BRITISH NAVY. Under NAvrEs, MoDEns, will be found a brief description of the chief navies belonging to the continent of Europe, and to the United States of America. The British navy is separately treated in this place.
While the Romans occupied Britain, they were obliged to maintain a fleet of war-ves sels on the coasts, to protect it from the ravages of the Saxons, who were the pirates and buccaneers of those times. When the Romans had departed, and the Saxons became dominant, the coasts were infested by another naval power—the Scandinavian vikings. It was Alfred the great who first established what may be called a navy in this island, consisting of efficient vessels well manned, for protection, and not aggression. Ethelred made the building of a ship a condition for holding a certain acreage of land. William the conqueror strengthened the navy by the institution of the Cinqueports (q.v.). During the first three centuries after the conquest, we read of British fleets of 240,400, and even 730 sail—a proof that the vessels must have been very small even if there were no exaggeration of numbers. Until 1485, the fleets were collected just as wanted; but in this year, Henry VII. conceived the idea of a per)rument navy, to be ready at all times. He built the largest ship of the age, the Great Harry. Henry VIII. pursued the course established by his father, and still further strengthened the navy by instituting the admiralty, the navy-office, the Trinity house, and the dockyards at Woolwich, Portsmouth, and Deptford. The Henri Grace de Dieu, the largest ship built by him, was of 1000 tons burden; but most of the vessels were high, unwieldy, and narrow, with the guns nearly down to the water's edge. The ships of the navy presented an aggregate tonnage of 12,000 tons at the period of Henry's death. Elizabeth made a large increase in the navy; but they were not all royal ships which were sent to struggle against the Spanish Armada. James I. made many improvements in shipbuilding, by encouraging a distinguished naval architect, Phiueas Pett. Charles I., who built the Sovereign of the Seas, of 100 guns, was the first to group the royal ships into rates and classes. Cromwell brought up the navy to the strength of 154 sail, including a large number of two-deckers. Charles II, allowed it to fall into decay for a time; but his brother, the duke of York, who after wards became James II., not only restored it, but brought it to a higher state of effi ciency and strength than ever. When William of Orange became king of England, be found a navy carryino. 7000 guns and 42,000 seamen; he built many additional ships, some with as many as' 80 guns, and established Plymouth dockyard. Queen Anne suc ceeded to the possession of a fine navy; which at her death had increased to 198 ships, mounting 10,600 guns, with a tonnage of 157,000 tons. George I. attended to the navy
chiefly in repairing the ships after a period of war, and in supplying a new armament. George II. greatly added to the number of ships, established a naval uniform, and increased the renown of the British navy during the war against Spain.
The long and eventful reign of George III. was especi.Olv distinguished by the achievements of the navy. When he came to the crown in 11'60, he found himself in possessiOn of 127 ships of abova 50 guns, and 198 of 50 guns and under, manned by 70.000 seamen. These numbers, by building and by capture, were increased to 174 and 203 respectively, by the end of the American war. Throughout the European struggle, from 1793 to 1815, the B. N. exhibited a spectacle for vastness and achievements which had never before been equaled in any country. In the first nine years of this period, between 1793 and 1802, England lost by war 5 ships of the line and 46 smaller vessels; but she captured from the French, Dutch, Spaniards, and Danes, in various battles, 74 ships of the line and 519 smaller vessels; or rather, four fifths of this number were cap tured, and one fifth destroyed. Besides these, more than 800 privateers were taken and destroyed by the English. Of the total number of captures, 144 ships of war were at once converted into British ships, and added to our navy. When war recommenced in 1803, England had 189 ships of the line, and 781 smaller ships of war; during the next seven years, the seamen varied from 100,000 to 120.000, and in 1810 the number was raised to 140,000. At all times, many of the ships of the royal navy are unemployed or out of commission; but it frequently happened during that great war, that England had 450 liners, frigates, and sloops, besides smaller armed vessels, employed simultaneously. The conquered vessels added to the navy between 1803 and 1815 were upwards of 100 in number, After the termination of the great European struggle, a large number of ships of war were put " in ordinary," or out of commission, and their officers placed on half-pay. In 1820, the vessels in commission, in ordinary, and building, comprised 127 ships of the line, 311 frigates and sloops, and 27 smaller vessels; but in this total of 465, there were only 113 in commission. In the 19 years that next followed, almost wholly years of peace, the total number of ships of the line, frigates, and sloops, decreased; the gun brigs, schooners, and cutters increased in number; while the first germs of a new ele ment, a ste,con navy, made their appearance.