1817- 1820	State of the British Navy	418

being pooped is considerably diminished, if not wholly prevented ; and the obstruction to the ship's progress, which according to the old plan, was occasioned by the projection of quarter-galleries, when the ships were going on a wind, is removed. In fine, by this alteration, the ships are every way more seaworthy and better adapted for defence ; qualities which are so essential and indeed indispensable in ships of war." *

As a proof of the good opinion entertained of this plan by the lords commissioners of the admiralty, an order of the board, dated on the 13th of June, 1817, directs, that all new ships, down to fifth-rates inclusive, are to be so constructed, and all ships of the same rates receiving extensive repairs are also to have circular sterns, provided the timbers in the old or square sterns are defective. By this alteration in her construction, the ship becomes, beyond a doubt, a stronger vessel and a more efficient man of war: advantages which it will require something more than an unsightly appearance (and even that, we presume, is a remediable effect) to counterbalance. The number of ships belonging to the British navy, which on the 1st of January, 1820, were repairing, building, or ordered to be built, with circular sterns, amounted to 67, † and the number of ships building of teak, at the same date, amounted to 19. ‡

On a former occasion, we ventured to suggest the advantages that might be derived, in the construction of ships of war, from the opinions of naval officers of experience. § A post-captain of acknowledged nautical skill, and of tried gallantry, has recently proved himself a very eminent naval architect. " Captain Hayes," says Mr. Marshall, " is the author of a pamphlet on the subject of naval architecture, his proficiency in which important science is the result of many years' professional experience and deep consideration. His proposed system, we understand, meets a point hitherto considered impracticable, viz. : that of building a thousand vessels, if required, from a given section, without the variation of a needle's point, reducible from a first-rate ship to a cutter, each possessing excelling powers and advantages of every description in their respective class. Since the publication of the above pamphlet, in which he carefully abstained from saying, or even hinting that he had made any progress in the formation of such a system, two vessels have been built, in a royal dock-yard, on his projection: the first, a cutter of about 160 tons, || is said to embrace stability under canvass with little ballast, great buoyancy, better stowage, and swifter sailing qualities, than any model yet designed by known schools of naval architecture. The second, a sloop of war, ¶ is at present absent on her first experimental cruise, in company with two other vessels

* See the work referred to in the first note of the preceding page.

† For a list of names, see Appendix, No. 21. ‡ Ibid., No. 22. § See p. 151. || The Arrow. ¶ The Champion.

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