THE total number of ships at the foot of this year's abstract of the British navy does not greatly exceed that at the foot of the last; but, in commissioned cruisers, those of the line especially, the improvement has been great. The latter have increased from 26 to 85, and the commissioned total, from 135 to 279. This rapid increase is attributable, not so much to the accession of newly-built, or newly-captured ships, as to those precautionary measures, which we commended at a former page. † It was not the want of ships, but the want of men, that was so sensibly felt. Every means, however, had been used, and with some effect, to invite the seamen to enter. Where those means failed, recourse was had to the sad alternative of pressing; and, at length, one or more very formidable fleets were enabled to put to sea.

During the year 1793 the British cruisers had effected the capture or destruction of 140 French armed vessels, including 52 belonging to the national navy. Of the national ships, but 35 were captured; and, out of these, 30 were added to the British navy, exclusive of six of the 88 captured privateers. ‡ On the other hand, the loss sustained by the latter was comparatively slight, including but four vessels, and not one of those above a small 32-gun frigate. § Five of the ships building at the commencement of the war had been launched, as well as two out of the 22 under-line ships ordered since ; and the remaining 20, among which were six 18-pounder frigates, having been laid down in the merchants' yards, were, most of them, in great forwardness. The chief reason of this was, that the king's yards were filled with ships under repair : moreover, none of the ships alluded to as in such forwardness exceeded a frigate in size.

* See, Appendix, Annual Abstract No. 2.
† See p. 48.
‡ See Appendix, No. 9.
§ See Appendix, No. 10.

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