In 1845, as we thus notice, the Rattler was the forerunner of great changes in the mode of propulsion of our ships-of-war. The paddle steamers had before that been but partially substituted for the sailing ship. The exposure of a vessel's sides, and the machinery of the paddle, to the damaging effect of an enemy's shot ; the position of her engines, even as questionably protected 'by her coal-bunkers ; the probable destruction of her paddles early in an action ; the nature of the crew, sufficient only for a mere steamer ; the great diminution in the possible armament of a ship in which so much space was required for paddles, and the consequent interference with that which in naval fights had hitherto worked such destruction in our enemies' ships, namely, the broadside ; together with the necessity for arming according to greatly altered lines in the con struction of ships destined for steam navigation,—these were serious considerations for an Admiralty Board. They perplexed the question of the precise form of a ship to such an extent, that while the public were speculating on the general improvements which it was not diffi cult to foresee must spring from such a combination of novel circum stances, enough was on the hands of the executive to have paralysed a body less ably supported. The change from a sailing fleet to one of mechanical propulsion, whatever might be the particular mode in which such propulsion was to be effected, was one of those gigantic movements that had much more influence upon the security of the country than would appear to common observation. The anxiety and occasional fears of statesmen who felt the vital tendency of passing events, the driving of our best sailors from the service, the enormous sums necessary for experiments,—these, and other weighty considera tions, increased the high responsibilities of the Board of Admiralty ; and it would be unjust to estimate the value to the country of this or that board for the administration of naval affairs on account of failures or expenditure, or on account of delays, which were possibly the result of no want of energy at the time.
While England was thus investigating the question of naval arma ment, other countries were also vigorously presenting the whole matter to scrutiny and reform. There could be no question as to the recent inferiority of England as regards her defence by sea. Such then was the opportunity for rival nations to push forward their developments. Indeed, no sooner had the war with Russia terminated than all the resources of that country were given to the renewal of her ships, and the recovery of a fleet. Her emissaries were soon to be found in every sea-port in England, and no novelty in science which promised advan tage in future warfare, or even in the fitting of ships, was neglected by Russian naval officers. It was no uncommon sight for Russian steamers, built as well iu the Thames as elsewhere, to proceed to sea with fittings upon new principles,—so new, that the English ship-owners even had not yet been made acquainted with their existence. It is questionable whether we have any correct notion of the rapid strides thus made by Russia in rebuilding her navy, although certain lists of ships are before the world. The public occasionally had their attention drawn to the movements of other nations, and many disparaging comparisons have taunted our English executive ; but, with all things in a state of change, such have been merely inducements in the Lords of the Admiralty to drive forward their experiments. But who can tell the
probably enormous sums saved to the country by the cautious and, under circumstances without parallel in history, hesitations which such changes seem now to have justified! The expenditure of vast capital would naturally, to a commercial people like the English, appear suspicious where positive and immediate benefit was not plainly discernible.
Whether the weakness which appeared to infest our sea-service, and the openly avowed discrepancies which were said to exist in the recent working of naval affairs, influenced a neighbouring nation, and, as on former occasions, cherished in her the hope of a future predominance, or not, certain it is that not only in the ships of the French navy, but in their arsenals, every preparation has been made for a desperate struggle on the ocean. The same difficulties which steam had introduced into our navy, must also have pervaded theirs ; but it is significant that, notwithstanding the costly experiments made by this country, France should have recently possessed a fleet equal to, if not greater than our own, and one as perfect in all the scientific improvements of the period. Nor were the above the only serious causes of anxiety in the minds of the most experienced naval statesmen : for paddle ships were of necessity restrained within certain limitations as to the size of their mast. and the quantity of sail available, inasmuch as beyond a certain amount of canvas, it was found that a ship under sail could in a breeze actually orerroos the paddle, which at such times became an encumbrance; and further, with diminished masts and rigging, the reduction in a sailor's work aloft threatened to deprive England of her ao long boasted advantage over other nations in tho superior skill of her seamen, thus, indeed, threatening to reduce her to the level of other powers ; but the success of the Rattler demonstrated, in 1845, that while the dominant superiority of the screw-propeller restored space for the broadside armament, it did inore,—it renewed, in the full rig of a screw steamer, necessity for that experience and dauntless activity and proficiency in seamanship aloft which has been so universally acknowledged and eulogised as an attribute of a British sailor. llappily, therefore, the screw line-of-battle ship, or the screw frigate of the present day, when under mil with her funnel reefed, presents no peculiarity of rig, except the neatness peculiar to an English man of-war.
This also obviates another difficulty which long embarrassed the naval affairs of the country. With a paddle fleet, having reduced masts, and therefore lets able to fully avail themselves of a favourable wind, the expense, though large, bore but little proportion to the many other inconveniences attending the necessary supply of coals to ships in commission ; whereas in a screw fleet the assistance offered by the wind is always available, and much less coal is required, for after all the screw is but an auxiliary, to be used only in adverse winds or calms, except under emergency ; while it fortunately admits of being used with sailing power, because it has been proved that a screw propeller can always be made to increase the speed of a ship under sail, and should accident happen to the machinery, the screw can be lifted, so as to give full benefit to the vessel as a sailer.