NAVIES, MODERN. Dating the modern navies of the world from the 16th century, we find the British navy rising from insignificance by the destruction of the Spanish armada in 1588; a blow from which Spain never recovered, and which the Dutch, whose naval force had acquired tremendous strength in their struggle for independence, increased the weight of, by their triumph in 1607. in the bay of Gibraltar. At this time there was no decisive superiority of the fleet of England over that of France; but each was inferior to the Dutch navy. The commonwealth and reign of Charles II. were signalized by the struggle for mastery between the English and Dutch; when victory, after many alterna tions, finally sided with the former. Through the 18th century, the English and French were the principal fleets; but Louis XVI. gave a decided superiority to the navy. of France; and at the period of the American war, the naval power of England was seriously threatened. Spain, Holland, and Russia (now for the first time a naval power) had mean while acquired considerable fleets; and the "armed neutrality," to which the northern powers gave their adherence rendered the British position most critical. However, the slowly roused energy of her government, the invincible courage of her seamen, and the genius of her admirals brought Britain through all her trials. Camperdown broke the Dutch power; many battles weakened the French navy; and at Trafalgar in 1805, it, with the Spanish power, was swept from the ocean. The United States had in the mean time augmented their fleet, and in the war of 1812-14 maintained a glorious struggle.
During the American war of secession many gun-boats, " monitors," and iron-clads of all classes were created ; but chiefly adapted for river and coast service. The growth, in recent times, of the British navy will be found under NAVY, BRITISH. The emperor Napoleon III. greatly enlarged and improved the French navy, yet in the war of 1870-71 it had no opportunity of proving its effectiveness.
The contest between the attack and defense which has been going on for some time appears to have attained its limits in the 100-ton guns of the Italian navy, and the 24 inch armor-plate of the British; and a new departure seems already to have been taken which points in the direction of steel plates and speed, and a more special adaptation of ships for particular services. The torpedo system has introduced a new element into naval warfare, particularly _in harbors, rivers, and inland waters,:which can hardly be said to be yet fully developed (see TORPEDO); and the catastrophes of the Vanguard of the British navy, and the Grosser Kurfiirst of the German, have pointed out dangers connected with the ram system that had not been calculated upon.
The following table gives a fair estimate of the comparative strength of the chief navies of the world. Comparison by the number of guns is of little account now; that of armored steamers and'hurse-power is more to the point: