HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.
221
because it could prove at best but a reiteration of facts that cannot be forgotten ;and secondly, since in the narrowed relation that must, through necessity, begiven, it would rather resemble a mere index, than an actual history. Mar.-kind, as it were, by custom, and certainly a ridiculous one, require a narrativeto be infinitely more circumstantial as it approaches the ken of their own re-collection, than they do that of the events which took place at a more distantperiod, when information must, consistent with the true principles of reason,be infinitely more valuable.
France had, during the preceding peace, paid infinite attention not only tothe augmentation, but the improvement of her marine. The most ingeniousmathematicians were consulted, and experiments repeatedly made in ascertain-ment or decision of all points which were considered in the smallest degree doubt-ful. The most wonderful increase of tonnage and dimensions had taken place,particularly in frigates of the first class or size, as was evident in the instance
L’Alexandre
1/Ardent (taken by the French, re-taken by the English)
L’ArtesienLe BizarreI.e BrillantLc BroglioLe CatonLe Content
Le Comte d’Artois (private ship of warcaptured by the Eicnlaisant)
L’Eveille
Le Dauphin (arme at jlute , taken bythe Argo, of 44 guns)
Le FantasqueLe HardiLe HazardL’Indien
Le Jason (taken in Mona Passage)
Le Lion
Le Prothee (taken)
Le Reflechi
64
64
64
64
61
61
61
61
64
64
64
64
64
64
64
64
64
64
64
Le Sage - 64
Le St. Michel - -64
Le Severe - 64
Le Solitaire (taken by the English) 64Le Sphinx - - 64
Le Triton - 64
Le Vaillant - - 64
Le Vengeur - - 64
Fourth rates.
L’Amphion - - so
Le Bourdelois - 50
Les Deux Amis - - 50
L’Experiment - - 50
Le Fier - - 50
Le Fier Rodrique (private ship of war) 59Le Flamand - - 50
Le Petit Hannibal - - 50
Le Hippopotame - - 50
L’Oriflamme • - 50
Le Sagittaire - - 5o
Serapis (taken from the English) 44
Romulus (taken from the English). 44
Making in the whole, six first rates ; two second rates; eighty-six third rates; and eleven fourthrates: a navy amounting to one hundred and five ships of the line, witli two of fort)-Four guns, cap-tured from Great Britain.
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