TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 239 



sill of one portion of it is but 25 feet at high-water springs. It is into this dock 

 that the 'Warrior' is shortly to be taken for the purpose of having her launching 

 cleats removed, and her bottom cleaned. As she can at present afford to wait upon 

 the tide without inconvenience, there will be no diiHculty in this case. But in 

 war time it Would never do to keep such an important member of your squadron 

 fretting for the tide at Spithead, or to have to lighten her before she could cross 

 the dock's sill. At Devouport, again, the longest dock is only 299 feet long over 

 all ; but I am happy to state that one is in progress of construction 437 feet long, 

 73 broad, and 32 deep at the sill. At Keyham, the longest dock (the South), which 

 is 356 feet in length, has but 23 feet depth at the sill, while the North, which has 

 27 feet, is but 308 feet long. At Pembroke, there is a dock of 404 feet, but it 

 has a sill of 24 feet G inches only. The longest dock at Sheemess is 280 feet ; at 

 Woolwich, 290; and at Chatham, 387, but the last has but 23 feet 6 inches at the 

 sill. At Deptford there are but two docks, opening into one, and they are very 

 shallow. There are a few large private docks in the country which come very near 

 to oiu' requirements. There is the Canada Dock at Liverpool, for example, 501 feet 

 long, 100 broad, and with 25 feet 9 inches over the sill. There are also No. 1 Dock 

 at Southampton, and the Millbay Dock near Plymouth, of M'hich the former is 400 

 feet long with 25 feet over the sill, and the latter 367 witli 27 feet 6 inches over 

 sill. But none of these answer all our requirements, nor coidd we avail om-selves 

 of more than one or two of them in time of war if they did. 



If we turn to the French coast, we shall find that in this matter also we are far 

 behind om* neighbours. At Cherbourg there are two docks 490 feet long and 80 

 broad ; two 380 feet by 70 ; two 350 feet by 65 ; and two smaller ones besides. At 

 Brest, again, there is building a double dock 720 feet by 90 ; and there are also 

 two 492 feet by 60, and two smaller. At L'Orient there is one 350 feet long, and 

 another (building) 500 feet. At Toulon there are two in progress, one 406 feet 

 long, and the other 588, beside several smaller docks which have existed for some 

 time. I cannot give the depth of the sUls of any of these French docks ; for I have 

 been unable to obtain that element in any single case even, and I am assured that 

 no account of it is anywhere recorded in this country. But there is no good reason 

 to doubt that a proper depth has been given in most instances. 



You will now be able to comprehend the advantage which France has secured 

 in this matter of dock accommodation for her iron-cased fleets, and will readily dis- 

 cern the danger to which we should be exposed in the event of an early war with 

 that coimtry. A single action might so seriously cripple both fleets as to render 

 large repairs necessary; but France alone would be capable of renewing her strength. 

 It would be our lot to lie crippled in om' harbours, while she captm-ed our commer- 

 cial vessels and menaced our coasts. 



I am perfectly well aware that a large increase of dock accommodation is to be 

 supplied at Chatham forthwith. But our Channel and Mediterranean fleets must 

 not depend upon docks at Chatham, which cannot be reached from the south until 

 a long passage has been made, the Nore sands threaded, and an intricate and shal- 

 low river navigated. W^e must give to om- ships the advantage which Cherbourg 

 secures for the French, and which they propose to augment by establishing at 

 Lezardrieux* an immense steam arsenal, protected by an impregnable series of 

 defences. 



It will now be seen that, in order to place ourselves upon an equality with the 

 French navy, no less than to meet the certain emergencies which must' arise with 

 our reconstructed fleets, we oughtwdthout delay to fomid a colossal dock establishment 

 on some favourable point of om- southern shores, furnished with the means of carry- 

 ing on extensive repairs in time of war. The most suitable of all positions is pro- 

 bably that of the Southampton Water, the shore of which, at the entrance to the 

 river Hamble, presents conditions and circumstances which flnely qualify it for the 

 purpose. If we are wise enough to build a set of suitable docks there before the 

 time of war amves, we shall have the satisfaction of knowing that the largest iron- 

 cased ships now in contemplation will be able to run in and be docked with all 

 their stores on board, and everything standing. And nothing less than this should 

 satisfy us. 



* See an admirable article in Capt. Becher's ' Nautical Magazine ' for July, 1861. — E. J.B. 



