make the extent of their, " gaillard d'arriere " depend on the rate and class of the ship ; in some it extends to about three feet ahead of the mainmast, in others to scarcely double that distance from the mizenmast. Most nations, as we have just shown, called the elevation above the quarter deck the poop.* The French, however, named it la dunette.

The fallacy of the term quarter deck betrayed itself as early, at least, as the year 1673 ; when the ship No. 16 in the first given abstract, † was armed with seven guns of a side on her quarterdeck, while mounting only twelve of a side on either of her whole decks. It was but to add to these, the two guns of as side on the forecastle, and on the poop, to produce within one gun of a third complete tier: yet no one, but an unsophisticated landman, would think of calling the ship a three-decker. No, not although the great Mr. Pepys himself may be found denominating certain French ships, from one of which the two ships at No. 16 in the abstract were actually modelled, "ships with two decks and a half." These are Mr. Pepys's words : "In 1672 and 1673, the French brought a squadron of about 35 ships to Spithead, to join our fleet. There were several excellent ships with two decks and a half, that carried from 60 to 74 guns; more especially one called the Superbe, which his majesty and royal highness went on board of: she was 40 feet broad, carried 74 guns, and six months' provisions. Our frigates, being narrower, could not stow so much provision, nor carry their guns so far from the water; which Sir Anthony Deane observing, measured the ship, and gave his majesty an account thereof, who was pleased to command Sir Anthony to build the Harwich, ‡ as near as he could of the Superbe's dimensions; which was done accordingly, with such general, satisfaction, as to be the pattern of the second and third rates built by the late act of parliament." §

In spite of so high an authority, however, the Harwich, and all ships built like her, were, and still continue to be, called two-decked ships.

The forecastle and quarter deck, which, in their practical application as terms, have thus so violated precision, were originally detached elevations, that left the deck immediately below them, or so much of it as intervened between the fore and main masts, open and exposed. Hence, ships so constructed, were said to be deep-waisted. The French term analogous to this is haut accastillé, signifying a ship with high, or lofty upperworks; certainly, a more intelligible expression. Afterwards it