202 EXPERIMENTAL, CRUISE OF THE 



US leave aside the Oieoretical question. After -what we have noted, we may be 

 permitted to assert that ships of the new model, even such as they are, are not 

 subject to a roll greater or more distressing than that of the best of their prede- 

 cessors. Without discussing the assertions to the contrary, I think they depend, 

 that is so far as they are correct, on exceptional facts which would require to be 

 carefully studied and analysed. Such facts occur as frequently in the life of the 

 sailor as in that of other men, and without wandering from my subject I may 

 here quote an example sti iking enough. The log of the Tourville shows that on 

 the morning of Oct. 28tb, the weather being quite calm, she was struck by several 

 seas which would not only have flooded both the gun-decks, if the ports had 

 been open, but actually rose above the nettings, and wetted the? chimney in 

 the very centre of the ship. None of her consorts experienced anything of the 

 kind. How was this ? I cannot give an answer, but I should be very chary of 

 drawing a conclusion unfavourable to the qualities of the Tourville, and yet I 

 suspect that if the same had happened to the Normandie, which has been so 

 severely attacked, she would probably have been much abused for it. 



It has then been demonstrated that our iron-clads have an infinitely more easy 

 pitch and a not larger roll than the best vessels before them, which is a very satis- 

 factory result ; but better still remains behind. It seems also to have been demon- 

 strated that they would doubtless be improved, even in this simple point of view, 

 i f we increase to some amount the weight they at present carry aloft, and this 

 may have results of extraordinary importance by increasing greatly not only their 

 nautical qualities, but also their power in a military point of view. They have 

 displayed, under canvass, qualities altogether unexpected, even by their warmest 

 partisans, and it would therefore naturally occur to any one that if there is a cer- 

 tain amount of weight to be added to them in their upper parts, it could not be 

 disposed of with more usefulness than by increasing the strength of their masts 

 and the surface of their sails. That this would be well worth while, we see from 

 the results that have been obtained relative to speed and facility of evolution. 

 Previous to this, the sails of an ironclad had been generally considered as a last 

 resource in case of injury, when by the disabling of her engine, the ship would be 

 forced to make for the nearest port before the wind. To the great astonishment 

 of all the world, we have, however, seen the iron-clads under canvass for whole 

 days and nights, and keeping their regular distances in the squadron without dis- 

 arrangement. It might possibly be imagined that in order to secure the (leasure 

 of having to state facts so little foreseen, certain courses were chosen which are 

 easier to keep than others, but it was nothing of the sort in fact; the iron-clads 

 were kept under canvass on every course, even close to the wind. In beating 

 to windward, they were able to go about with the utmost ease, and to wear 

 more slowly, but still surely, without using their engines, and under the sole 

 action of their sails. So well did they succeed, that in the channel between 

 the Azores and the Canaries, although surrounded by land, and therefore in 

 the midst of dangers, the Admiral put them under canvass and made them tack 

 and wear night and day, the squadron being in two hues at intervals of three or 

 four cable lengths — (600 to 800 metres) — without a single accident occurring. Is 

 it. necessary to add that the Tourville herstlf many times missed stays, while the 



