Italian oak and African mahogany. The lighter woods used for spars come chiefly from the Baltic, from Quebec, and even from the western shores of America. The Fontenoy, lately launched at Toulon, is remarkable for having her fore-mast made out of a single tree, no doubt a specimen of the Wellingtonea gigantea. Another singular circumstance has been noted in connexion with this subject. It has been found that oak the produce of different countries cannot be employed in the same ship if allowed to come in contact, as, from some chemical action which takes place, the precise nature of which has not yet been ascertained, decay almost invariably takes place at either side of the junction. There is something ominous in this, and we wonder that a pine-tree, with such a name as Wellingtonea gigantea, could condescend to stand up as a mast in a French ship!

Considerations of this kind give rise, however, to serious thoughts as to how far ships of war might not be superseded (although it would be impossible to forego our superiority at the present moment) in future times by the adoption of defensive forts and fortifications. They are less expensive at the onset, less burdensome to entertain, and infinitely more durable, as they would also be more serviceable for the objects proposed. No time ought to be lost in fortifying our arsenals, ports, and harbours, at the same time that we strengthen our navy and army; the fortifications would remain when the ships are worn out and useless.

We have seen that of the long array of sailing line-of-battle ships, frigates, and corvettes that now figure in the Navy List, only a very limited number can be considered as seaworthy. They have an imposing appearance, it is true, as they repose in the stillness of their shadows at Sheerness, Chatham, or at Devonport; but "never more will they, at the call of patriotism or of necessity, ruffle their swelling plumage, nor, putting forth their beauty and their bravery, collect their scattered elements of strength, nor awaken again their dormant thunder." Those of them to which an auxiliary screw can be satisfactorily applied may possibly still be used. Unfortunately, however, this process of conversion, though always costly, is far from being invariably successful. Even of the 8 converted 80-gun ships-viz. the Mars and Majestic, built in 1853; the Meanee, built at Bombay in 1849; the Centurion, in 1844; the Brunswick and Goliath, in 1849; the Cressy, in 1853; and the Colossus, in 1848-hardly one can be deemed fit to be sent any distance from these coasts. They are all extremely crank, have small the stowage of coal and stores, and bad accommodation for their crews. They can, consequently, only be regarded as somewhat more useful than the nine memorable block-ships concerning which so much discussion has arisen. They have been expensive ships in their time, their conversion having cost upwards of half a million, and yet there is little probability that they will ever be commissioned again unless in case of some immediate emergency.

Of our other sailing ships of the line, there are several, such as the Royal George, built in 1827, and the Windsor Castle, as lately as last year, the working of which is by no means satisfactory. In addition to other defects, the tremendous weight of their spars and upper decks would seriously militate against their efficiency in war. The James Watt and the St. Jean d'Acre, again, have not sufficient steam power in proportion to their size; on the other hand, however, the Renown and

Orion are not likely, for the present at least, to be surpassed. The latter vessel has, under steam, attained a speed of nearly thirteen knots per hour, and that, too, without any extraordinary consumption of coal; the Renown, slightly larger, may be justly considered one of the finest vessels of her class in existence. That being the case, it will be satisfactory to the public to know that the Hood, Atlas, Defiance, Revenge, and Edgar have each nearly the same lines and dimensions as the Renown. The Victor Emmanuel (formerly the Repulse) and the Conqueror, though fast ships, cannot, within a knot per hour, compete in speed with the Renown.

We may well strike off from the list of British frigates and corvettes the America, Eagle, Gloucester, Vindictive, Warspite, Java, Lancaster, Portland, Worcester, President, and Winchester, and those in a still more hopeless state, as the Minerva, Mercury, Leonidas, Laurel, Latona, Hamadryad, Fisguard, Circe, Cerberus, Štag, Mæander, Leda, Isis, and Africaine. Eleven of the above vessels have never been in commission; this also may be said of the Octavia, Sutlej, Severn, and Phoebe (now converting), and of the Active, Flora, Niobe, and Creole.

If, then, we exclude all but really seviceable vessels, instead of 35 line-of-battle ships, 70 frigates, and 43 corvettes and sloops, we should only have in reality 13 ships of the line, 12 frigates, and 18 corvettes, upon which to rely in case of hostilities.

The following is the official list of sailing vessels, furnished by Sir Baldwin Walker on the 1st of January, 1859:

As a reverse to the medal, it is rumoured by the gloomy and the malcontents, that if from the 35 line-of-battle ships we deduct those converting, or ordered to be converted, there will not remain more than one (the St. Vincent) that can be deemed seaworthy. Of the rest, some, it is said, may be used for a few years as coal-hulks or receiving ships, but the remainder, such as the Illustrious, Imaum, Egmont, Implacable, Achille, Foudroyant, Carnatic, &c., can only be regarded as fit for firewood. The last mentioned, like the Nelson, Bombay, Clarence, and Hindustan, has never been commissioned.

Again, the list of French ships, as given above, was compiled from the latest information received at the Admiralty. That board, however, had not the advantage of a personal reconnoissance and study, like that effected by Mr. Hans Busk, in the French naval ports and dockyards. According to that gentleman, 14 line-of-battle ships (sailing) is the number afloat, as given in our previous summary. Then, again, the French have 15 sailing corvettes, mounting from 12 to 16 guns; 39, instead of 26, brigs, carrying 4 to 12 guns; and 36, instead of 32,

schooners and cutters. They have 5 sailing mortar-vessels-all new vessels, having been launched since March, 1855.

With respect to our first-class screw-frigates, the Doris and Diadem take precedence for speed and armament. Each, indeed, carries a tremendous armament, consisting of two 68-pounder pivot-guns, and ten 68-pounders on their upper decks, while upon their main decks they have each twenty ten-inch guns. The aggregate weight of the guns in either ship is no less than 123 tons. The Orlando and Mersey rank next, but they have as yet been subjected to no definitive trial. Of the imposing list of 50, 42 and 40-gun sailing frigates, not more than 15 are declared to be worth conversion, or likely ever to be commissioned again; the rest are unworthy to figure in the Navy List. Three is the number of frigates officially prescribed to be launched annually in time of peace. This year, however, five new vessels of that description will be added to the fleet; these are the Narcissus, 50 guns, and 400-horse power; the Immortalité, 50 guns, and 600-horse power; the Ariadne, 32 guns, and 800-horse power; and the Galatea, 28 guns, and 600-horse power. In addition, the four sailing vessels of this class (averaging from eight to ten years old), Phaeton, Phoebe, Sutlej, and Severn, are to be forthwith converted, and at the same time to be lengthened forward, aft, and amidships.

The determination of the French government to build a number of iron or steel-cased ships, imperatively obliges us to follow their example. The French vessels so cased follow the lines and dimensions of the Napoleon, one of the best, if not the finest ship in their navy; but they will only carry 30 or 31 guns, and the metal sheathing is from 10 to 11 centimetres (about 4 inches) in thickness. Two similar ships are, it is said, to be commenced forthwith in this country, although it has been shown, by trials recently made, that this iron casing will only repel hollow shot or shells; heavy, solid projectiles of wrought iron, or those faced with steel, having been found, on repeated trials, to perforate the thickest covering which has ever been adopted, and that, too, even at considerable ranges. These vessels will be the most expensive ships ever constructed in this country, and it is thus that the restless ambition of a neighbouring nation and potentate keeps up an unavoidable, yet ruinous, race of expenditure.

In such a race, however, it is quite certain that our means and industry will ensure ultimate triumph. Upon careful computation, it appears that, between 1848 and 1858, we have built 24 ships of the line, 21 frigates, 35 corvettes and sloops, 1 floating battery, 2 gun-vessels, 186 gun-boats, 2 troop sloops, 2 tenders, and 1 yacht. During the same period "the screw" has been applied to the stern ports of 9 line-of-battle ships, 7 block ships, 4 mortar ships, and 1 store ship, while a good many vessels have been bought. It is proposed that we should have, by the autumn of the present year, 15 more screw line-of-battle ships, thus raising the entire number to 56, as well as a considerable augmentation to the list of frigates. A powerful party in the House of Lords and Commons declare that they will not rest satisfied till they have 70 screw line-ofbattle ships afloat, and they are right; if France is determined, without colonies or dependencies to defend, to run a race of naval expenditure with us, and which can therefore only be for hostile purposes, however much we may pine for forts with rifled guns to defend our ports, and

however much we may apprehend "secret surprise" from skilfully adapted means of transport, still we should not only maintain our numerical superiority at sea, but we should make it an utterly ruinous vaunt on the part of France that she holds, or even held, the keys of the Channel! Few events in this country have already excited greater amazement in France than the announcement of the proposed augmentation in our navy, revealing, as it does, the magnitude of our resources and the extent of our capabilities for naval operations.

If we refer back to the list of the French steam navy we shall find that they possess 37 screw-ships of the line; 38 screw and 19 paddle frigates, besides 4 to be covered with five-inch iron plates, and now in process of construction; 20 steam corvettes; and, including gun vessels, floating batteries, screw gun-boats and transports, complete or building, exhibiting a total of 265 vessels, mounting collectively 5500 guns, and provided altogether with engines of 77,820 horse power.

When we contrast this powerful force of ships of the line and frigates with our own reliable ships of those classes, it cannot be said that we are at the present moment as well provided as we ought to be. A Paris journal, after commenting lately on the naval forces of the two countries, observed: "We have 7 ships of the line, 53 frigates, 66 corvettes or sloops, 32 schooners, and 8 brigs more than England; while she has 1 floating battery, 9 mortar vessels, 12 transports, and 130 gun-boats more than we possess."

Greater reliance may, however, be placed in the following comparative view of the relative strength of the two steam navies as far as regards line-of-battle ships and frigates:

This gives a very slight superiority to France, and that only in frigates ; but it does not comprise the 4 iron-plated ships building, each of which is to mount 36 guns, and to be provided with 800 or 900 horse power, and 2 of which are now in an advanced state at Toulon. These frégates blindées, or cuirassées, as the French call them, are to be substituted for line-of-battle ships; their timbers are of the scantling of three-deckers; they will be provided with 36 heavy guns, 24 of them rifled, and 50pounders, calculated to throw an 80-pound percussion shell. Such is the opinion of French naval officers respecting the tremendous power

of these ships, that they fully anticipate the complete abolition, sooner or later, of all line-of-battle ships.

England has, however, on her side, 9 block-ships afloat, each carrying 60 guns, but they are not, as before observed, fit for sea; and 9 of the English ships of the line, carrying collectively 720 guns and engines of 3600 horse power, are only 80-gun converted ships, and certainly inferior to the French ships of the same class. But then England has 15 ships of 100 guns and upwards, with an aggregate of 1694 guns, and engines of 10,800 horse power; while France has only 6 ships of 100 guns and upwards, with 700 guns and 3740 horse power.

Since 1852, France has increased her screw line-of-battle ships from 2 to 37, of which 4 are building and 4 converting, exclusive of 3 more ordered to be converted; this has been effected by the conversion of 23 sailing ships and the building of 14 screw-ships. During the same period England has increased her screw-ships of the line from 17 to 52; 10 of which are now in process of construction, and 6 of conversion. Altogether, 27 sailing ships have been turned into steamers, and 25 new screw liners have been built or are now completing. Since 1852, therefore, the addition to the French navy of screw-ships of the line, including those complete, as well as those upon which work has still to be executed, is 35; while 33 of the same class have been added to the navy of England. France has likewise increased her steam frigates in the last six years from 21 to 57; while England has only increased hers from 22 to 34. This great superiority in steam frigates on the part of France, in the event of war, might be of serious consequence to this country, especially in relation to the interruption of commerce.

On the other hand, the French steam corvettes and sloops, which in 1852 were 31, are now only 20, while those of Great Britain, which in 1852 were 59, are now, including large and small craft, as also 7 vessels since reduced from frigates to sloops, 142; our screw floating batteries are 8 as against 5 French; our screw gun-boats are 162, and those of France 28; and the entire steam navy of Great Britain now amounts to 530 vessels of all denominations, of which 464 may be deemed effective, while that of France numbers 265. Lord C. Paget would add to this 159 steam vessels over 1000 tons each, and 72 between 700 and 1000 tons, making 231 merchant steam vessels, which might be made available for defence; but we put little trust in such resources. True, they might be made to carry Armstrong guns, if such were in readiness, but the shipwrights of the country wanted to convert them would, at a crisis, be to a man engaged in other more imperious demands upon their time.

Besides the 52 English screw ships of the line already specified as built or completing, there are 4 more sailing line-of-battle ships destined to be fitted with screws. These would raise the number of British screwships of the line to 56, and the whole could be completed by the year 1861. By that time, also, at the rate of their present progress, the French will be in possession of 40 screw line-of-battle ships, and certainly of 4, if not 6, of the iron-plated frigates.

A commission, consisting of experienced naval officers, appointed last year by the emperor to revise the organisation of the navy, reported that, by the year 1860, the French government will have a steam fleet which, with a large proportion of large transports, would enable them to move an army of 60,000 men, with all its horses, ammunition, and