FRENCH IRON-CLAD SQUADRON. 203 



ironclads made the evolution easily ? One cireumstance -which will eeem still 

 move extraordinary is that at the height of the gale of October 1st, the Solferino,. 

 having disabled her engine through some damage in its piping, lay to with her 

 sails alone from 9.30 a.ro. to 1 p.m. So little had the possibility of such a feat 

 been contemplated, that the, Solferino had not even been fitted with the sails 

 ordinarily used for this purpose, and it was only after her return to Brest that 

 they troubled themselves to give her the set of sails proper for this ease. 



There is no need to enlarge on this point, so I shall quote but one of the tables 

 where the speed under canvass is noted in knots per hour: Napoleon, 8*3;, 

 lourviUe, '7 ,"4; Magenta, 7 "2; Coiironne,'!'!; Solferino, 1 ; Normandie, 6 •,: 

 Invincible, 6. If we take into account the difference of displacement, that is, the 

 weight carried, and of the surface of sail, that is, the means of propulsion, these 

 results are more than satisfactory. 



As success makes peojjle ambitious, we can easily understand the readiness with 

 which sailors seize on the idea of enlarging the mists and sails on the iron-elads. 

 On the one hand, this would augment the sources of safety, speed, and freeness of' 

 motion, and regain, at least, in part, the advantages which were thought to be 

 lost. On the other, it would develope to an amount hard to judge of, the sphere- 

 of action of the new vessels. All this is true, but there is a limit which miiitaiy 

 considerations will not allow us to overstep at any price. It is known that the 

 screw has the dangerous property of attracting to itself everything that floats 

 alongside a vessel, and that small objects, of little consistence or hardness, may, 

 precisely because they are so, disable this organ of propulsion when they get en- 

 tangled in its parts. Consequently, the screw-ship of war should have the powcj- 

 before going into action of unshipping in a few minutes her masts and rigging. — 

 Consequently, also, her masts and rigging must be of a very simple character, ad- 

 mitting of being shipped and unshipped with the utmost ease. This necessity 

 points out a limit to be observed, and 1 may be here permitted to recommend to 

 the notice of those whom it concerns, an idea of English origin which enjoys a 

 large share of favor among our neighbours. The English, on their iron-clads^ 

 make the lower masts of east-iron, and these not only satisfy all nautical and mili- 

 tary requirements, but, being hollow, are also used as a means of veritilation, ano- 

 ther condition to which we cannot pay too much attention, as it exercises a very 

 important influence on the health of the crews. 



To make our account of the manoeuvring of these vessels complete, we must 

 add a few words as to the experiments made in turning them. They obey their 

 helms in the most satisfactory manner, and in all the letters I have seen, I have 

 not found a single observation which can be interpreted to their disadvantage. 

 Their extreme length, however, causes them to describe in their evolution circles 

 of larger radii than shorter vessels do. This was known beforehand, and the only 

 ground for surprise is that the difference was not greater, especially in the ships 

 armed with the ram. A comparison of the vessels of the squadron classes them as 

 follows, in this respect : the Tourville in the first place ; second, Couronne and 

 Napoleon; ih\n], Invincible and Nor7nandie ; fourth, Solferino and 3] agenta The 

 radius of the least circle described by the last two' was S80 metres, while that of 

 the Couronne was only 305. 



