HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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when brought in comparison with that of their own people. The builders inall the royal dockyards and arsenals, the Havanna excepted, were Britons; andthe circumstance is a corroborative proof, that though the science of improvedformation was in the most eminent degree, perhaps, possessed by the French,whose example the Spaniards followed, it was, in some measure, understood bythe British shipwrights; while, on the other hand, the latter had more than anequally superior advantage in the mechanical part. Similar instances of greaterexcellence m particular instances are to be found in the history of many othercountries, as will be hereafter seen ; even the vessels of Holland itself, whichappear the most uncouth to the civilized European, have many peculiar advan-tages which render them better adapted to the use of their employers than thoseof a form esteemed less ridiculous undoubtedly would be.

To give a complete illustration of the different lyftems, and for the purpose ofdoing it fairly, it will be necessary to begin with a comparative view of the di-mensions given, at the conclusion of the preceding war, to some of the two-decked ships belonging to the three nations. To extend the comparison fartherwould be improper, till a future occasion shall render it expedient, inasmuch asneither the French nor Spaniards possessed, as before pointed out, a single ship ofthree decks till after the peace, which took place in 1763, nor did the Britishboast any one carrying 84 guns, on two decks, till the capture of the Foudroyant,in 1758, enabled them to imitate the beauties and advantages which w'ere foundto arise on the contemplation of them, as well as the experience. To commencethe regular investigation, it will not be improper to select the Shrewsbury, of74 guns, built in the river Thames, and launched 1750 , which ship was, in ex-treme length, one hundred sixtv-six feet and one inch ; in breadth, forty-sevenfeet and one inch; and, according to the British calculation, of fifteen hundredand ninety-four tons burthen. The proportions just given did not experienceany material augmentation, except in the instances of the Triumph and Valiant,as already stated, till after the close of the dispute with France, Spain, andthe American colonies ; and even then a new' system began to be verysparingly pursued ; the dimensions in general made choice of being, even solate as the year 1786, one hundred sixty-eight feet and three inches extremelength, forty-seven feet and four inches in breadth, and the computed burthensixteen hundred and forty-four tons.

In the opposite scale is found the Magnanime of 74 guns, captured from theFrench three years before the Shrewsbury was completed. It measured in lengthone hundred seventy-three feet and seven inches ; in breadth forty-nine feetVol. III. A a seven