David. The eye at once detects the disproportion, and she presents much the same appearance that a footman six feet high would do, dressed in the livery of a four-foot boy. The "Warrior" and the 80-gun ships measure respectively on the water-line 380 and 230 feet, or as about 9 to 6; while their displacement differs in the proportion of nearly 4 to 3-that of the Warrior being 8,625 tons, while that of the ship whose sails she bears is 5,996.

And if we consider that these quantities of water have to be removed each time the ships advance their own length, it is clear that the same sails and same force of wind can only be expected to propel the "Warrior" at a fraction of the speed which they would impart to the 80-gun ship. Great expectations have been formed of the speed of the "Warrior," when free from weeds, on account of the fineness of her form; but it would be an unheard-of success in naval architecture which should place two ships so dissimilar in all other respects upon an equality of speed with the same propelling power. Else why not give the same engines and boilers to both ships? It cannot, therefore, be contemplated that the "Warrior" should be a fast-sailing ship under canvas only, in moderate weather. Advantage ought, then, to be taken of her great size, to make her a fast ship under circumstances which would compel other ships to take care of themselves under low sail.

Some good reason has doubtless caused the amount of her area of sailsurface to be fixed at what it is-namely, somewhat under 34,000 square feet. Sir Baldwin Walker was anxious, if possible, to give the "Warrior" four or five iron masts, as he himself told me when she was first designed; but difficulties arose on account of the position in which the engines and boilers were required to be placed, and the idea was abandoned in favour of the rig here displayed. But I learn from the constructor, Mr. Watts, that no insuperable difficulty stands in the way of erecting an iron mast over the machinery, as regards structure; though it is but fair to add that that gentleman saw reasons of another nature which appeared to him to make it undesirable to do so. The problem, then, as regards the "Warrior," appears to be to distribute the given amount of canvas upon her so as not to interfere with her condition as a powerful steamer, while keeping in view the various requisites for rendering her an efficient ship for cruising under sail alone.

Now, we can hardly consider the "Warrior's" future services as limited to the waters of our own coasts, since the second class of iron-clad ships is constructed expressly for Channel service and coast defence.

I believe, on the contrary, that, if the "Warrior" should realize the anticipations which have been formed of her, we shall find her class of ships employed on service in distant seas, for the protection of our most valuable lines of commerce in other quarters of the globe.

Keeping that prospect in view, I have given much consideration to the form of rig which would appear most suitable to so large and powerful a ship, whose full power of steam is likely to be exerted but on rare occasions; and I now beg leave to offer the plan to your notice, and will proceed shortly to describe it. But I will first state the comparative dimensions of the three classes of ship here represented, beginning with the "Warrior," 380 feet long on the water-line and displacing 8,625

tons. The next is the " Mersey," ,"* 300 feet long on the water-line, and displacing 5,462 tons. Their respective area of sails, with three masts, is about 33,600 and 26,600 square feet. Their displacement stands, therefore, as 43.1 to 27-3, and their area of canvas as 33.6 to 26.6, relatively.

Plate V. represents approximately the "Defence" or "Resistance," whose length on the water-line is 280 feet, and their displacement about 400 tons greater than that of the "Mersey." The sails I have drawn in Plates II. IV. and V. are those which I shall presently describe.

First, let us turn to those which I propose for the "Warrior," as here placed before you.

The area of sail-surface, exclusive of the gaff-sails, exceeds that assigned to her by the Admiralty to the extent of only about 150 square yards, or 1,350 square feet; while the centre of effort is brought into almost the identical position assigned by her constructor. There is an increased preponderance of turning power at the fore end, which agrees to the requirements in that respect stated of almost all the ships composing the Channel Fleet. The desired conditions are, therefore, pretty accurately fulfilled; while every principal spar is smaller, cheaper, and more handy, and each sail is smaller, stronger, and less liable to accident, the cordage being also shorter, lighter, and stronger in proportion.

These, at least, are no inconsiderable advantages; and when I state that the weather forebrace of the "Warrior," as now rigged, will exceed the length of the ship herself in the two parts between the head of the mainmast and the fore yard-arm-will measure, in short, nearly 400 feet, while her maintopmast stay will be 172 feet long if taken to the usual place, and 200 where now secured-it is not easy to imagine the strain required to maintain such ropes efficiently taut, nor difficult to perceive that some change is desirable in that respect. Much other inconvenience and very great additional labour must always result from the great distance which separates the masts, and some peculiar arrangements will have to be made to enable the "Warrior" to hoist her launches in or out. At the same time, the turning power obtained by the extended position of the masts is indispensable in so long a ship, especially as the moderate speed she is likely to attain with the sails of a ship two-thirds her own size will scarcely render her a handy ship in stays. The position of the masts which I propose would, however, admit of easy addition to her spread of canvas if found desirable, as well as of any needful change in the balance of canvas upon her two extremities; while the powerful gaff-sails I have here drawn, and the great spread of fore-and-aft canvas which might be introduced in the form of staysails, would prove most valuable auxiliaries and economizers when employing steam and sails combined.

While endeavouring to retain the centre of effort prescribed by the constructor of the "Warrior," I have, in distributing the allotted amount of canvas over four masts, instead of three, placed the masts as I shall presently describe.

I first studied the requirements of the "Mersey" as found to be the result of her trials under sail. I endeavoured to ask for the least number of changes compatible with the alteration of rig which I proposed; and

* Plates III. and IV.