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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

any strong and philanthropic disposition in the parties which had so long encou-raged them,towards putting a sudden andforcible period to their existence. At theconclusion of the war,* the navy of Britain amounted to 649 sail, including vesselsand ships of all descriptions, from first rates down to cutters and advice boats.Its losses had, comparatively speaking, been trivial ; its successes, consideringthe enormous pressure which surrounded and inveloped it, extensive ; so thatthe cursory recital made by historians in future ages of what passed duringthe period just alluded to, (should they not enter into a more ample detailof facts, and produce some stronger collateral evidence of their own attention totruth, than is generally the case with respect to the history of times far remote,)will most probably be considered as at least exaggerated, if not fabulous.

The return of peace produced the same reiteration of energetic measurestowards augmentation in respect to the marine of France, that had beenapparent during the two preceeding periods bearing the same character. Nor didshe rest there, for, in conformity with the same conduct which had been beforedisplayed, every effort was made, as well in the production of improvement

*The losses sustained by Great Britain during the whole of the preceeding contest, reckoning fromthe commencement of the dispute with the American colonies, amounted to nearly 180 sail, reckoningthe whole of the vessels captured,destroyed or lost by accident. Among these there were thirteen ships ofthe line and tliTee of 50 guns, four of the smallest rate of two-decked ships, mounting 44 guns each,thirty-two frigates, with twenty seven post ships of inferior rate, and one hundred sloops of war orvessels of less considerable consequence. Out of this mighty navy, however, for such it might betruly considered in comparison with that of any country in Europe ; France and Spain excepted,no ship of the line actually fell into the possession of the enemy, except the Ardent, which wasafterwards recaptured, the remainder were either victims to the natural disasters attendant on an ex-tensive scene of warfare, or were destroyed by the hands of the British themselves, under variouscircumstances. The remainder of the prizes remaining to the enemy were two ships of 50 guns,as many of 44, sixteen frigates or vessels mounting from 20 guns upwards, four of which was after-wards recaptured, with forty nine sloops and small vessels of all descriptions, from among whichfifteen of the most consequential reverted back to their original possessors. The losses of the foesconfederated against Great Britain, amounted in actual captures only, to nearly one hundred and fiftyvessels, among which were nineteen sail of the line, thirteen of which were actually in commission atthe time the preliminary articles of peace were signed, together with nearly fifty frigates, many ofthem considered as the finest vessels in their class belonging to France and other countries. In thecourse of the preceeding contest a new species of vessel, or rather some vessels fitted at an immenseexpence, after a new and extraordinary manner, made their appearance being intended to cooperate asfloating batteries in a general attack on the fortress of Gibraltar. Their fate proved that either theexpectations of the projector had been too sanguine, or that his plan had not been executed fully ac-cording to his wishes, for the whole of them, amounting to nine iri number, fell victims to thered-hot shot of the British within the space of a few hours.