178 TRAVEL, AD VENTURE, AND SPORT. 



struction occupied the places of the old rickety car- 

 ronades and 24-pounders, sights and ranges had 

 exploded the old random haphazard plan of taking 

 aim ; an organised system of drill and firing had 

 superseded the old muzzle-to-muzzle practice ; well 

 poised cutlasses had replaced the clumsy weapons 

 which swept the decks of the Chesapeake. 



The material of our armament, then, was superior 

 in most respects, equal in all, to what it was at the 

 proudest period of our naval power. It remained to 

 be seen whether the qualities developed in the last 

 war were still existing to produce new triumphs, or 

 whether the addition of steam, and the improvements 

 in architecture, armament, and organisation, could 

 counterbalance the lack of them. 



The fleet went forth. England looked with just 

 pride on this offspring of its strength. Opportunity, 

 conduct, command, alone seemed wanting to repeat 

 the glory of Copenhagen or Trafalgar. The fleet was 

 fine, and a good spirit animated the men who sailed 

 therein. There was no violent enthusiasm, but an 

 earnest, strong tone of feeling pervaded all ranks. 

 There was enough of experience gathered in the last 

 war, and in the petty struggles which have since 

 given such frequent opportunities to naval action 

 enough of young impulse and latent enterprise to 

 meet any emergency; and all hands had a steady 

 confidence in themselves and in the force they 

 Avielded. The prestige of the past had not quite 



