1813     THE SLOOP CLASSES     149

32-pounders, on the main deck, and on the quarterdeck and forecastle six carronades, 12 or 18 pounders, and two sixes, total 26 guns, with 121 men and boys ; and the well-known 18-gun brig-sloop, mounting no more guns than she rated. As a match for the first class, it was proposed to congress, in November, 1812, to build a few sloops of war to mount 16 long 12-pounders on the main deck, and 12 carronades, 24-pounders, on the quarterdeck and forecastle, total 28 guns; with a complement of 180 men. The size is not mentioned, but a ship, so armed, could not measure less than 560 or 570 tons. Whether it was decided to vote all the British quarterdecked ship-sloops " small frigates, '' and consequently superior to any vessels bearing the denomination of " sloops, " or whatever else may have been the reason, the American quarterdecked sloop was laid aside, and the preference was given to a flush-decked ship, to mount 20 carronades, 32-pounders, and two long 18-pounders, with a crew of 175 men, and to measure 509 tons American, or 540 tons English. These were to rate of 18 guns, and to be considered as a fair match for the British 18-gun brig-sloop, which, from the concurrent testimony of such men of veracity as Captain David Porter and Captain Jacob Jones, * mounted 22 guns.

Three of the new American sloops were soon afloat, the Peacock, Wasp, and Frolic ; and, to be ready to meet these upon equal terms, 18 flush ships were ordered to be built of fir, with all possible despatch. Having in their possession the Andromeda (late the American merchant ship Hannibal), of 24 guns on a flush-deck, an extraordinary fine ship of 812 tons, the late French corvette Bonne-Citoyenne, and the two ships built after her, the Hermes and Myrmidon, the British could be at no loss for a proper model. Well, what did they do ? Why, one of the lords of the admiralty recommended a draught to be prepared upon the reduced lines of the Bonne-Citoyenne. To what extent the reduction went, and whether an augmentation of size would not have better answered the intended purpose, will be seen by the following statement.

Where so much deference was officially due, science had to bow the head, and Sir Joseph Yorke soon had the satisfaction of seeing his " improved Bonne-Citoyennes" afloat and fitting in all the principal depots of Great Britain. To diminish a vessel's capacity, and at the same time to increase her armament was an

* See pp. 89,   112.

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