186 EXPERIMENTAL, CRUISE OF THE 



EXPERIMENTAL CRUISE OF THE FRENCH IRON-CLAD SQUADRON. 



{La campmgne d^e.tsais de I'escadre ciiiras/tee. By Admiral Xavier Raymond, in 

 the Revue des den.x-ynoiideR, 1st January, 1864). 



A FTKR a toilsome cruise of two months, the ironclad squadron returned to 

 Cherbourg on November 2olh, ISS, bringing a rich freight of new ideas and 

 studies, and foituiKite in lesults obtained by it, and demonstrated by such an 

 abundnuce of investigations and proofs as to leave us no longer in doubt as to the 

 merits <;f the new navy. But a very shcrt time ago, this navy was still much 

 oiscussed. It was not uncommon to meet AvUh very worthy officers, who, without 

 denying its qualities as an instrument of war, thought, however, that thej' ought 

 to make prudent reserves as to its nautical capabilities. Sceptical persons declared 

 that these ships would not have sufficient height of battery, and that the least sea 

 would stop their fire ; that they would roll frightfully Dy reason of the eaormous 

 weight which they carried on their sides ; that they would steer badly ou account 

 of their too great length ; that they would find much difficulty in rising on a wave . 

 that they would very rapidly go to pieces under the threefold iufluence of the weight 

 of their hull, of the mutual action which iron and wood exercise, and of the galvanic 

 currents which would certainly be set up between the iron of their plates and 

 their copper sheathing ; and other objections of the like nature. All this was said, 

 and in good faith, not only because it is in the nature of things that every innova- 

 tion should be opposed at its outset, but also because the Admiralty, with a 

 jealousy which it is hard to account for, forbade any access to these new vessels,. 

 not only to people in general, but even to the officers who rjight any day be called 

 to take command of them ; and if rumors, incorrect, or even wholly unfounded^ 

 have been spreading through our navy about these iron-clad vessels, the Admi- 

 ralty may take the blame entirely to themselves, for tliey have done their utmost 

 for a long time past to hinder the truth being known. To believe in one's own 

 infallibility is common enough on earth; but to imagine that it is possible to in- 

 spire others with the same belief, without taking any pains for that pus pose, 

 requires a dose of ingenuousness which can only be attributed to a set of people 

 Avho, like the Admiralty, enjoy an experience doubl}' or triply non-professional. 

 Why conceal one's works, if it were true that they had been successful ? That 

 was the thought which naturally occurred to the minds of most people. It was 

 in vain that against this reasonable distrust i: was attempted to set up the reports 

 of officers who had sailed in these vessels, and were therefore almost the only 

 persons who had a right to speak with authority. These reports were, and are to 

 this day, kept secret, and though it was understood that they wei e in general very 

 favourable to the iron-clads, still it was asked whether they did cot contain some 

 respectful criticism, some little postscript which reduced all their praise to a trifle. 

 Besides, having regard to the instincts and sentiments of the profession, it was 

 said that the command of these ironclads had been very much sought after, and 

 that it was no wonder that the officers who had gained them should reply to such 

 a favor by a good will which made much of the good, a jd treated the weak points 

 with indulgence. Add to this that while the sailor is always wedded to bis 

 frigate or his ship, the officer only too often looks but at the qualities of the ves- 



