HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.
41
battle were actually ready to put to sea, exclusive of many others which were inso great a state of forwardness, as to promise a speedy and very powerful rein-forcement.
The main, or Channel fleet, which was put under the orders of Sir GeorgeRooke, consisted of forty-eight ships of two decks ; thirty-two of which mountedfixty guns and upwards. The report of these measures appeared to have a tempo-rary effect in deferring the mischievous storm ; but the death of William*, whichtook place soon afterwards, having, as it was supposed, materially altered thestate of parties in England, and rendered the cause of the Pretender infinitelyless desperate, on account of the number of opponents, whose weight it was ima-gined the demise of the late king had taken off; Louis thought himself so strong,that it was no longer necessary to temporise, or act with reserve. In less than twomonths after the accession of Queen Ann, war was formally declared, and everypreparation continued to be unremittingly made for the purpose of carrying on
* At the Death of King William the Royal Navy consisted of
Rates.
Number.
Guns.
Men.
l
-
7
carrying
702
and
5,228
2
—
14
-
1,260
-
8,834
3
-
47
-
3,451
21,478
4
-
62
-
3,226
16,104
5
-
36
-
1,170
-
4,947
6
—
15
-
360
-
1,650
Fire-ships
-
11
. -
- —
- 495
Bomb Vessels
-
13
-
450
Yachts —
-
1 5
-
-
- 336
Advice Boats
-
3
-
115
Brigantines
-
5
-
—
- 175
Sloops —
-
10
-
335
Pink
-
1
► In all about
- 300 -
-
-
20
Ketch —
-
1
-
50
Store Ships
-
3
-
-
123
Hulks -
-
12
-
225
Hoys -
-
16
-
-
75
Smacks
-
O
—
12
Hired Store Ships
-
3
-
-
132
Hospital Ships
-
-
335
2S3
10,469
61,119
the