For hle own diet, maintenance, wages, and rewards, per diem ...... . 10 0 Each captain for ditto, ditto . . . . 1 6 Every soldier, mariner, and gunner, for his wages per lunar month 5 0 And for his victuals . 3 0 The ships of this period were high, unwieldy, and narrow ; their guns were close to the water, and they had lofty poops and prows, like Chinese junks, insomuch that Sir Walter Raleigh informs us " that the Mary Rose, a goodly ship of the largest size, by a little sway of the ship in casting about, her ports being within 16 inches of the water, was overset and sunk." This took place at Spithead in the presence of the king, and most of her officers and crew were drowned. The Henri Grace de Dieu, the largest ship built in this reign, is said to have measured above 1000 tons. At the death of Henry VIII., the of the navy was 12,000 tons. Elizabeth increased the navy greatly. The fleet which met the Spaniab Armada numbered 176 ships, manned by 14,996 men ; but these were not all "shipper royal," for she en couraged the merchants to build large ships, which on occasion were converted into ships of war, and rated at 50 to 100 tons more than they measured. She raised the wages of seamen to 108. per month. Signals were first used in this reign as a means of communication between ships. In 1603 the navy had 42 ships, measuring 17,000 tons. In the reign of James I. lived the first able and scientific naval architect, Phineas Pett, and the king had the good sense to encourage him. Pett introduced a better system of building, and relieved the ships of much of their top hamper. Before the civil wars broke out, Charles I. built the Sovereign of the Seas, of 100 guns, and measuring 1637 tons. In this reign the navy was first divided into rates and classes. Cromwell found the navy much reduced, but his energy restored it, and be left 154 sail, measuring 57,643 tons, of which one-third were two-deckers. Cromwell first laid before parliament estimates for the support of the navy, and obtained 400,0001. per annum for that purpose. The navy flourished under Charles II., with the Duke of York at its head, assisted by Samuel l epys, as secretary, until 1673, when the duke's inability to take the test oath caused his retirement, and the king's pecuniary diffi culties leading him to neglect the navy, it fell into decay. The Duke of York was recalled to his post in 1684, and at his accession in the following year there were 179 vessels, measuring 103,558 tons. James II., on coming to the throne, took active measures for the restoration of the navy ; he suspended the Navy Board, and appointed a new com mission, with which he joined Sir Anthony Deane, the best naval architect of the time, who essentially improved the ships of the line by copying from a French model. Four hundred thousand pounds per annum were set apart for naval purposes, and so diligent were the commissioners that at the Revolution the fleet was in excellent con dition, with sea stores complete for eight months for each ship. The force was 154 vessels, carrying 6930 guns, and 42,000 men. Of these vessels nine were first-rates.
William III. 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 members 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 carrying guns. At the death of Anne in 1714, the number of ships was less, but the tonnage increased, 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 establishrhent of guns also was ordered in this reign. The navy remained stationary till 1739, when hostilities commenced against Spain, and the navy was augmented, particularly in the smaller classes of vessels, 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 H.M.'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 I11. at his accession found the navy to consist of— Ships of the line . . . 127 measuring 321,104 tons.
„ 50 guns and under • 198 The vote for the year 1760 was 432,6291., 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 : Rail of the line . . 174 about 500,000 tans.
Under . . . . . 203 The navy was kept in a high state of preparation, and when, on the 1st of February, 1793, the French republic declared 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 mercantile marine, which almost monopolised the com merce of the world, 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 ordinary ; so that in a few weeks after the declara tion of war there were 54 sail of the line and 146 smaller vessels at sea. The vote for the service of the navy was 5,525,3311., 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 bad 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 :— This estimate does not include 807 privateers, 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 preparations for war were actively con tinued 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. Tone.
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-battle 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 abstract shows the losses on each side during the war :— of which 33 sail of the line and 68 tinder were added to the British navy.