238

HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

mode of continuing the warfare, if the constant imprisonment of the fleet of Spainwithin the harbour of Cadiz by a force very frequently inferior, stationed off theentrance of the port, for the purpose of blocking it up, could be said to deservethat term. This state of inactive quietude continued totally uninterrupted forthe space of more than two years ; when France, whose navy had been com-pelled for a still longer period to submit to nearly the same species of imprison-ment, considered it necessary not merely in respect to her honour, but her safety,,to make some attempt, however hazardous it might be, towards relieving thedistresses of her faithful allies.

Accordingly, the French fleet consisting of twenty-five ships of the line, deriv-ing courage from the happy absence of its blockaders, put to sea, and proceededto Cadiz ; where having arrived almost miraculously, without encounter, iteffected a junction with its imprisoned friends, whom to the amount ofeighteen sail of the line, five frigates, and four smaller vessels, it escortedin a state little differing from that of prisoners of war, back to the harbour ofBrest. Notwithstanding this accumulation of strength, the allied fleets shewedno disposition whatever to tempt the, sometimes capricious, fortune of war, butwere content with furnishing a continuance of the same inglorious employmentto the ships of their adversary, which had before been so long forced on themas the most irksome occupation they could have been engaged in, both in respectto the port of Cadiz, and that of Brest. Inactive as misfortune appears tohave induced, or perhaps compelled, that the Spanish fleet should remain, thebuilders of that country had not been wanting in their endeavours to render itexcellent in respect to the principles of the vessels which composed it, while atthe same time the government had been no less sanguine in providing forthe augmentation of it. Among the ships of the line which made theirappearance at sea during the continuance of hostilities; there were no lessthan ten first rates, mounting from x 12 to 130 guns each. The most inferior ofthese in respect to dimensions, though not equalling the Commerce de Marseillesof France, considerably exceeded thofe ofBritain in the same class. TheSt. Josephcaptured in the action off St. Vincent’s, measured 2457 tons, being more than onehundred exceeding the Ville de i'aris, which was the largest British built ship inthe royal navy. The whole of their fleet found to have been actually employedin Europe during the continuance of the war,, by adding together the names of thedifferent ships which progressively appeared at sea, amounted to about fifty shipsof the line, independent of those which were unfit for service without repair, or4 remained