147 
THE WORLD’S WAR-SHIPS, 
FROM A GUNNER’S POINT OF VIEW. 
BY 
MAJOR W, J. ROBERTSON, R.A. 
(Continued from No. 3, Vol. XIX. 
Second Part — FRENCH* 
It is but fair that I should state that the first number of this series, 
namely, “ British Ships,” was written originally to be accompanied 
with diagrams ; these were found too expensive to print. The paper, 
therefore, is hardly as clear as it otherwise would have been. Refer¬ 
ence, however, can easily be made to works containing them. 
The new manual “ Tactical Working Coast Artillery” had not then 
appeared. It enhances the value of distinguishing ships. This prac¬ 
tice alone will enable one to do. I may, however, say that I found 
it easy by my notes this summer to make out the class of each British 
man-of-war touching in at this port. 1 
I ought also to add my thanks for the use I have derived from the 
photographs and descriptions of ships in foreign navies issued by the 
Admiralty, I was ignorant at first of the fact that they were for the 
use of officers generally and were not confidential. 
The figures I have given are often only approximate—thus, in des¬ 
cribing the weight of a ship’s displacement in tons I have usually 
taken the nearest round number. The coal estimates for endurance 
are possibly over-estimated in the British ships, as well as the rate of 
steaming. 
It will probably be news to many, brought up as most of us have been 
with the knowledge of Nelson’s hatred to the French, and thorough 
contempt of foreign seamen in general, to learn that this dislike did 
not apply to material, and that in his day the French were universally 
acknowledged to be our masters in ship building. Thus the model of 
the 120-gun ship, Commerce de Marseilles, is yet to be seen in the 
1 Gibraltar. 
4 . VOL. XIX. 
21 
