their numbers were encreased; but, RELATIVE TO THE ROYAL NAVY, MADE BY THE BOARD OF ADMIRALTY, AND It was to be expected, that in the natural lapse of time, and still more, in the course several variations from the old establishof a war, unexampled in duration and extent, with extreme incaution they were neither PROPOSALS AND REGULATIONS matched in size, nor reduced to order, respecting their weight and dimensions. They were of all sorts, and all sizes, and all constructions. At length, it was found necessary to regulate this confusion: to ships of a certain magnitude so many, and of certain weights, were allowed; and the heavier placed below the lighter. The invention of carronades disturbed this economy; and now, it has become necessary to reckon these large pieces of ordnance among the guns of a vessel. At first, and for some time after their introduction, it was uncertain whether this species of cannon would permanently obtain a place in the navy, as there were various difficulties in the manner of using them. Those have since been obviated by subsequent improvements; and the use of carronades seems likely to be continued ment and regulations of the Royal Navy should have taken place; and however desirable, in the view either of economy or convenience, uniformity may be, it was impossible during the pressure of war, either to resist the innovations which temporary circumstances rendered necessary, or to remould and reform the whole system of the navy, on every occasion on which some alteration was introduced. On the whole, we cannot but approve We therefore find that there have grown the intention of enforcing regulations up several inconsistencies, irregularities, more than ever necessary for distinc- and departures from the establishments, in tion among a navy so numerous as that of Britain is now. It is no lon-particular articles of the naval service; ger that petty squadron which might be inspected with a single glance of the eye. It no longer is the " poor fleet" of Queen Elizabeth, whence Purfleet on the Essex coast is said traditionally, to derive its name. It is an immense concern, a vital depart- and as we think this a favourable occasion for endeavouring to remedy the inconvenience which arises from these irregularities, and to reduce, as far as may be practicable, the several alterations which have been made, into one regular system, we most humbly beg leave to submit to your Royal Highness's gracious cousideration, the following observations and propositions, on the rates, classification, and schemes of arming and manning His Majesty's ships; and on the pay, ratings, and number of the officers, and warrant and petty and non-commissioned officers, of His Majesty's Navy and Royal Marines, and the establishment of the companies of Royal Marine Artillery. 1. The postships of the Royal Navy are there are the various classes of sloops, firedivided into six rates; besides which, ships, bombs, gun vessels, yachts, schooners and cutters. The following is the first part of the The division of the Royal Navy into six document, and refers to the classifica-rates took place in the reign of King tion of the ships. Charles the First, and at that period, and for several years afterwards, these rates inIcluded the whole navy. On this establishment, it is to be ob In the reign of King Charles the Se- served, that the 80 gun ships of the third rate were on three decks, and that the cond, the sloops, fire-ships, and yachts, Board of Admiralty had suggested to the became distinguished from the sixth rates. committee the expediency of substituting At the Revolution, the rates comprised nearly the same classes of ships which they instead of this class, ships of 74 guns on now do, except that the sixth rate still in-two decks and a half, a proposition decidcluded vessels of a less number of guns than edly rejected by the committee. twenty. In the year 1719, a general establishment for building was adopted, which however was not long adhered to. A short period only had however elapsed, before a very striking instance was given, both of the way in which innovations are produced, and of the impossibilty of resisting them; for, on the 3d of February, 1747, the Board of Admiralty acquainted his Majesty, that "the French ship Invin In 1783, a scheme of manning and armament, or gunning, as it was called, was proposed, but the latter was not adopted till the year 1742, and then only as apply-cible, lately captured, was found to be ing to ships built since 1740. In 1742, the ships of 20 guns, of the sixth rate, were increased to 24 guns, and 160 men, and this became for the time the lowest class of post ships. larger than his Majesty's ships of 90 guns and 750 men; and suggested that this ship and all other prizes of the like class, and also his Majesty's ships of 90 guns, when reduced to two decks and a half, and 74 In the year 1745, the Board of Admi- guns, should be allowed a compliment of 700 men"; a d, in 1748, the Board repreralty, observing that "no establishment or regulation for building ships had been sented to the King in Council, that the made since the year 1719, which had been ships built according to the representations long discontinued; that instead thereof of the committee had not answered their ships had been built according to particu- expectations, and they therefore prayed lar schemes and proportions, without any his Majesty's sanction for departing, in new standard or uniformity; those of the same ships about to be built, from the forms and models so lately established. This was rate being often of unequal dimensions, so that the stores and furniture of one would granted, but not till the Board had been not suit another of the same class,-a mat- called upon by the Council, to lay before ter of infinite inconvenience in point of it a particular account of the alterations *crvice, as well as the occasion of extra- and variatious designed; and on several vagance in point of expense, &c." directed subsequent occasions, in which the said a committee composed of all flag officers establishment was departed from, a minute unemployed, of the commissioners of the detail of the variation was previously subnavy who were sea officers, under the pre-mitted for the approbation of his Majesty sidency of Sir John Norris, Admiral of the fleet, and assisted by all the master shipwrights, to consider and propose proper establishments of guus, men, scantling of timbers, masts, yards, stores, &c. for each rate and class of his Majesty's ships. This committee made a very elaborate report, and the whole was established by Order in Council of His Majesty King George the Second, on the 27th of March, 1746. in council. We the rather notice these particulars, to shew the difficulty, not to say the impossibility, of establishing and adhering to any fixed forms or scantlings; on which subject we shall humbly submit some observations hereafter. Subsequent to this period, the introduction of 74's appears to have gradually advanced, as well as of frigates of intermediate sizes, between 44's and 24's; for, in the latter end of the reign of King George the Second, the classes of ships comprised in the several rates were as follow, viz.Guns Men 1st Rate .......... 100 850 or 750 90 750 or 660 2d Rate .......... .......... 80 650 or 600 3d Rate By this establishment, the rates, armament, and complements of his Majesty's ships, were to be as follows: Rate Guns Guns 5th Rate...... 44 38 36 $ 80 74 32 70 70 6th Rate........ 30 S60 420 or $80 44 ...................... 280 or 220 | 4th Rate The frigates rated at 40 guns carry 50. and those rated at 38 carry 46 and up wards. The majority of those rated at 36 guns carry 44, and some of those rated at S2 carry 46 and 48, being more than others that are rated at 38 and 36. During the whole of the period herein be- | day of her capture, were 54, besides one fore referred to, and indeed down to 1793, 42 pounder howitzer. the force of the ships was stated from the actual number of guns they really carried; but the introduction of carronades, which began partially in 1779, and which was finally adopted, on the present extended scale in the Navy, during the course of the first revolutionary war, increased the armament of the vessels, as they were found able to carry a greater number of carronades than the guns in whose stead they were adopted, so that the real force of the ships has no longer corresponded with their nominal force; and that principle of variation being ouce admitted, ships have since that time received denominations as to their number of guns, often, we believe, capriciously, and in one or two classes only of the whole navy, agreeing with their real force. A few instances will shew your Royal Highness the inconsistencies into which this deviation from the old rules of the sertice has led. The Caledonia, rated 120 guns, carries 120 guns; while the Hibernia, a ship of nearly the same dimensions, which carries exactly the same number of guns, is rated only at 110 guns, being a less number by 4 than that at which the San Joseph is rated, though the former has in fact 10guns more than the latter. All ships of the second rate, though rated at 98, carry upwards of 100 guns, and they have all more guns than the St. George, a first rate, which is rated and carries 100 guns; and they ought all, therefore, according to the established regulations, to be included in the first rate, and there are in fact no real second rates, viz. three deckers of between 90 and 100 guns, at present existing in the Royal Navy, in a sea-going condition. In the Sd rate, some of the ships rated at 80 guns, carry near 90, and others rated at 74 carry 80 guns, but the majority of the same denomination carry 74, and this is one of the very few cases in which the real and nominal force agree. In the fourth-rate, of the ships rated at 50 guns, one class (that on two decks) carries 58 guns, another (that on one deck) carries 60 and upwards. In the fifth-rate there are three frigates rated at 44 guns, namely, the Sybille, taken from the French, which carries 48 guns; the Lavinia, built after her, which carries 50 guns; and the late American ship President, the guns mounted in which, on the Similar differences between the real and the nominal amount of force exist in the fifth-rate, but it is unnecessary to specify the details. We trust we shall be excused for observing to your Royal Highness, that it is wholly unworthy the character of the Royal Navy of this kingdom, to maintain this system, which, though introduced by the accidental cause we have mentioned, and without any design of deception, yet may give occasion to foreign nations to accuse us of misrepresentation, when we state that a British frigate of 38 guns has taken a foreign frigate of 44, when, in fact, the British frigate was of equal, if not su perior, force. We therefore humbly recommend, that your Royal Highness will be pleased to order, that the rule for stating the force of his Majesty's ships, which prevailed prior to the year 1793, and which, in fact, never was formally abrogated, should be revived and established; and that in future all his Majesty's ships should be rated at the number of guns and carronades which they actually carry, on their decks, quarterdecks and forecastles. of the service will render some slight variaThe recurrence to this ancient practice tion, as to the limits of some of the rates themselves, necessary; and we therefore humbly propose that the following scale of rates be adopted : The first rate to include all three-deckers, inasmuch as all sea-going ships of that description carry 100 guns and upwards. The second rate to include all ships of 80 guns and upwards, on two decks. The third rate to include all ships of 70 or upwards and less than 80 guns. The fourth rate to include all ships of 50 and upwards, but less than 70 guns. The fifth rate to include all ships from 36 to 50 guns. The sixth rate to include all ships from 24 to S6 guns. Though, by this regulation, no ship under 24 guns will hereafter be a post ship, we, in pursuance of the ancient practice of the service, propose that all his Majesty's yachts should be considered as post ships, and should be rated, one as a second rate, and the rest as third rates, but with such complements as we may appoint. We therefore submit for your Royal Highness's gracious approbation, that the following be the only complements to be hereafter allowed to the several rates of his Majesty's ships and vessels:— Rate Men | Rate 1st..900, 850, or 800 4th 2d700 or 650 5th Sd.650 or 600 6th Men 450 or 250 300 or 280 175 145 125 Of sloops there are so many varieties, that we cannot propose to reduce the eight schemes of complement now existing, to less than four: viz. sloops, 135, 125, 95, and It is necessary here to state, that several sloops are now rated as post ships, and vice versa; and, as much inconvenience to the officer who may be in the command of such ships, and much embarrassment to the public service, would arise, if the present rates of such vessels were to be imme-75 men. diately changed, we submit to your Royal Highness that with regard to any such vessels at present in commission, this new arrangement shall not apply, until they shall be paid off, or till some other favourable opportunity shall offer of placing them in their proper rates. Your Royal Highness will observe that this scheme differs very little from that which has grown into use, and still less from the last establishment (that of 1746,) which had the sanction of his Majesty in Council, and which, strictly speaking, may be said to be still in force. We beg leave farther to represent to your Royal Highness, that the schemes for manning his Majesty's ships have, from the causes already referred to with regard to the guns, and from accidental and temporary circumstances, become so very various, that though these six rates were originally intended to regulate, amongst other things, the amount of the respective complements, there exist at this moment, not fewer than twenty-nine different scales for manning the ships of the six rates; the third rate alone including seven distinct complements. It were to be desired that all this variety and irregularity should be abolished; but we have seen that, so early as the year 1746, there were sixteen schemes of manning, and the variety of ships which have beeu from time to time built or captured (which though they may fall under the same rate, are yet of very different sizes) render perfect uniformity in this point impracticable: we are, however, of opinion, on mature consideration, that this variety may be very much diminished, and that two, and, in one or two rates, three schemes of manning, in each rate, will be found to answer all the practical purposes of the service, and will tend to simplify the system, by thus reducing the twentynine schemes before mentioned to thirteen or fourteen. Brigs (not sloops), cutters, schooners and bombs, we propose to reduce to from ten schemes of complement to two, namely, 60 or 50 men. And we also propose that for small craft, which may not require so large a complement as 50 men, we may be authorized to assign such a complement as we may deem necessary. As there are no longer any regular fire ships in the service, we humbly propose that, whenever it may become necessary to fit out any vessels of this description, we may be authorized to assign to them such complement of officers and men, together with the pay of such rate or class, as the size of the vessel employed, or the nature of the particular service may render expedient. We farther propose, that when it shall be necessary to fit out troop ships, we may rates and complements as may seem probe authorized to assign to them such per: By these regulations, the forty-seven varieties of complements, now, in use in the navy, will be reduced to twenty. Having thus submitted to your Royal Highness our proposition for the rating and manning of his Majesty's ships, it is next our duty to state, that the varietics in the rigging and arming of ships are at least as great as in the complements; the irregularities and deviation from establishment in regard to the form, scantling, &c. of his Majesty's ships, complained of in 1745, are now exceedingly increased, and are of much more serious injury to the service, both in respect to convenience and eco nomy. It is obvious that the extra expense of providing masts, yards, rigging, and stores of various dimensions, for ships of the same actual force, must be very great; because, if not required for the particular ship for which they were originally pre An Inquiry into the Origin and early History of Engraving, upon Copper and in Wood, with an Account of Engravers, and their Works, from the invention of Chalcography, by Maso Finiguerra, to the time of Marc Antonio Raimondi. By William Young Ottley, F. S. A. 2 vols. Quarto. Price Eight Guineas. I. and A. Arch, London. 1816. NOTHING is more common among pared, they are either useless, or must be altered to fit some other ship at a great loss of labour, time, and materials; and, in case of accidents or urgency, this variety disables the ships from assisting each other; and it requires that the naval arsenals, both at home and abroad, should be furnished, at a very great expense, with a much larger assortmeut of these articles than would be necessary if they could be made more generally applicable to the probable wants of the whole fleet; this will be explained to your Royal Highness more forcibly, by stating that for the single class of ships of the third rate, called 74's, title pages than promises made to the there were lately not less than seven diffe-eye, which the work itself does not fulrent schemes of masting and rigging; and fil to the understanding but, the title that a squadron might be composed of seven vessels of this force, which could not properly employ one another's spare spars and sails, and for each of which the dock yard must necessarily have their individual gear. It is in this particular, above all others, that uniformity would be desirable; but the experience of what occurred immediately after the establishment of 1746, as we have already stated, and of all subsequent times, shows that it is unfortunately unat tainable: the varieties of ships produced by successive endeavours to improve our models, and still more the great number of ships of all classes, which have been captured from the various enemies with whom we have been at war, render any scheme of perfect uniformity impracticable; but this very important subject has not escaped our consideration We have, in conjunction with the Navy Board, and with the assistance of a committee of experienced sea officers, taken measures for pushing this principle of uuiformity as far as the nature of the case would allow and though the experience of what has occurred on former occasions page to this work, promises much less than the Author takes occasion to perform. That he investigates the origin of Chalcography is true; but, he directs much of his attention to the origin of Printing also, and adduces historical evidence respecting the rise and practice of an art, eminently distinguished by the merit of renovating the intellectual and moral faculties of mankind. We do not mean to deny that the art of Writing, as preserving memorials of past transactions, of agreements, enactments, regulations, and other institutions of law and polity, was entitled to the affection and veneration of mankind; but, we say, that nothing has equalled the Art of Printing in diffusing knowledge generally among all classes of society. It has had a favourable effect on the virtue of nations, also; though it has not been able to eradicate, or to counteract, the vicious propensities of human nature. It is not uncommon for the ingenuous to regret the oppositions and contentions which obtain among the learned; nevertheless, it cannot be denied that numerous advantages have flowed from the same source. None can be more sincerely and deeply offended with contentions which degenerate into personalities, than we are; yet we appeal to all liberal minds whether a communicative contention in search of truth, whether a con dissuades us from attempting to establish, by the approbation and sanction of your Royal Highness in Council, minute details of the forms, lines, and scantlings of his Majesty's ships, we have the satisfaction of stating, that a system of gradual assimilation is in progress, and that we hope to see it every day become of more extensive operation, and more practical utility; and we beg leave humbly to assure your Royal Highness, that no efforts shall be spared on our parts, to prevent for the fu-versation between friends, of which this ture, any unnecessary deviation from the establishment of rigging and armament, and to reduce the variations which exist to as few classes as possible. (To be Continued.) is the object, conducted with the dignity and decorum of truly liberal literature, is not extremely agreeable, and beyond expression delightful. Those who know, take a pleasure in eliciting the know |