The ratings of these vessels will, however, very much mislead people as to the real strength of the armament. The 74's and 80's are in weight of broadside equal to most three-decked ships; the first-class frigates are double-banked of the scantling, and carrying the complement of men of our 74's. The sloops are equally powerful in proportion to their ratings, most of them carrying long guns. Although flush vessels, they are litle inferior to a 36-gun frigate in scantling, and are much too powerful for any that we have in our service, under the same denomination of rating. All the line-of-battle ships are named after the several States, the frigates after the principal rivers, and the sloops of war after the towns, or cities, and the names are decided by lot.

It is impossible not to be struck with the beautiful architecture in most of these vessels. The Pennsylvania, rated 120 guns, on four decks, carrying 140, is not by any means so per

fect as some of the line-of-battle ships.* The Ohio is as far as I am a judge, the perfection of

* The following are the dimensions given me of the ship of the line Pennsylvania:

In extreme length over all

Between the perpendiculars on the lower

feet. inches.

237

Burthen 3366 tons, and has ports for 140 guns, all

long thirty-two pounders, throwing 2240 pounds of ball at each broadside, or 4480 pounds from the whole. Her mainmast from the step to the truck 278

59

23

51

....

Main-topsail contains 1,531 yards.

The number of yards of canvas for one suit of sails

is

a ship of the line. But in every class you cannot but admire the superiority of the models and workmanship. The dock-yards in America are small, and not equal at present to what may eventually be required, but they have land to add to

is 18,341, and for bags, hammocks, boat-sails, awnings, &c., 14,624;-total 32,965 yards.

The Americans considered that in the Pennsylvania they possessed the largest vessel in the world, but this is a great mistake; one of the Sultan's three-deckers is larger. Below are the dimensions of the Queen, lately launched at Portsmouth :

them if necessary. There certainly is no necessity for such establishments or such storehouses as we have, as their timber and hemp are at hand when required; but they are very deficient both in dry and wet docks. Properly speaking, they have no great naval depôt. This arises from the jealous feeling existing between the several States. A bill brought into Congress to expend so many thousand dollars upon the dock-yard at Boston, in Massachusetts, would be immediately opposed by the State of New York, and an amendment proposed to transfer the works intended to their dock-yard at Brooklyn. The other States which possess dock-yards would also assert their right, and thus they will all fight for their respective establishments until the bill is lost, and the bone of contention falls to the ground.*

* There are seven navy yards belonging to, and occupied for the use of, the United States, viz.—

The navy yard at Portsmouth, N.H., is situated on an island, contains fifty-eight acres, cost 5,500 dollars, The navy yard at Charlston, near Boston, is situated

on