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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

since that dated the 18th of November, 1719, which has been for several years dis-continued. They observe that in the year 1732 there was an attempt towards makinga new establishment; and, in order thereunto, the master shipwrights of all hismajesty’s yards, were directed to consider and propose their several opinions in re-lation to the building ships, and to the dimensions for a ship of each class; whichthey accordingly did, but no determination was made thereupon : from w hence ithas proceeded, that the ships of the royal navy are not new-built according to anycertain or uniform standard or establishment; but every particular ship has beenbuilt, or re-built, according to different proposed dimensions. Those of the sameclass or denomination have been built of unequal sizes and proportions: so that thefurniture and stores for one ship have not fitted another of the same rank ; whichhas been the cause of infinite inconveniences to the service, as well as of a greatincrease in the expence of the navy. It has been likewise observed, thatthe scantling of his majesty’s ships, m general, are not so large and strong as theyshould be, and it is also a general complaint, that the ships are crank, andheel so much in blowing weather, that they cannot open their lee-ports; atthe same time that the ships of some other nations go upright, with all their bat-teries open, and ready for action. Their lordships esteem it, therefore, a matter ofthe highest importance, that the great inconvenience arising from the present looseand irregular manner of building his majesty’s ships, and the complaints made oftheir bad qualities, should be rectified and amended; that the dimensions of the shipsin the navy should be brought to a certain size and standard, according to their severalclasses; that in doing this the opinion and advice of the master shipwrights of hismajesty’s several yards, and of such others as their lordships judged qualified, shouldbe taken, in order to come at a general fixed establishment. They conceive the sameshould be such as would not only enable his majesty’s ships to carry the number andnature of guns, according to the present establishment; but that their lower tiershould be six feet above water, with four months provisions on board, and stores forforeign service ; they wish also all other considerations should be comprehended,which, it may be hoped, will give them the proper qualities of good ships of w'ar; inpoint of sailing, fighting the enemy, durableness, and all other respects whatsoever.

“Their lordships accordingly sent directions toSir Jacob Ac worth, surveyor of thenavy ; to the several master shipwrights of his majesty’s yards, and to several othereminent shipbuilders, to take the present establishment of the ships of the navyinto their separate consideration ; so that they might propose and lay before thisboard such a solid and w’ell-digcsted system and establishment for building a ship• of