by INIr. Macready to emblazon correctly the arms of each per- 

 sonage in Shakspeare's play of " King John." 



The paper concluded with some suggestions for the appropriate introduc- 

 tion of heraldic ornament :— and it was stated that before now a shield 

 bearing the proper arms placed on the frame to a portrait had formed an 

 important link in establishing a complete chain of legal evidence. 



NEW ARMAMENT FOR THE ROYAL NAVY. 



Report of the New Armament which the Board of Admiralty has ordered 

 to be prepared for the Ships of War of all classes in the Royal Navy. The 

 Return includes the new Complements of Men ordered for each class of 

 Ships, and directs the manner in which the Guns are to be Mounted : 

 First-Rates. 



120 Guns. — Britannia, Caledonia, Howe, Nelson, Neptune, Royal Al- 

 bert, Royal George, Koyal William, St. George, St. Vincent, Trafalgar, 

 and Waterloo; total 12; complement, 1,000 men; lower deck, four 8-inch 

 guns of 6.5 cwt., gfeet; twenty-eight 32-pounder guns of G5 cwt., 9 feet 

 6 inches; middle deck, two 8-inch guns of C5 cwt., 9 feet; thirty-two 32- 

 pouuders of 50 cwt., 9 feet ; main deck, thirty-four 32-pounder3 of 42 cwt , 

 8 feet ; quarter deck and forecastle, six 32-pouuders of 45 cwt., 8 feet 6 

 inches ; fourieen 32-pounder carionades* of 17 cwt. ; total, 120 guns.t 



110 Guns. — Marlborough, Prince of Wales, Queen, Royal Frederick, 

 Royal Sovereign, Victoria, and Windsor Castle ; total, 7 ; complement, 

 950 men ; lower deck, six 8inch guns, twenty four 32-ponnders; middle 

 deck, four 8-inch guus, tvventy-six 32-pounders ; main deck, thirty 32- 

 pouuders (3) ; quarter deck and forecastle, six 32-pounders (2) ; and four- 

 teen 32-pounders of 25 cwt. 6 feet. 



Total number of first-rates 19, mounting 2,210 guns. 



Second-Rates. 



104 Guns. — Camperdown, Hiberuia, Impregnable, Princess Charlotte, 

 Queen Charlotte, and Royal Adelaide ; total, 6; complement, 850 men; 

 lower deck, four 8-inch guns, twenty-four 32-pounders; middle deck, two 

 8-inch guns, twenty-eight 32-pounders of 48 cwt. 8 ft.; main deck, thirty 

 32-pounders of 32 cwt. 6 ft. G in., on compressor carriages ; quarter deck 

 and forecastle, six 32-pounders (2), and ten 32-pounder carronades of 17 

 cwt. 



92 Guns. — London, Nile, Prince Regent, and Rodney ; total, 4 ; com- 

 plement, 820 men; lower deck, eighteen 8inch guns, fourlei-n 32-pounders ; 

 main deck, six 8-inch guns, twenty-eight 32-pounders; quarter deck and 

 forecastle, two 8-inch guns of 52 cwt. 8 feet, and twenty-four 32-pounders 

 (3). 



90 Guns. — Albion, Aboukir, Algiers, Exmouth, Hannibal, Priucess 

 Royal, and St. Jean d'Acre; total, 7; complement, 820 men. The arma- 

 ment of this class is precisely the same as that of the preceding, with the 

 exception of there beiug only twenty-six 32-pounders on the main deck, 

 instead of twenty-eight. 



84 Guns. — Agamemnon, Asia, Bombay, Calcutta, Canopus, Clarence, 

 Cressy, Formidable, Ganges, Monarch, Powerful, Sans Pareil, Thunderer, 

 and Vengeance ; total, 14 ; complement, 750 men ; lower deck, six 8-inch 

 guus, twenty-four 32-pounders ; main deck, two 8-inch guns, thirty 32- 

 pouuders of 43 cwt. 8 feet; quarterdeck and forecastle, six 32-ponnders 

 (3), and sixteen 32.ponnder carronades of 17 cwt. 



80 Guns. — Brunswick, Centurion, Collingwood, Colossus, Goliath, Irre- 

 sistible, Lion, Majestic, JIars, Meeanee, Superb, and Vanguard ; total, 

 12; complement, 720 men; lower deck, eight 8-inch guns, tweuty 32- 

 pounders; main deck, four 8-incb guns, twenty-four 32-pounders (I); 

 quarter deck and forecastle, twenty-four 32-pouu(ler guns (3). 



Total number of secoud rates, 43, mounting 3,758 guns. 



Third Rates. 



78 Guns. — Achille, Bellerophon, Cambridge, Foudroyant, Hindostan, 

 Indus, Kent, and Revenge ; total, 8; complement, 050 men ; lower deck, 

 four S-inch guns, twenty-six 32-pounders; maiu deck, two 8-inch guns, 

 thirty 32-pounders (2) ; quarterdeck and forecastle, six 32-pouaders (3), 

 ten 32-pounder carronades. 



72 Guns. — Agincourt, Armada, Belleisle, Black Prince, Carnatic, Corn- 

 wallis, Egmont, Hastiugs, Hawke, Hercules, Illustrious, Implacable, In- 

 vincible, Malabar, Medway, Melville, Pembroke, Pitt, Russell, Sultan, 

 Wellesley, and Wellington ; total, 22 ; complement, GOO men ; lower deck, 

 four 8 inch guns, twenty four 32-pounders ; main deck, twenty-eight 32- 

 pouuders (3) ; quarter deck and forecastle, four 32-pounders (3) and twelve 

 32-pouuder carronades. 



70 Guns.— Boscawen, Cumberland; total, 2 ; complement, 600 men; 

 lower deck, four 8-inch guns, twenty-two 32-pounders ; main deck, two 

 8 inch guus, twenty-six 32-pounders (1) ; quarter deck and forecastle, six- 

 teen 32-pounders (3). 



Total number of third-rates, 32, mounting 2,348 guns. 



Foorth-Rates. 



56 Guns.— Ajax, Blenheim, Edinburgh, and La Hogue ; total, 4; com- 

 plement, 500 men ; lower deck, twenty-six 42-pounders, of 66 cwt., 9 feet 

 6 inches ; main deck, twenty-two 32-pounders (3) ; quarter deck and fore- 

 castle, four 56-pouuders, of 87 cwt., 10 feet, and four 10-inch guns, of 86 

 cwt., 9 feet 4 inches. 



50 Guns. — Alfred, America, Arethusa, Benbow, Conquestador, Con- 



* All ttie carronades are to be mounted on Sir Thos. Hardy's compressor carriages. 



t A3 tlie weight and lengtli of the guns will always be regulated with strict unitormity, 

 it will be unnecessary to repeat these items in eacll class. As, however, there are several 

 classes of thirty-two-pounder guns to be used in the navy the tigure (1) annexed will 

 show the gun to be one of 00 cwt. 9 feet; (3), one of 45 cwt. 8 ft. 6 iuch.; and (3), one of 

 42 civt. 8 leet. Where this rule is departed from, the exact lungth and weight are givea. 

 The 32-pouQder without any such distinguishiue mark is that of 56 cwt. 9 ft. 6 in. 



42* 



