OUR SAILING NAVY
By Theseus, late R.N.

The details of the sailing ships belonging to the Royal Navy will doubtless interest the minds of all Englishmen, when they recollect the glorious victories achieved by these ships in times past. Many persons, especially old naval officers, regard our sailing ships with a melancholy interest, while they regret the introduction of that powerful agent, steam. What sight could be more beautiful than to witness a ship under all sail, gliding along the water? What can disfigure a landscape more than the sight of a huge vessel, having a large funnel, from which issues a dense black column of smoke? The fiat, however, has gone forth; for Sir John Packington, in his late address on the Navy Estimates, declared, that sailing ships were unfit for active service. All those sailing ships that are fit, will therefore be speedily converted into screw-ships, whilst the remainder will be employed for harbour duties.
The oldest ships belonging to the Royal Navy are the Victory, Saturn, Foudroyant, and Achille.
It is very interesting to note the difference of size between the Victory, the finest three-decker in 1805; the Caledonia, the pride of 1812; the Queen, the largest three-decker in 1840; and the Marlborough, the screw three-decker of 1858.

Victory	101 guns	2164 tons.
Caledonia	120 "	2712 "
Queen	110 "	3090 "
Marlborough	131 "	4000 "

The same striking comparison is found to exist between all the other classes of ships; thus our smallest frigates now building are all larger than the old Victory.
At the beginning of this century it was the custom to build most of our ships of war by contract in merchants' yards, and very often the contractor was a naval architect, and built the ship after his own plan, though obliged to conform to certain rules laid down by the Navy Board. The ships built in this way are said to be on the plan of the Surveyors of the Navy. More commonly, however, it was the rule to build new ships on the model of some old vessels that had proved themselves fast sailers and effective men-of-war; and the ships captured from the French, Danes, or Americans being found to possess most of those qualities, were the vessels generally copied from. A large number of ships were therefore built after the captured ships Canopus, Foudroyant, Pompée, Christian VII., Leda, President, Pomone, &c., and after the following English ships — Victory, Caledonia, Repulse, Lively, Euryalus, &c. The chief naval architects at this period were Mr. Rule, who built the Caledonia, and Mr. Henslow, who built the Hibernia. The ships continued to be built after the same old plans up to 1830, and some few indeed as late as 1851, when the Sans Pareil, built after the enlarged model of the old Sans Pareil, was launched; In 1831 Sir Robert Seppings built the Calcutta, with a round stern; in 1832 he built the Castor, and in 1833 the Rodney, the finest vessels of their class in the Navy. The late Sir William Symonds then became Surveyor of the Navy, and made a complete revolution in the mode of building ships, introducing a greater breadth of the upper decks of a ship, or what has been termed the peg-top system. The most noted ships built by Sir W. Symonds are the Queen, 110; Albion, 90; Vanguard, 80; Boscawen, 70; Arethusa, 50; Vernon, 50 ; Pique, 40; Spartan, 26; Dido, 18; Pilot, 12; Pantaloon, 8; and Bonetta, 3, &c. The greatest improvements in these ships consisted in their greater tonnage, their ability to carry more provisions, &c., the greater height between decks, and better accommodation for officers and men. On the other hand they were found to roll very much, and so cause great discomfort to the crew during a storm. Their sailing qualities were also not superior to Sir R. Sepping’s ships, nor to some of the finest of the Canopus class. Sir B. Walker has, however, discovered that, by increasing the length of the Symondite ships some 50 or 60 feet, their sailing qualities are much improved, and at the same time they roll much less.

The other naval architects who have had ships built on their plans are Mr. Fincham, Mr. Blake, Mr. Lang, Mr. O.W. Lang, Mr. Edye, Mr. White, &c.; and the following amateurs, Admiral Elliot, Captain Hendry, Mr. Inman, &c.

Sailing Line of Battle Ships.— These include three-deckers and two-deckers. They are usually commanded by captains:—


Sailing Three-Deckers.— These ships may be usefully divided into two classes.

1st Class.—
• Britannia, 120 guns, 2,616 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1820. Plan, Rule; after Caledonia. Served about 16 years in commission. War services, Black Sea. Complement, 600 men. Captain, Robert Harris; commissioned January, 1858. Station, Naval Cadet and Novices’ Instruction Ship at Portsmouth.
• Nelson, 120 guns, 2,617 tons. Built at Woolwich, 1814. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Has never been commissioned. Station, Portsmouth.
• St. Vincent, 102 guns, 2,612 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1815. Plan, Rule. This ship originally carried 120 guns, but at the suggestion of Admiral Sir Charles Napier, her poop was removed, and her armament reduced in 1850. Served about 21 years in commission. War services, Baltic. Complement, 450 men. Captain, Harry Eyres, C.B. Commissioned, July, 1857. Station, Flag Ship of Rear-Admiral Hon. George Grey, and Guard-ship of ordinary at Portsmouth.
• Waterloo, 120 guns, 2,718 tons. Built at Chatham, 1833. Plan, Rule; after Caledonia. Served about 8 years in commission, but has never yet been tried at sea. Complement, 450 men. Captain, Henry Harvey. Commissioned, January, 1858. Station, Flag ship of Vice-Admiral Edward Harvey, at Sheerness.

2nd Class.—
• Excellent, 101 guns, 2,155 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1810. Plan, after Victory, was formerly called the Boyne. Served about 35 years in commission, chiefly for harbour service. War services, blockade of Toulon. Complement, 690 men. Captain, Richard Strode Hewlett, C.B. Commissioned January, 1857. Station, Gunnery Instruction Ship at Portsmouth.
• Hibernia, 104 guns, 2,530 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1804. Plan, Henslow. Served about 14 years in commission. War services, blockade of Toulon, &c. Complement, 80 men. Commander, Hon. Augustus Charles Hobart. Commissioned October, 1855. Station, Flag ship of Rear-Admiral Henry J. Codrington, C.B., and Guard ship at Malta.
• Impregnable, 104 guns, 2,406 tons. Built at Chatham, 1810. Plan, Rule. Served about 20 years in commission. War services, Algiers, &c. Complement, 450 men. Captain, William Houston Stewart, C.B. Commissioned January, 1857. Station, Flag ship of Vice-Admiral Sir Barrington Reynolds, K.C.B., at Devonport.
• Queen Charlotte, 104 guns, 2,289 tons. Built at Deptford, 1810. Plan, after the old Queen Charlotte. Served about 4 years in commission. War services, Algiers, &c. Station, fitting for commission at Sheerness.
• Royal Adelaide, 104 guns, 2,446 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1828. Plan, after the Victory enlarged. Served about 3 years in commission as a Guard ship, but has never been tried at sea. Station, fitting for commission at Devonport.
• Victory, 101 guns, 2,164 tons. Built at Chatham, 1765. Plan, Slade; rebuilt 1804. Thoroughly repaired 1858. Has almost always been in commission. War services, destruction of French fleet at Toulon, Hotham’s action, Battle off Cape St. Vincent, and carried the flag of Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, &c., &c. Complement, 450 men. Captain, Arthur Farquhar. Commissioned January, 1858. Station, Flag-ship of Admiral William Bowles, at Portsmouth.

Remarks.— The first class of sailing three-deckers are the finest ships, and are mostly built after the model of the old Caledonia, now employed under the name of the Dreadnought, as an hospital ship off Greenwich. This ship was the pride of the British navy at the conclusion of the old French war, and, strange to say, of all the vessels built on her lines not one of them was able to beat her in sailing. The Royal William ought properly to have been included among the sailing three-deckers of the first class; her name has, however, already appeared in the list of Screw Line-of-Battle ships, but her conversion to a screw-ship has been delayed for a few months.

The Nelson and Waterloo are also ordered to be cut down and converted into 90 gun screw ships. The Queen Charlotte is being fitted out at Sheerness to take the place of the Waterloo. The Royal Adelaide is also being fitted out at Devonport to take the place of the Royal William, as guard-ship of the ordinary. The building of the Royal Adelaide on the lines of the old Victory, when the navy already possessed much finer ships, as the Caledonia, Britannia, &c., was an extraordinary act on the part of the Admiralty. It is reported that the Royal Adelaide is unable to fire both her broadsides at once. The Nelson, Waterloo, and the Royal Adelaide have never been to sea.

When the ships now ordered to be converted become screw ships, there will remain only one sailing three-decker, the St. Vincent, that is at all seaworthy.

These ships are pierced for the number of guns placed next their names, but the actual number carried is somewhat as follows:— Britannia, 46 guns. St. Vincent, 46 guns. Excellent, 46 guns. Hibernia, 12 guns. Impregnable, 78 guns, and Victory, 22 guns.

The following old sailing three-deckers are non-effective ships, hulks, &c., viz.:—
• Caledonia, formerly of 120 guns, 2,712 tons. Built 1808. Hospital ship off Greenwich.
• Camperdown, formerly of 104 guns, 2,404 tons. Built 1820. Coal depôt, at Portsmouth.

Sailing Two-Deckers.— These ships are divided into six classes.

1st Class.—
• Albion, 90 guns, 3,090 tons. Built at Devonport, 1842. Plan, Symonds. Served ten years in commission. War services, Black Sea. Station, Devonport.
• London, 90 guns, 2,598 tons. Built at Chatham, 1840. Plan, Sir R. Seppings. Served six years in commission. War services, Black Sea. Has lately been converted into a screw steam ship. Station, Devonport.
• Rodney, 90 guns, 2,597 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1833. Plan, Seppings. Served 17 years in commission. War services, Syria and Black Sea. Station, is ordered to be converted into a screw ship at Chatham.

2nd Class.—
• Asia, 84 guns, 2,289 tons. Built of teak at Bombay, 1824. Plan, after Canopus. Served about 14 years in commission. War services, Navarino and Syria. Station, Portsmouth.
• Bombay, 84 guns, 2,279 tons. Built of teak at Bombay, 1828. Plan, after Canopus. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Calcutta, 84 guns, 2,299 tons. Built of teak at Bombay, 1831. Plan, Sir B. Seppings. Served about 9 years in commission. War services, Baltic and China. Complement, 720 men. Captain, William Kling Hall, C.B. Commissioned March, 1856. Station, is ordered home from China.
• Clarence, 84 guns, 2,279 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1827. Plan, after Canopus. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Formidable, 84 guns, 2,289 tons. Built at Chatham, 1829. Plan, after Canopus. Served about 9 years in commission. Complement 350 men. Captain, John Coghlan Fitzgerald. Commissioned July, 1858. Station, guard ship of ordinary, at Sheerness.
• Ganges, 84 guns, 2,285 tons. Built of teak at Bombay, 1821. Plan, after Canopus. Served about 14 years in commission. War services, Syria. Complement, 720 men. Captain, John Fulford. Commissioned June, 1857. Station, flag ship of Rear-Admiral R. L. Baynes, in the Pacific.
• Monarch, 84 guns, 2,286 tons. Built at Chatham, 1832. Plan, after Canopus. Served about 10 years in commission. War services, Baltic. Station, Sheerness.
• Powerful, 84 guns, 2,296 tons. Built at Chatham, 1826. Plan, after Canopus. Served about 12 years in commission. War services, Syria. Station, Chatham.
• Thunderer, 84 guns, 2,279 tons. Built at Woolwich, 1831. Plan, after Canopus. Served about 8 years in commission. War services, Syria. Station, Devonport.
• Vengeance, 84 guns, 2,284 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1824. Plan, after Canopus. Served about 8 years in commission. War services, Black Sea. Station, Devonport.

3rd Class.—
• Collingwood, 80 guns, 2,590 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1841. Plan, Symonds. Served 4 years in commission. Station, Portsmouth.
• Superb, 80 guns, 2,590 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1842. Plan, Symonds. Served about 7 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Vanguard, 80 guns, 2,608 tons, 190 feet in length, and 57 feet beam. Built at Pembroke, 1835. Plan, Symonds. Served about 11 years in commission. War services, Syria. Station, Devonport.

4th Class.—
• Achille, 78 guns, 1,987 tons. Built at Gravesend, 1798. Plan, after Pompée. Served about six years in commission. War services, Trafalgar. Station, Sheerness.
• Cambridge, 78 guns, 2,139 tons. Built at Deptford, 1815. Plan, after Christian VII. War services, Syria. Served about ten years in commission. Complement, 520 men. Captain, Arthur W. Jerningham. Commissioned August, 1856. Station, Gunnery Instruction Ship, at Devonport.
• Foudroyant, 78 guns, 2,062 tons, 183 feet in length, and 50 feet beam. Built at Plymouth, 1798. Plan, after Old Foudroyant. Served about ten years in commission. War services, Coast of Egypt, &c. Station, Devonport.
• Hindostan, 78 guns, 2,050 tons. Built at Devonport, 1841. Plan, after Repulse. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Indus, 78 guns, 2,098 tons. Was built of teak at Bombay, taken to pieces, conveyed to England, and rebuilt at Portsmouth, 1839. Plan, after enlarged Christian VII. Served about six years in commission. Complement, 650 men. Captain, John Charles Dalrymple Hay. Commissioned November, 1856. Station, Flag Ship of Vice Admiral Sir Houston Stewart, North America and West Indies.

5th Class.—
• Carnatic, 72 guns, 1790 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1823. Plan, after Cornwallis. Has never been commissioned. Station, Portsmouth.
• Egmont, 72 guns, 1760 tons. Built at Northfleet, 1810. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served about four years in commission. Station, Portsmouth.
• Illustrious, 72 guns, 1746 tons. Built at Rotherithe, 1803. Plan, Henslow. Served about 20 years in commission. War services, Basque Roads and capture of Java. Station, Portsmouth.
• Imaum, 72 guns, 1852 tons. Presented to the Queen by the Imaum of Muscat, 1836. Served about 15 years in commission for harbour service. Complement, 75 men. Commodore Henry Kellett, C.B. Station, Guard-ship,at Port Royal, Jamaica.
• Implacable, 72 guns, 1882 tons. Captured from the French, 1805. Was formerly called the Duguay-Trouin. Served many years in commission. War services, Baltic and Syria. Station, Devonport.
• Saturn, 72 guns, 1616 tons. Built at Northam, 1786. Plan, Slade. Served many years in commission. War services, Battle of Copenhagen. Complement, 70 men. Captain, George Ramsay, C.B. Commissioned January, 1858. Station, Pembroke.
• Wellesley, 72 guns, 1746 tons. Built of teak at Bombay, 1815. Plan, after Cornwallis. Served about 18 years in commission. War services, China. Complement, 320 men. Captain, George Goldsmith, C.B. Commissioned May, 1858. Station, Guard-ship of Ordinary at Chatham.
• Wellington, 72 guns, 1757 tons. Built at Deptford, 1816. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served about 4 years in commission. Station, Devonport.

6th Class.—
• Boscawen, 70 guns, 2212 tons. Built at Woolwich, 1844. Plan, Symonds. War services, Baltic. Served 6 years in commission. Complement, 650 men. Captain, Richard Ashmore Powell, C.B. Commissioned May, 1857. Station, Flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Hon. Sir F. W. Grey, at the Cape of Good Hope.
• Cumberland, 70 guns, 2195 tons. Built at Chatham, 1842. Plan, Symonds. Served 6 years in commission. War services, Baltic. Complement, 650 men. Captain, Henry Downing Rogers, C.B. Commissioned April, 1857. Flag-ship of Rear Admiral Sir Stephen Lushington, on the S.E. Coast of America.

Remarks.— The sailing two-deckers of the first class were, ten years ago, the finest line-of-battle ships in the British Navy. The London and the Rodney, following the example of their sister-ship the Nile, are now being converted into screw ships. The Albion, Sir W. Symonds' pet ship, is said to have been so much battered at the bombardment of Sebastopol, and also found to be so rotten, as to be unworthy of the cost of conversion. This ship rolls very much in bad weather. If this ship is unfit for conversion, it would be better to fit her as Guard-ship of the Ordinary at Plymouth, for she is a much larger ship, and possesses more accommodation than the old Royal Adelaide.

The Calcutta is the finest ship of the 84-gun ships, and has the round stem invented by Sir R. Seppings. She has lately served as flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour during the China war. The Calcutta, Ganges, and Monarch are noted for their fast sailing qualities.

Most of the ships of the second class are built on the lines of the old Canopus, captured from the French at the battle of the Nile, under the name of the Franklin. This fine old ship belonged to the Experimental Squadron of 1845, and beat most of our new line-of-battle ships in sailing. The Bombay and Clarence have never been commissioned. The Asia and Thunderer have been prepared for commission, and are termed "Advanced Ships." The Monarch, Powerful, and Vengeance have not been repaired since they were paid off.

The Collingwood, Superb, and Vanguard are also fitted as Advanced Ships, but will most probably be converted into screw ships.

The Achille is a remnant of old times, and being quite out of date as regards use, had better be broken up. The same may be said of the Foudroyant, the Illustrious, Saturn, Implacable, &c. The Hindostan and the Carnatic have never been commissioned. The former may be converted into a useful screw block ship. The Indus is a fast sailing ship. The Boscawen and Cumberland are reported to be very dull sailing-ships.

The fifth class comprises the remains of the old 74-gun ships, which used to form the chief part of our line of battle during the French war. The Wellesley and the Wellington are the only two that are at all seaworthy. A few more years will doubtless witness the extinction of the 4th and 5th classes from the serviceable ships in the Navy.

The following are the actual number of guns carried by the undermentioned ships, instead of those they are pierced for, viz.:— Cambridge, 48 guns; Imaum, 10 guns; Saturn, 2 guns; Wellesley, 36 guns.

There are many old sailing two-deckers employed for harbour service, as non-effective ships, hulks, coal-depôts, &c.
• Receiving Ships:— Prince Regent, formerly of 92 guns, at Portsmouth; Agincourt, Bellona, Armada, and Vigo, at Devonport; Bellerophon, Sultan, and Victorious, at Portsmouth; and Devonshire and Minotaur, at Sheemess. All the above formerly carried 72 guns each. Duncan, quarantine service, at Standgate Creek; Medway convict hulk, at Bermuda; Stirling Castle, convict hulk, at Portsmouth.
• Coal Depots.— Canopus and Invincible, at Devonport; Malabar and Pitt, at Portsmouth; Ocean and Benbow, at Sheerness; and Fortitude, at Chatham.
• Sheer hulks.— Kent, at Devonport; and Chatham, at Chatham.

Sailing Frigates and Corvettes.— These ships carry from 18 up to 50 guns, and are usually commanded by Captains.


Sailing Frigates.— These ships will be divided into ten classes.

1st Class.—
• Arethusa, 50 guns, 2130 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1849. Plan, Symonds. Served 5 years in commission. War services, Black Sea. Station, Devonport.
• Constance, 50 guns, 2125 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1846. Plan, Symonds. Served 5 years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• Indefatigable, 50 guns, 2043 tons. Built at Devonport, 1848. Plan, Edye. Served 7 years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• Leander, 50 guns, 1987 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1848. Plan, Blake. Served 7 years in commission. War services, Black Sea. Station, Chatham.
• Nankin, 50 guns, 2049 tons. Built at Woolwich, 1850. Plan, O.W. Lang. Served 4 years in commission. War services, China, Station, Chatham.
• Octavia, 50 guns, 2125 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1849. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Phaeton, 50 guns, 1941 tons. Built at Deptford, 1848. Plan, White. Served 4 years in commission. Station, Sheerness.
• Phoebe, 50 guns, 2044 tons. Built at Devonport, 1854. Plan, Edye. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Severn, 50 guns, 1986 tons. Built at Chatham, 1856. Plan, Fincham. Has never been commissioned. Station, Chatham.
• Sutlej, 50 guns, 2066 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1855. Plan, Walker. Has never been commissioned. Station, Portsmouth.
• Vernon, 50 guns, 2082 tons. Built at Woolwich, 1832. Plan, Symonds. Served about 10 years in commission. War services, River Plate. Station, Chatham.

2nd Class—All the frigates of this class were originally built as 74-gun ships, but have since been cut down into frigates.
• America, 50 guns, 1758 tons. Built at Blackwall, 1809. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served about 6 years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• Eagle, 50 guns, 1723 tons. Built at Blackwall, 1804. Plan, after Repulse. Served many years in commission. Complement, 320 men. Captain, Edward Tatham, C.B. Commissioned February, 1858. Station, Coast Guard Instruction Ship, at Milford Haven.
• Gloucester, 50 guns, 1797 tons. Built at Northfleet, 1812. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served many years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Vindictive, 50 guns, 1758 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1813. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served a few years in commission. Station, Portsmouth.
• Warspite, 50 guns, 1890 tons. Built at Chatham, 1807. Plan, Henslow. Served many years in commission. Station, Chatham.

3rd Class—
• Java, 50 guns, 1458 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1814. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served 5 years in commission. Station, Portsmouth.
• Lancaster, 50 guns, 1476 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1823. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Portland, 50 guns, 1475 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1823. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served 9 years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• President, 50 guns, 1537 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1830. Plan, after American frigate President. Served about 15 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Southampton, 50 guns, 1476 tons. Built at Deptford, 1820. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served about 16 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Winchester, 50 guns, 1487 tons. Built at Woolwich, 1822. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served about 16 years in commission. War services, Burmah and China. Station, Chatham.
• Worcester, 50 guns, 1473 tons. Built at Deptford, 1844. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Has never been commissioned. Station, Sheerness.

4th Class—
• Africaine, 44 guns, 1173 tons. Built at Chatham 1828. Plan, after French frigate President. Has never been commissioned. Station, Chatham.
• Isis, 44 guns, 1321 tons. Built at Woolwich, 1819. Plan, after reduced Christian VII. Served many years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Leda, 44 guns, 1171 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1828. Plan, Tucker. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Maeander, 44 guns, 1215 tons. Built at Chatham, 1840. Plan, after French frigate President. Served 10 years in commission. War services, White Sea. Station, Portsmouth.
• Stag, 44 guns, 1218 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1830. Plan, after French frigate President. Served 6 years in commission. Station, Devonport.

5th Class—
• Cerberus, 42 guns, 1079 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1827. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Circe, 42 guns, 1079 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1827. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Fisgard, 42 guns, 1069 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1819. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Served about 16 years in commission. Complement, 120 men. Commodore, Hon. James Robert Drummond, C.B. Commissioned January 1858. Station, Guard-ship at Woolwich.
• Hamadryad, 42 guns, 1082 tons. Built at Pembroke 1823. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Latona, 42 guns, 1071 tons. Built at Chatham 1821. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Has never been commissioned. Station, Chatham.
• Laurel, 42 guns, 1088 tons. Built at Woolwich, 1813. Plan, after Lively. Has never been commissioned. Station, Portsmouth.
• Leonidas, 42 guns, 1067 tons. Built at Frindsbury, 1807. Plan, Rule. Served many years in commission. Station, Sheerness.
• Mercury, 42 guns, 1084 tons. Built at Chatham, 1826. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Has never been commissioned. Station, Chatham.
• Minerva, 42 guns, 1082 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1820. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Has never been commissioned. Station, Portsmouth.
• Proserpine, 42 guns, 1087 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1830. Plan, Peake. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.

6th Class.—
• Active, 40 guns, 1,627 tons. Built at Chatham, 1845. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Chatham.
• Cambrian, 40 guns, 1,620 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1841. Plan, Symonds. Served 9 years in commission. War services, China. Complement, 330 men. Captain, James Johnstone M'Cleverty, C.B. Commissioned November, 1857. Station, China.
• Flora, 40 guns, 1,634 tons. Built at Devonport, 1844. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Pique, 40 guns, 1,622 tons. Built at Devonport, 1834. Plan, Symonds. Lengthened at Pembroke, 1853. Served about 15 years in commission. War services, Syria and China. Station, Devonport.
• Sybille, 40 guns. 1,653 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1847. Plan, Symonds. Served 6 years in commission. War services, China. Station, Devonport.

7th Class.—
• Castor, 36 guns, 1,293 tons. Built at Chatham, 1832. Plan, Sir Robert Sepping’s. Served about 16 years in commission. War services, Syria and New Zealand. Station, Chatham.

8th Class.—
• Alarm, 26 guns, 910 tons. Built at Sheerness, 1845. Plan, Symonds. Served 10 years in commission. War services, Nicaragua. Complement, 240 men. Captain, Douglas Curry. Commissioned June, 1855. Station, is ordered home from the Pacific.
• Amethyst, 26 guns, 923 tons. Built at Devonport, 1845. Plan, Symonds. Served 2½ years in commission. War services, China. Complement, 240 men. Captain, Sidney Grenfell. Commissioned July, 1856. Station, Pacific.
• Cleopatra, 26 guns, 918 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1835. Plan, Symonds. Served 10 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Creole, 26 guns, 992 tons. Built at Devonport, 1845. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Diamond, 28 guns, 1,054 tons. Built at Sheerness, 1848. Plan, Symonds. Served 4 years in commission. War services, Black Sea. Station, Chatham.
• Eurydice, 26 guns, 908 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1843. Plan, Admiral Hon. G. Elliott. Served 10 years in commission. War services, White Sea. Station, Chatham.
• Iris, 26 guns, 906 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1841. Plan, Symonds. Served 7 years in commission. Complement, 240 men. Captain, William Loring, C.B. Commissioned December, 1856. Station, Australia and New Zealand.
• Juno, 26 guns, 922 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1843. Plan, Symonds. Served 7 years in commission. Station, Portsmouth.
• Niobe, 28 guns, 1,049 tons. Built at Devonport, 1849. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Spartan, 26 guns, 918 tons. Built at Devonport, 1841. Plan, Symonds. Served 13 years in commission. War services, China. Armament: Main deck, 20 32-pounders of 45 cwt.; upper deck, 6 32-pounders of 25 cwt. Station, Devonport.
• Vestal, 26 guns, 913 tons. Built at Sheerness, 1833. Plan, Symonds. Served about 16 years in commission. War services, Borneo. Station, Chatham.

9th Class.— These vessels were originally built as 42-gun frigates, but have since been reduced into a smaller class of frigates.
• Amazon, 26 guns, 1,078 tons. Built at Deptford, 1821. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Razeed, 1840. Served 7 years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• Amphitrite, 24 guns, 1064 tons. Built of teak at Bombay, 1816. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Razeed 1846. Served 8 years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• Brilliant, 20 guns, 924 tons. Built at Blackwall, 1814. Plan, Rule. Razeed, 1844. Served 7 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Daedalus, 20 guns, 1,082 tons. Built at Sheemess, 1828. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Razeed 1841. Served 8 years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• Havannah, 19 guns, 964 tons. Built at Liverpool, 1811. Plan, Rle. Razeed 1845. Served many years in commission. Complement 240 men. Captain, Thomas Harvey. Commissioned August, 1855. Station, Pacific.
• Trincomalee, 24 guns, 1,066 tons. Built of teak at Bombay, 1819. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Razeed, 1845. Served 10 years in commission. Station, Chatham.

10th Class.—
• Actaeon, 26 guns, 620 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1830. Plan, School of Naval Architecture Served about 12 years in commission. War services, China. Complement, 180 men. Commander, John Ward, Commissioned August, 1856. Station, Surveying Service, Cochin China.
• Herald, 28 guns, 505 tons. Purchased 1823. Formerly called the Termagant. Served about 24 years in commission. War services, China. Complement, 130 men. Captain, Henry Mangles Denham. Commissioned April, 1857. Station, Surveying Service, Feejee Islands, Pacific.

Remarks.— The first class of frigates are all very fine ships, and a great improvement upon the old 50-gun frigates of the 2nd and 3rd classes. The squadron of experimental frigates in 1850 included the Arethusa, built by Symonds, the Phaeton, by White, the Leander, by Blake, and the Indefatigable, by Edye. The Phaeton proved the fastest sailer in fine weather, and the Arethusa in a stiff breeze. The Leander was best fitted for stowage. Each vessel possessed many good points, which Sir B. Walker attempted to combine in his new frigates, the Imperieuse, Melpomene, &c., but these have since been converted into screw ships.

In the remarks made upon "our screw steam frigates" in the United Service Magazine for November, it was suggested that Sir B. Walker should endeavour to convert some of our new sailing frigates into screw ships. It is gratifying, therefore, to find that the Admiralty have taken the hint, and have ordered the conversion of four of these frigates, viz.— the Phoebe, Phaeton, Severn, and Sutlej. Each ship is to be lengthened at the bow and at the stern, altogether about 60 feet, and fitted with engines of 400 horse power. The remaining frigates will, if the experiment proves successful also be converted.

The frigates of the 2nd and 3rd classes are all worn out, and only fit for harbour duty, or to be broken up. Some of them, as the President, Portland, Southampton, and Winchester, have served as flag ships on foreign stations for many years past.

The frigates of the 4th and 5th classes are built after those old frigates which sustained the naval glory of England during the old French war. They are quite out of date, and are mostly so rotten as to be only fit for firewood. It would be a good thing to rid our reserves of so many useless old hulks. The 40-gun frigates are all built by Sir W. Symonds, and might, if lengthened some 50 feet, be converted into useful screw ships.

The Castor has always been a favourite ship with sailors, but on the termination of her last commission she was reported to be very rotten.

The frigates of the 8th, 9th, and 10th classes constitute what are termed the "jackass frigates." Sir W. Symonds' frigates of the 8th class are, however, a great improvement on those of the 10th class, and were found to be useful vessels before the introduction of the screw frigates.

The Diamond, Eurydice, and the Spartan, are the favourite vessels of this class. The Eurydice is the fastest sailing ship.

The frigates of the 9th class are all very dull sailers, and are not at all equal to the vessels of the preceding class. These might all go for firewood.The Actaeon and the Herald carry only 8 guns each, and are employed on the surveying service. It seems a very extraordinary thing, but whenever a ship is required by the Hydrographer for the surveying service the Admiralty are sure to pick out the oldest and most rotten old tub that can be found in the Navy List. While there are fine frigates like the Diamond, Niobe, and Cleopatra, of 1,000 tons each, lying useless in ordinary, the Admiralty refit at an enormous expense an old tub like the Herald, of 500 tons, with the old fashioned stern, and horribly bad accommodation. The same may be said of the Actaeon, of 620 tons. The sight of the latter ship in the Canton river during the late war must have somewhat astonished the French and Americans. One would naturally suppose that when officers are sent out to the other side of the globe to make surveys among islands full of savages, that they would at least be provided with comfortable accommodation in a good, sound, safe ship.

The following frigates belong to the non-effective service, being employed as hulks, &c.:—
• Receiving ships.— The Belvidera, Blanche, Blonde, Carysfort, Dryad, and Undaunted, at Portsmouth. The Andromeda, Argo, Bacchus, Egeria, Endymion, Lively, Nemesis, and Thisbe, at Devonport. The Diana, Hussar, and Tartar, at Chatham. The Chichester, Nymphe, and St. Lawrence, at Sheerness. The Salsette, and Unicorn, at Woolwich. The Sapphire, at Trincomalee. The Pyramus, at Halifax. The Samarang, at Gibraltar. Floating chapels— The Thalia, at Portsmouth. The Clyde, at Sheerness. The Calliope, at Devonport, and the Tees, at Liverpool.
• Convict hulks— Euryalus, and Owen Glendower, at Gibraltar; Dromedary, Tenedos, Thames, and Weymouth, at Bermuda; Mermaid, at Chatham; and Briton, at Portsmouth.
• Quarantine service.— Akbar, Druid, Menelaus, and Rhin.
• Coal depôts.— Maidstone, at Portsmouth; Aigle, at Woolwich; Dublin, Jupiter, Lavinia, and Pallas, at Devonport; Seringapatam, at the Cape of Good Hope.
• Powder depôts.— Grampus, at Portsmouth; Conquestador, at Purfleet; and Andromache, at Pembroke.
• Boys' instruction ships.— Conway, Cornwall, and Venus. Target ship—the Alfred, at Portsmouth.


Sailing Corvettes.— Each of these vessels carries an armament of 18 32-pounders on a flush deck.
• Calypso, 18 guns, 734 tons, 120 feet in length, 37½ feet beam, and 18 feet depth of hold. Built at Chatham, 1845. Plan, Symonds. Served 8 years in commission. Complement 185 men. Captain, Frederick Byng Montressor. Commissioned November, 1857. Station, Pacific.
• Daphne, 18 guns, 726 tons, 120 feet in length, and 37½ feet beam. Built at Pembroke, 1838. Plan, Symonds. Served 11 years in commission. War services, Syria. Station. Chatham.
• Dido, 18 guns, 734 tons, 120 feet in length, and 37½ feet beam. Built at Pembroke, 1836. Plan, Symonds. Served 15 years in commission. War services, Syria and Borneo. Station, Chatham.

Remarks.— These three corvettes are all fast sailing vessels, and very comfortable ships for officers and men to serve in. In order to explain the great increase of expenditure of the Royal Navy, it is only necessary to point out the difference in cost between a sailing corvette and a screw steam corvette.
Dido, 18 guns, 734 tons, sailing corvette. Built 1836, cost £15,000.
Pearl, 21 guns, 1461 tons, screw corvette. Built 1855, cost £46,000. The Pearl is expected to perform the same duties for a steam fleet, as the Dido was thought capable of executing for a sailing fleet. Thus twenty years have more than trebled the cost of corvettes, and this comparison will generally hold good as regards the other small ships belonging to the Navy.

Another corvette of this class called the Coquette, building at Chatham, was taken to pieces a few years ago, before being finished, and her timbers used to build a screw corvette. The Dido, when commanded by Captain Hon. Henry Keppel, was the smartest cruiser on the China station, in 1843.

Sailing Sloops, Brigs, and Brigantines.— The sloops and many of the brigs are commanded by Commanders, and the other vessels by Lieutenants or Masters.


Sailing Sloops.— These vessels may be divided into four classes.

1st Class.—
• Arachne, 18 guns, 601 tons. Built at Devonport, 1847. Plan, Symonds. Served about 3 years in commission. Complement 140 men. Commander John Eglington Montgomeriee. Commissioned October 1855. Station, West Indies.
• Terpsichore, 18 guns, 600 tons, 113 feet in length, 35½ feet beam, and 16 feet 9 inches depth of hold: Built at Blackwall by Wigram, 1847. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Chatham.

2nd Class.—
• Atalanta, 16 guns, 551 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1847. Plan, Symonds. Served 3 years in commission. Complement, 130 men. Commander, Thomas Malcolm Sabine Pasley. Commissioned May, 1856. Station, North America and West Indies.
• Camilla, 16 guns, 549 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1847. Plan, Symonds. Served 3 years in commission. War services, China. Complement, 130 men. Commander, George Twisleton Colville. Commissioned July, 1856. Station, China.
• Frolic, 16 guns, 511 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1842. Plan, Captain Hendry. Served 11 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Helena, 16 guns, 549 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1843. Plan, Symonds. Served 7 years in commission. Station, Portsmouth.
• Jumna, 16 guns, 548 tons. Built of teak, at Bombay, 1848. Plan, Symonds. Was formerly called the Jamaica and the Zebra, Has never been commissioned. Station, Chatham.
• Musquito, 16 guns, 549 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1851. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Rover, 16 guns, 549 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1853. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Siren, 16 guns, 549 tons. Built at Woolwich, 1841. Plan, Symonds. Served 10 years in commission. Armament, 16 32-pounders of 25 cwt. Complement, 130 men. Commander, George Macintosh Balfour. Commissioned August, 1855. Station, South East Coast of America.

3rd Class.—
• Comus, 14 guns, 462 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1828. Plan, Inman. Served 20 years in commission. War Services, River Plate and China. Was formerly called the Comet. Station, Chatham.
• Electra, 14 guns, 461 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1837. Plan, Inman. Served 12 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Hazard, 14 guns, 429 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1837. Plan, Rule, after Cruiser. Served 8 years in commission. War services, Syria and New Zealand. Station, Portsmouth.
• Hyacinth, 14 guns, 435 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1829. Plan, Rule, after Cruiser. Served 10 years in commission. War services, China. Station, Portsmouth.
• Larne, 14 guns, 463 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1829. Plan, Inman. Served 13 years in commission. War services, China. Station, Sheerness.
• Racehorse, 14 guns, 438 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1830. Plan, Tucker. Served 15 years in commission. War services, China. Station, Devonport.

4th Class.—
• Acorn, 12 guns, 485 tons, 105 feet in length, 33 feet beam, and 15 feet depth of hold. Built at Devonport, 1838. Plan, Symonds. Served 9 years in commission. War services, China. Armament consists of 12 32-pounders. Carries 6 months provisions. Draught of water, 14½ feet. Complement, 125 men. Commander, Bichard Bulkeley Pearse. Commissioned, May, 1856. Station, China.
• Albatross, 12 guns, 484 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1842. Plan, Symonds. Served 7 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Arab, 12 guns, 481 tons. Built at Chatham, 1847. Plan, Symonds. Served 7 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Childers, 12 guns, 385 tons. Built at Chatham, 1827. Plan, Rule, after Cruiser. Served 17 years in commission. War services, China. Station, Chatham.
• Contest, 12 guns, 459 tons. Built at Cowes, 1845. Plan, White, after Daring. Served 7 years in commission. Station, Portsmouth.
• Daring, 12 guns, 426 tons, 104 feet in length, and 31½ feet beam. Built at Portsmouth, 1844. Plan, White. Served 7 years in commission. Draught of water, 16½ feet. Station, Chatham.
• Despatch, 12 guns, 483 tons. Built at Chatham, 1851. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Chatham.
• Elk, 12 guns, 483 tons. Built at Chatham, 1847. Plan, Symonds. Served 3 years in commission. War services, China. Complement, 125 men. Commander, Hubert Campion. Commissioned May, 1856. Station, Australia.
• Espiegle, 12 guns, 442 tons, 104½ feet in length, and 31½ feet beam. Built at Chatham, 1844. Plan, Messrs. Chatfield, Read, and Creuze. Served 7 years in commission. Draught of water, 16 feet. Station, Chatham.
• Fantome, 12 guns, 484 tons. Built at Chatham, 1839. Plan, Symonds. Served 10 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Grecian, 12 guns, 484 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1838. Plan, Symonds. Served 10 years in commission. War services, River Plate. Station, Devonport.
• Heron, 12 guns, 483 tons. Built at Chatham, 1847. Plan, Symonds. Served 2 years in commission. Complement, 125 men. Commander, William Henderson Truscott. Commissioned October, 1857. Station, West Coast of Africa.
• Kangaroo, 12 guns, 481 tons. Built at Chatham, 1848. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Chatham.
• Kingfisher, 12 guns, 445 tons, 103 feet in length, and 32 feet beam. Draught of water, 14½ feet. Built at Pembroke, 1845. Plan, Symonds, as Flying Fish. Served 7 years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• Liberty, 12 guns, 482 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1850. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Mariner, 12 guns, 481 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1846. Plan, Symonds. Served 8 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Martin, 12 guns, 481 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1850. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.
• Persian, 12 guns, 484 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1839. Plan, Symonds. Served 10 years in commission. Complement, 125 men. Commander, Edward Hardinge. Commissioned October 1857. Station, Cape of Good Hope.
• Pilot, 12 guns, 481 tons, 105 feet in length, 32½ feet beam, and 15 feet depth of hold. Draught of water, 14½ feet. Built at Devonport, 1838, Plan, Symonds. Served 11 years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• Squirrel, 12 guns, 481 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1853. Plan, Symonds. Has never been commissioned. Station, Devonport.

Remarks.— A large proportion of sailing sloops were constructed on the plan of the late Sir William Symonds, and it must with justice be allowed, that he introduced the greatest improvements in the building of these small vessels of war. It was in 1825 that Sir W. Symonds, then only a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, obtained permission to construct the Columbine, an 18 gun sloop, which was launched in December, 1826, at Portsmouth. Having been made a Commander, he commanded the Columbine in her numerous trials with the old fashioned sloops and brigs. She beat her opponents on all points, and Commander Symonds was made a Captain, but owing to the strenuous opposition of the Navy Board, and the professional naval architects, the Admiralty declined for a time to allow him to build any more. The Duke of Portland then patronized him, and built the Pantaloon, an 8 gun brig, at his own expense. This small vessel was found so superior to all her competitors, that the Admiralty purchased her into the Navy, and, after some delay, Captain Symonds was appointed Surveyor of the Navy, and shortly afterwards was knighted. It was principally by the exploits of these two vessels, and the Vernon frigate, that Sir W. Symonds attained so much fame in shipbuilding. The Columbine is now a coal hulk at Sheerness, and the Pantaloon was broken up some years ago.

The Serpent and the Snake, 16 gun sloops, and the Rover, 18 gun sloop, were next built by Sir William Symonds, and were found very successful. The Rover after serving about 12 years in commission was broken up in 1845, but the Arachne and the Terpsichore have since been built on her lines. About thirty-eight sailing sloops have been constructed by Sir W. Symonds, but only twenty-five now remain upon the effective list. The Snake and Wolverene have been wrecked, whilst the Nerbuddah and Sappho have been lost at sea with all their crews.

In 1844 a squadron of experimental sailing sloops, built by different constructors, assembled at Spithead, under the command of the late Admiral A.L. Corry. This squadron included the Flying Fish, 12, and Pantaloon, 8, built by Sir W. Symonds, the Daring, 12, and Waterwitch, 8, built by Mr. White, the Espiegle, 12, built by Messrs. Chatfield, Read, and Creuze, the Mutine, 12, built by Mr. Fincham, the Osprey, 12, built by Mr. Blake, and the Cruizer, 16, built by Sir W. Rule. After numerous trials the Daring was reported to be first, and the Flying Fish second. The Daring, however, drew two feet more water than the Flying Fish. This latter vessel has lately been broken up. The Mutine and Osprey were both wrecked. The Daring and the Espiegle are still among the "crack brigs" on the navy list.

It ought to be stated that the three last classes of sailing sloops are rigged as brigs, but as it is generally the custom to style them sloops, they have been classed as such here.

It does seem a very great pity to condemn all these fine sloops to be broken up, but unless they can somehow be converted into screw ships, it would be better to get rid of them at once, than allow them gradually to rot and become of no value.

On careful consideration it might be found advisable to attempt the conversion of the first two classes, as the Terpsichore and the Mosquito. If these sloops were cut in half amidships and lengthened some thirty or forty feet, they might be found capable of receiving engines of eighty or a hundred horse power, and so become useful vessels. This might be found cheaper than to build new ships. The example of the Cruizer, of only sixty horse power, which ship has lately been found so useful in Lord Elgin's exploring expedition, will at once point out the utility of this class of screw steam vessels. The third class or 14 gun sloops are now quite out of date, though some of them have been long employed in commission. The Comus was wrecked and sunk on the coast of Brazil, but by the great energy and perseverance of her Commander, E. Tennyson D’Eyncourt, she was recovered, and has since served a long commission on the China station.

Some of the 12-gun sloops, as the Daring, Contest, Mariner, and Pilot, might be usefully employed as tenders to the training ships about to be instituted, and if these vessels were occasionally to meet and try rate of sailing, it would serve as a stimulus to their crews. Young naval officers could also be taught more of seamanship in one of these sloops than in any of the screw liners forming the Channel fleet.

Sailing Brigs.— These vessels will be separated into two classes.

First class.—
• Crane, 6 guns, 359 tons, 95½ feet in length, 30 feet beam, and 13 feet depth of hold. Built at Woolwich, 1839. Plan, Symonds. Served thirteen years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• Express, 8 guns, 362 tons. Built at Deptford, 1835. Plan, Symonds. Served 16 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Ferret, 8 guns, 358 tons. Built at Devonport, 1840. Plan, Symonds. Served 8 years in commission. Complement, 150 boys. Lieutenant and Commander, Alfred P. H. Helby. Commissioned April, 1859. Station, Instruction-brig for Naval apprentices. Tender to the Nile, at Queenstown.
• Heroine, 8 guns, 369 tons. Built at Woolwich, 1841. Plan, Symonds. Served 10 years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• Hound, 8 guns, 358 tons. Built at Deptford, 1846. Plan, Symonds. Served 8 years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• Sealark, 8 guns, 369 tons. Built at Portsmouth, 1843. Plan, Symonds. Served 12 years in commission. Complement, 80 men. Lieutenant and Commander, Marcus Lowther. Commissioned January, 1859. Station, Instruction-brig for Novices. Tender to the Britannia, at Portsmouth.
• Swift, 6 guns, 360 tons. Built at Deptford, 1835. Plan, Symonds. Served 17 years in commission. Station, Devonport.
• Waterwitch, 8 guns, 324 tons, 90½ feet in length, 29½ feet beam, and 12½ feet depth of hold. Built at Cowes, 1832. Plan, White. Purchased for the Navy, 1834. Served 20 years in commission. Station, Sheerness.

2nd Class.—
• Nautilus, 6 guns, 233 tons. Built at Woolwich, 1830. Plan, Naval School of Architecture. Served 20 years in commission. Complement, 150 boys. Lieutenant and Commander, William B. Grant. Commissioned January, 1857. Station, Instruction-brig for Naval Apprentices. Tender to Impregnable, at Devonport.
• Rolla, 6 guns, 231 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1829. Plan, Peake. Served 20 years in commission. Complement, 150 boys. Lieutenant and Commander, Charles Gudgeon Nelson. Commissioned January, 1858. Station, Instruction-brig for Naval Apprentices. Tender to Victory, at Portsmouth.
• Saracen, 4 guns, 228 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1831. Plan, Peake. Served 16 years in commission. Complement, 48 men. Master and Commander, William Stanton. Commissioned October, 1858. Station, Surveying Service in the East Indies.
• Scorpion, 4 guns, 228 tons. Built at Plymouth, 1832. Plan, Peake. Served 15 years in commission. Station, Chatham.

Brigantines.—
• Dolphin, 3 guns, 318 tons, 90½ feet in length, 29 feet beam, and 14½ feet depth of hold. Built at Sheerness, 1836. Plan, Symonds. Served 15 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Spy, 3 guns. 319 tons. Built at Sheerness, 1841. Plan, Symonds Served 12 years in commission. Complement, 65 men. Lieutenant and Commander, Tathwell Benjamin Collinson. Commissioned December, 1858. Station, south-east coast of America.

Remarks.— The first class of brigs were built on the improved lines of the Pantaloon, and are all very fine vessels of their class. The Crane, Express, and the Swift, were originally employed in the Packet Service, between Falmouth and Rio Janeiro. Many of these brigs have been lately fitted up as watch vessels for the Coast Guard Service.

The second class of brigs have been termed "floating coffins," owing to many of them having foundered at sea. The sooner they are all removed from the Navy List the better for the good of the service. The Brigantines are very fine vessels, and sail very fast. The Bonetta and Dart are similar vessels to the Dolphin, but are now used as receiving hulks. The Wizard brig, similar to the Saracen, was lately wrecked in Bantry Bay.

The following is stated to have been the cost of constructing the undermentioned sailing sloops, brigs, &c. The Siren, 16, cost £10,900; the Comus, 14, cost £12,960; the Grecian, 12, cost £10,350; the Daring, 12, cost £9,321; the Espeigle, 12, cost £9,723; the Childers, 12, cost £9,750; the Heroine, 8, cost £6,900; the Dolphin, 3, cost £6,500.

The following sloops, brigs, &c., belong to the non-effective service.
Receiving Ships.—The Seaflower, at Portsmouth. The Favourite, Lapwing, and Spider, at Devonport. The Modeste, at Woolwich, The Bonetta, at Deptford. The Royalist, police vessel, off Somerset House. The Bittern, at Hong Kong. The Doterel, at Bermuda. The Bramble, at Australia. The Safety, at Tortola. The Wolf, at Dublin.
Watch Vessels, Coast Guard Service.— The Acute, Bathurst, Beagle, Britomart, Cadmus, Chanticleer, Clinker, Cygnet, Dart, Dwarf, Eclipse, Emulous, Flamer, Forester, Griper, Icarus, Linnet, Pandora, Penguin, Pelter, Partridge, Pelican, Philomel, Raven, Safeguard, Shamrock, Snapper, and Star.
Mooring Vessels.— The Speedy, at Sheerness. The Badger, Pacific, and Progresso, at the Cape of Good Hope. The Despatch, and Devonport, at Bermuda. The Savage, at Malta. The Carron, at Harwich.
Quarrantine Service.— The Hope and Tyrian.
Church Ship.— The Swan, off Blackwall, and the Ranger at Kingstown.
Coal Depots.— The Champion, Lily, Orestes, Serpent, Peterel, and Griffin, at Portsmouth. The Harlequin, Nimrod, and Fly, at Devonport. The Columbine, at Sheerness. The Enterprise, at Chatham. The Columbia, at Halifax.

sailing store ships, hospital ships, yachts, and tenders.— the non-combatant portion of the sailing fleet.

	In Comm. for Active Ser.	In Com. for Harbour Ser.	In Ordinary.	Total
Sailing Store Ships.	1	8	6	15
Sailing Hospital Ships.	1	4	0	5
Ships Sailing Yachts.	0	6	0	8
Sailing Tenders.	9	8	2	19
Total.	11	26	8	45

Sailing Store and Depot Ships.—
• Æolus, 2 guns, 1077 tons. Built at Deptford, as a 42-gun frigate, 1825. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Served 3 years in commission. War services, Baltic. Station, Portsmouth.
• Africa. Purchased 1858. Station, Gibraltar.
• Atholl, 4 guns, 503 tons. Built of larch, at Woolwich, as a 28-gun frigate, 1820. Plan, Surveyor of the Navy. Served many years in commission. Complement, 35 men. Lieutenant and Commander, George S. Boys. Commissioned November, 1854. Station, Greenock.
• Crocodile, 8 guns, 500 tons. Built at Chatham, as a 28-gun frigate, 1825, Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served many years in commission. Complement, 35 men. Commander, William Greet. Commissioned January, 1858. Station, off the Tower of London.
• Hercules, 2 guns, 1750 tons. Built at Chatham, as a 74-gun ship, 1815. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served 18 years in commission. Station, Hong Kong.
• Madagascar, 4 guns, 1167 tons. Built of teak, at Bombay, as a 44-gun frigate. Plan, after French frigate President. Served many years in commission. Complement, 48 men. Commander, Edmund M. Leycester. Commissioned September, 1853. Station, Rio de Janeiro.
• Naiad, 4 guns, 1020 tons. Built in a Merchant’s Yard, as a 42-gun frigate, 1797. Plan, Rule. Served many years in commission. War services, Trafalgar, &c., &c. Complement, 35 men. Master and Commander, William W. Dillon. Station, Callao.
• Nereus, 4 guns, 1094 tons. Built at Pembroke, as a 42-gun frigate, 1821. Plan, after French frigate Leda. Served many years in commission. Complement, 35 men. Master and Commander, J.C. Barlow. Station, Valparaiso.
• North Star, 2 guns, 501 tons. Built at Woolwich, as a 28-gun frigate, 1824. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served 15 years in commission. War services, China. Station, Chatham.
• Princess Charlotte, 12 guns, 2443 tons. Built at Plymouth, as a 104-gun Ship, 1825. Plan, after Victory. Served 5 years in commission. War services, Syria. Complement, 48 men. Master and Commander, Henry G. Thomsett. Commissioned, June, 1857. Station, Hong Kong.
• Resolute, 2 guns, 430 tons. Purchased 1850. Formerly called the Baboo. Employed in two expeditions to the Arctic regions. Abandoned by her crew, she was recovered by some Americans, and presented by the United States Government to Her Majesty Queen Victoria in 1856. Station, Chatham.
• Talbot, 2 guns, 500 tons. Built at Pembroke as a 28-gun frigate, 1824. Plan, Surveyors of the Navy. Served 15 years in commission. War services, Navarino and Syria. Station, Sheerness.
• Tortoise, 12 guns, 962 tons. Purchased 1806. Formerly called the Sir Edward Hughes. Served many years in commission. Complement 65 men. Captain William Fanshawe Burnett, C.B. Commissioned January, 1858. Station, Ascension.
• Tyne, 4 guns, 600 tons. Built at Woolwich as a 28-gun frigate, 1826. Plan, Sir B. Seppings. Served 16 years in commission. Station, Chatham.
• Volage, 2 guns, 516 tons. Built at Portsmouth, as a 28 gun frigate, 1825. Plan, School of Naval Architecture. Served 13 years in commission. War services, Baltic. Station, Chatham.

Sailing Hospital Ships.—
• Alligator, 2 guns, 500 tons. Purchased 1821. Served many years in commission as a 28-gun frigate. War services, Burmah and China. Station, Hong Kong.
• Belleisle, 6 guns, 1709 tons. Built at Pembroke as a 74 gun ship, 1819. Plan, Rule, after Repulse. Served many years in commission. War services, China and Baltic. Complement 150 men. Commander, Henry M. Bingham, acting. Commissioned April, 1857. Station, China.
• Inconstant, 2 guns, 1422 tons, 160 feet in length, and 44½ feet beam. Built at Portsmouth as a 36-gun frigate, 1836. Plan, Captain Hayes. Served 12 years in commission. Station, Emigration Hospital ship, at Cork.
• Melville, 6 guns, 1768 tons. Built of teak at Bombay, as a 74-gun ship, 1817. Plan, after Christian VII. Served 16 years in commission. War services, China. Station, Hong Kong.
• Minden, 2 guns, 1720 tons. Built at Deptford as a 74 gun ship, 1810. Plan, after Culloden. Served many years in commission. War services, Capture of Java and Algiers. Station, Hong Kong.

Remarks.— The Princess Charlotte, old three-decker, and Belleisle, old two-decker, have been ordered home from China. The Crocodile, Alligator, North Star, Talbot, Tyne, and Volage, were formerly known as the "donkey frigates." The Resistance and Rattlesnake are still retained on the Navy List, although they have been broken up some time. The Belleisle is the fastest sailing ship of the old 74 gun ships, but it is reported that she is very rotten. The Inconstant was a fast sailing frigate, and the opponent of Sir W. Symond’s "Pique" frigate.

Sailing Yachts.— These yachts are for the use of the Port-Admirals, or Superintendents of the Dockyards, &c.
• Chatham. Built 1765. Station, tender to Wellesley, Chatham.
• Fanny, 75 tons. Station, tender to Victory, at Portsmouth.
• Plymouth. Built 1814. Station, tender to Royal Adelaide, at Devonport.
• Portsmouth. Built 1806. Station, tender to Illustrious, at Portsmouth.
• Royal George, 330 tons. Built at Deptford, 1817. Plan, Peake. Station, tender to Victoria and Albert, Portsmouth.
• Sylph, 114 tons. Built 1821. Station, tender to Impregnable, Devonport.

Sailing Tenders.—
• Adelaide, schooner. Station, Sierra Leone.
• Ceres, cutter. Station, tender to Dasher, Channel Islands.
• Cerus, cutter, 60 tons. Station, Portsmouth.
• Cuba, schooner. Station, tender to Imaum, Jamaica.
• Gossamer, cutter, 70 tons. Built 1836. Station, Sheerness.
• Gipsy, cutter. Built 1836. Station, tender to Nile, at Queenstown.
• Gulnare, cutter. Station, Coast of Ireland.
• Hart, cutter. Station, Sheerness.
• Hope, cutter. Station, Sheerness.
• Indian, cutter. Station, Surveying Service.
• Kingston, schooner. Station, tender to Imaum, Jamaica.
• Mercury, cutter, 105 tons. Built at Chatham, 1837. Plan, Symonds. Station, tender to Dasher, Channel Islands.
• Netley, 8 guns, 122 tons. Cutter. Built at Devonport, 1823. Plan, Seppings. Station, tender to Indus, North America.
• Rose, Surveying vessel.
• Snipe, 2 guns, 122 tons. Built at Pembroke, 1828. Station, Devonport.
• Sparrow, 2 guns, 160 tons. Ketch. Built at Pembroke, 1828. Plan, Seppings. Station, Surveying Service, Devonport.
• Sylvia, 6 guns, 70 tons, cutter. Built 1827. Plan, Symonds. Station, Devonport.
• Thames, cutter, 65 tons. Built 1805. Station, Sheerness.
• Woodlark, 2 guns, cutter, 83 tons. Built at Deptford, 1821. Plan, Peake. Lieutenant and Commander, T. W. L. Thomas. Station, Surveying Service, Orkney Islands.

Remarks.— The sailing yachts are all very antique, and only fit for harbour service.

The Cuba and Kingston schooners were formerly slave vessels, which have been purchased by the Admiralty from their captors. Small steam gun-boats, as the Jasper and Jaseur, are much more serviceable craft than the above small schooners. In purchasing the Kingston, Sir John Packington has added another useless sailing vessel to the Navy. The Gipsy, Mercury, and Sylvia, are all built after the model of the "Nancy Dawson," Sir W. Symonds' famous little yacht.

Concluding Remarks.— All the sailing vessels of the Royal Navy have now been enumerated; and as the details of the steam ships of war have been previously given, it only remains for us to consider the combined strength of the Navy. There has, however, been so much alteration in the condition of many ships since last October, when the first of these papers appeared, and so much new light has been thrown upon the present state of our Navy in the late debates in Parliament, and in the Admiralty returns, that it is thought best to defer the summary for the present.

In their anxiety to clear themselves and attack each other, Sir Charles Wood and Sir John Packington managed to make matters so confused, that even naval men have been quite unable to find out what were the precise opinions of each regarding our naval strength. As not even these two magnates can agree as to the exact number, of screw line of battle ships we now possess, it is not to be expected that a non-official can make an exactly correct statement.

As there is some talk of a naval review at Spithead this summer, we shall doubtless have great curiosity excited as to the merits of each ship belonging to the steam fleet, and it is hoped that the Admiralty will boldly furnish these particulars in their next edition of the Navy List.

At the present time the Navy List is perfectly unintelligible to a casual reader; and it is only a naval man who has studied the subject for some years that can form any opinion as to the state and capabilities of each ship.

In the remarks made upon the different classes of ships, we have given our own opinion as to the sea-going qualities of each vessel; but our knowledge is, of course, very limited and imperfect. There can be no doubt, however, that foreign governments, having numerous agents at our seaports, are well-informed upon these matters, and that it is only the English public who are in fact unacquainted with them.

The Admiralty would do well to remove all the Harbour and Depot ships from the Effective List of the Navy, give the particulars of the exact number of guns each vessel carries, weight of broadside, tonnage, length and beam of ship, horse-power, both nominal and indicated, average speed, complement of men and boys, whether commissioned, belonging to the first or second class steam reserve, repairing, converting, building, or ordered to be built. By knowing these particulars, we should always be acquainted with the exact strength of our Navy, and first Lords of the Admiralty would not need to speak mysteriously in order to hide their ignorance, or cover their faults. A large quantity of details belonging to our screw fleet have lately been published in a weekly journal, by the sanction of the Admiralty, but the information is so collected that the public can scarcely comprehend them. It would be much better for the Admiralty to publish in the official Navy List all important facts, so that it might be easy to understand them without having to wade through a mass of engineering detail.

In the report of the Committee appointed by the Treasury to inquire into the Navy Estimates, there is an Appendix giving a list of the Sailing Ships which may be considered as effective, on the authority of Sir B. Walker. The effective Sailing Ships are stated to comprise— 13 ships-of-the-line, 13 first-class frigates, 14 second-class frigates, and 23 sloops and brigs. Total, 63.