King William immediately on being placed on the throne went to war with France, whose navy was then very powerful ; in 1681 it consisted of 179 vessels of all sorts, carrying 7080 guns, besides 30 galleys. An act was passed in his second year, for building 30 ships, to carry 60, 70, and 80 guns respectively. The dockyard at Hamoaze, out of which has since grown the considerable town of Devonport, which now returns two mem bers to parliament, was then established. Queen Anne found at her accession the navy to consist of 272 vessels, measuring 159,020 tons, but this estimate includes hulks, boys, and other vessels not carry ing guns. All measures adding to the strength and efficiency of the navy were exceedingly popular during this reign. At the death of Anne in 1714, the num ber of ships was less, but the tonnage in creased, being ships 198, guns 10,600, tons 156,640. The parliamentary vote of that year was 245,7001. and 10,000 seamen and marines. During the first four years of George I. large sums were voted for the extraordinary repairs which were required after the long war. A new establishment of guns also was or dered in this reign. The navy remained stationary till the year 1739, when hos tilities commenced against Spain, and the navy was augmented, particularly in the smaller classes, and the dimensions of several classes were enlarged. War broke out with France in 1744, at which period there were 128 sail of the line. At this time all prizes taken by the king's ships were declared to be the property of the captors. In 1747 a naval uniform was first established. The navy increased vastly during this war, in which 35 sail of the line were taken or destroyed by the English. George III. at his acces sion found the navy to consist of, Ships of the line 127 measuring 321,104 Ships of 50 guns tons.
and under . 198 The vote for the year 1760 was 432,629/. and 70,000 seamen and marines. In the short war of 1762, 20 sail of the line were added to the navy, and at the end of the American revolutionary war it was composed as follows:— Sail of the line. 174} about 500,000 tons. Under . . . . 203 The navy was kept in a high state of preparation, and when, on the 1st of February, 1793, the French republic de clared war against England, this country was not unprepared. A period now commences in which the gigantic efforts made by England, and the protection necessary for a large mercantile marine. raised the British navy to such a height as to enable it single-handed to maintain the sovereignty of the seas against all other navies combined. Sir Charles Middleton, afterwards Lord Barham, had, when comptroller of the navy in 1783, established the regulation that a great proportion of stores, sails, &c. should be laid by for each ship in ordi nary; so that in a few weeks after the declaration of war there were 54 sail of the line and 146 smaller vessels at sea. The vote for the service of the navy was 5,525,331/., 85,000 seamen and marines. The navy of France had never been so powerful : it amounted to above 200 vessels, of which 82 were of the line and 71 in addition were immediately ordered to be built. The English had about 115
sail of the line fit for service, but the majority of the French ships were larger and finer, and carried heavier guns on their lower or principal battery. The following abstract will show the losses on both sides up to the peace of Amiens, exclusive of the casual losses:— Captured. Destroyed. British ships of the line . 5 Smaller vessels . . . 37 9 Total . • • . 42 9 Captured. Destroeol.
French ships of the line . 32 11 Dutch do. 18 0 Spanish do. 6 5 Danish do. 2 0 58 16French smaller vessels 266 44 Dutch do 62 6 Spanish do 57 10 Total . . . 443 76 This estimate does not include 807 priva teers. chiefly French, taken and destroyed. Of the above, 50 sail of the line and 94 under that size were added to the British navy.
During the peace of Amiens prepara tions for war were actively continued on both sides, and the declaration on the part of England was made in the month of May, 1803, at which time the navy was of the following force, as compared with 1793:— Ships of line. Under. Tons.
1793 . 153 . 411 . 402,555 1803 . 189 . 781 . 650,976 Notwithstanding the apparent increase, there were not so many line-of-battle ships fit for sea at the latter as at the former period by about ten. The French force in serviceable line-of-b.tttle ships in March, 1803, was 66, the British 111. During this war there were employed from 100,000 to 120,000 seamen and marines till 1810, when the number was increased to 145,000. There were about 100 sail of the line, 150 frigates, and above 200 sloops, besides small armed vessels, amounting in the whole to about 500 sail of pendants constantly employed. The following absisact shows the losses on each side during the war : Captured. Destroyed.
British—Ships of line . 0 0 Under . . 83 7 83 7Enemies'—Ships of line 55 14 Under . • 79 23 134 37 of which 33 sail of the line and 68 under were added to the British navy.
In George III.'s reign the dockyard of Pembroke was established.
The following table will show the force of the British navy at three dis tinct periods: the breaking out of the French revolutionary war ; a few years subsequent to the peace ; and in 1839.
The Parliamentary votes for the navy fm-the year amounted to 6,936,196l. [MILITARY FORCE, p. 334]; and they are to be increased for 1846-7.
The parliamentary vote for the service of the navy, 1839-40, was as follows:— The naval force of Great Britain and of other countries in 1845 is shown under MILITARY FORCE. On the 1st January, 1846, the number of ships of all classes and sizes in the British royal navy was 636, exclusive of revenue vessels, which were 72 in number. The number of all classes in commission was 234; 84 of which were steam-vessels. The horse power of 8 steam-frigates exceeded 5000. The number of men and boys voted for the financial year 1845-6 was 29,000 sea men and boys, and 10,500 marines.