it for a tax, under the name of fhip-money, occafioned difcuffions, in the refult of which it was declared illegal. The progrefs of fcience having occafioned great improvements in maritime affairs, and the discovery of America having concurred with other causes in animating adventure and enterprize, the fovereigns of Europe became more anxious than they had been to poffefs the advantages of a regular marine establishment, and our king, Henry VIII. having entered into a league of mutual defence with the king of Spain, did, in 1512, by indenture with his admiral, Sir Edward Howard, covenant for the maintenance of eighteen ships, the largest of which, the Regent, was of one thousand tons burhen, and the fmallest only of feventy. They were manned with 1750 foldiers and 1252 mariners, making, together with their eighteen captains, 3000 men, who were all victualled at the king's expence, but by the indenture, the admiral was, in confideration of a certain monthly ftipend, to pay and clothe them, and the king was to receive half the value of prizes captured by fea or land, and all prisoners, being chieftains. This fleet was to guard the seas from the channel to the straights of Gibraltar, the king of Spain undertaking to protect the Mediterranean. In this reign the navy was confolidated, and means taken, by the establishment of offices, to fecure its permanence; a fervice fufficient, notwithstanding his many enormous faults, to procure for Henry VIII. a title to the gratitude of his country. In his time, the building of fhips became more fcientific, the ftores were accumulated in a regular and plentiful manner, the veffels were rated by the number of guns as well as quantity of tonnage, and, on the lofs of his great fhip, the Regent, he caufed another of dimenfions before unequalled in England to be built, which he called Henry Grace de Dieu. Edward VI. at the beginning of his reign found provided by his father's care upward of fixty fhips, part of which he might ftrictly term his own, the refidue being permanently hired from the proprietors, the ports and harbours of the realm improved, the mouth of the Thames fortified by batteries at Gravefend and Tilbury, magazines, ftore-houses, and docks fyftematically provided, and offices for maritime affairs duly conftituted and ably filled. The illuftrious Elizabeth, provident in all things for the good and glory of her country, made great exertions to perfect the eftablishments commenced by her father for the advancement of the navy; filling her magazines with ammunition, military and naval ftores, introducing into England the manufacture of gunpowder, and caufing brafs and iron ordnance to be caft. She alfo built a confiderable number of fhips for war, forming the moft refpectable fleet England had ever feen; erected Upnor 03 caftle caftle on the river Medway; increased the pay of her naval officers and feamen; and gained from foreigners the title of reftorer of naval glory, and queen of the northern feas. In imitation of the queen, the opulent fubjects alfo built fhips of force; the national navy, including the royal and private ships, was able to carry twenty thousand fighting men; and England no longer depended on Hamburgh, Lubeck, Dantzick, Genoa. and Venice, for a fleet in time of war. In 1573, Elizabeth poffeffed a fleet of fifty-nine flips, of forty guns and upwards, one of which carried one hundred guns, and eighty-feven ships of inferior force; of thefe only thirteen belonged to her, the refidue being hired, out in 1588, fhe had at fea 156 ships of fuperior description, of which forty were her own. This increase, however, muft have arifen after the defeat of the armada, proudly termed invincible, fince, at that period, the British fleet confifted of only 76 fhips paid by the queen, and 38 by the city of London; befides 83 coasters, &c. fent by feveral other fea ports; in all 197 veffels great and fmall, befides thofe of Holland and Zealand, carrying in burthen 29,744 tons, and having 15,785 men. The force intended for invafion was composed of 132 fhips of fuperior defcription, the burthen being 59,120 tons, and the number of men on board 30,621, with 2630 cannon; befides which there were numerous galleons, galeaffes, hulks, and other veffels. Of the fate of this armament it is not neceffary here to treat, further than by obferving that its fignal defeat and destruction, by which Spain loft eighty one fhips and thirteen thousand five hundred failors and foldiers, befides a vaft treafure, confirmed the policy of maintaining a powerful royal marine force, rendered all institutions for its eftablishment popular, and infeparably connected achievements at fea with the fafety and glory of the nation. France first began under Henry IV. to aim at the creation of a navy. The affaffination of that great monarch. fufpended the project, but it was foon revived by cardinal Richelieu, who infcribed on the fterns of the new fhips, in allufion to the fleur de lis, the enfign of France, the elegant and appropriate motto "Florent quoque lilia ponto." From this eftablishment, which increafed as the power of Spain declined, most of the labours of the British navy have arifen, but those labours are accompanied with fo much glory, and have fo abfolutely confirmed the afcendancy of Great Britain both in arms and commerce at fea, that they form the brightest portions in her historical annals. It is not intended to trace with regular details the progrefs of the navy; for general information the following tables will fuffice, as they exhibit its ftate at the end of every reign, with the particulars of its eftablishment at the prefent period. A. D. 1547 In the first year of his prefent majesty's reign, when a war was conducted with the greatest glory and profperity, the royal navy was thus compofed. 2 Ships of the first rate, carrying 96 to 110 guns. 2d rate In 1806, which was likewife a period of war, maintained against an enemy formidable by means of unrefifted power on the continent, the greater part of which was either fubdued by, or in alliance with him, the British fleet confifted of the following thips. The importance of the above force will be more justly eftimated by comparing it with that of the other nations of Europe, of which at the end of 1805, the following was confidered a correct abstract. The immenfe preponderance of the naval force of Britain over that of her probable enemies, becomes more striking when we take into confideration the skill, courage, and enterprize of the feamen and officers, the confidence refulting from continual victory, and the emulation infpired by the glory of the greatest names which the annals of British history can produce, men in speaking of whom, terms of praise are exhausted without doing juftice to their merit, and on whom honours and emoluments are showered while living, and honorary memorials accumulated when dead, without fatisfying the public that fufficient homage has been paid to their valour, or fufficient tributes rendered to their merit. ESTABLISHMENT IN TIME OF PEACE. This formidable force is not however always maintained. In time of peace, the ships in ordinary at each port are formed into divifions, to each of which is appointed a master to fuperintend, from the senior part of the lift. Each fhip has a boatíwain, a gunner, a carpenter, and a cook, with their fervants to remain on board; alfo a purfer, who, under an order in council dated September, 1803, has permiffion to refide at a prefcribed diftance from the port, in order to be ready when called on: for which purpose he is to fend quarterly, to the clerk of the cheque, at the port at which the fhip is in ordinary, or building, a certificate from the minifter of the parish that he is alive and a refident: this alfo enables his agent to receive his pay; but he is not obliged, as heretofore, to place or continue a deputy or fervant. The following number of feamen is allowed for each class of ships, who have been rated able, for fix calendar months: one hundred guns and upwards, 36 men; ninety-eight or ninety, 32; eighty, 30; feventy-four or seventy, 26; fixty-four, 20; fifty-four, 16; fifty, 14; fortyfour, 12; thirty-eight or twenty-eight, 10; twenty-four or twenty, 8; floops, 6; cutters, brigs, &c. in proportion to their fize. RATE OF SHIPS. For the general understanding of this fubject, the following particulars fhould be noticed. There are several denominations of fhips or veffels of war. Ift. The largest down to fixty-fours, inclufive, are thips of the line of battle. 2d. Fifties and fifty fours, which form a class of themselves, are never placed in line of battle but in cafes of great emergency. 3d. Forties to twenties inclufive, which are, without exception, frigates. The foregoing claffes are commanded by poft captains, and they mount long guns or carronades on their quarter decks and forecastles. All are pierced for and mount more pieces of cannon than by the rules of the navy they are registered for on the books. If any are wanted for fervices that do not require complete equipment as men of war, and do not take on board the full number of guns and men, they are, in that cafe, commanded by officers of inferior rank to poft captains. Yachts rank with third rates, except the king's particular yacht, which ranks as a fecond rate. Fire hips and hospital ships rank with 5th rates. 4th. Eighteen to fixteen guns inclufive are floops of war. Fire fhips and bombs, being commanded by commanders, are also reckoned under this denomination. Merchant veffels purchased by government and fitted as floops, are registered as the latter. 5th. Gun-brigs, and veffels fitted as gun-veffels, ftand next in rank above schooners; next cutters; and lastly, tenders, with other fmall craft. The establishment of rates and men is as follows: Ift rate, 100 guns and upward, 875 men to 850 |