B *. THIS ship is the Ville-de-Paris, the largest British-built ship of her day. She began building at Chatham July 1, 1789, and was launched July 17, 1795. See first note of Abstract No. 1, p. :397.

R *. and S *. Had been East-Indiamen. Anomalous in their construction as two-decked ships of war, having the second or upper deck without an overbuilt quarterdeck and forecastle. On this account they mounted no more guns, except perhaps a pair or two of bow-chasers, than stands as the sign of their respective classes. These ships were fitted with 28 long 18-pounders on the first deck ; the 56s with 28, and the 54s with 26, 32-pounder carronades on tire second deck.

Q *. Two experimental vessels designed by Samuel Bentham, Esq., at that time inspector-general of his majesty's naval works. They were in shape much sharper than vessels of war in general, and projected or raked forward, at each end like a wherry. Their breadth increased from the water-line upwards ; whereby it was considered that they would be stiffer, and less liable to overset than ordinary vessels. The decks were straight fore and aft, and the frames or ribs of less curvature than usual. They were constructed to carry twenty-four 32-pounder carronades upon the main deck, and were afterwards fitted to receive two more carronades of the same nature on each of their two short decks, which we may call the quarterdeck and forecastle. All these carronades were fitted upon the non-recoil principle. It is believed that both the Arrow and Dart subsequently took on board, for their quarterdecks, two additional 32s. They proved to be stiff vessels and swift sailers, but it was found necessary to add some dead wood to their bottoms, in order to make them stay better. Not knowing exactly what characteristic designation to give the Arrow and Dart, we have merely named them : they must be considered, especially when their force is compared with that of the two or three classes next above them, as extraordinary vessels for sloops of war, but as such only they ranked. Three or four schooners were afterwards. built upon a similar plan.

Y * The large are of 340 tons and upwards. The new brigs of this and the next class were built of fir, and intended to carry long 6s, but by an admiralty-order of April 22, 1795, they were directed to be prepared for, and afterwards mounted, sixteen 32-pounder carronades and two long 6s. This armament, owing to the additional weight of the carronade-carriages and slides

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