THE STEAM NAVY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 43, 2 August 1845, Page 2

THE STEAM NAVY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

With respect to the steam vessels of Great Britain, with all their faults in construction, for which the present Admiralty are not responsible, they are superior in number, size, and power, to the steam men-of-war of all the nations of the world. The Gamer, we believe, is one of the largest in the French navy. She is, however, only of 400 horse power, and although capable of carrying a large number of troops and guns, it has has been admitted by the gallant commodore, Sir C. Napier, himself, that even the Penelope is a iftatch for her. But no department of the Admiralty has occupied so much attention of the board, nor has undergone so many improvements, or received so many additions as that of the steam navy, since their accession to office. Take, for instance, the amount of horse power in 1841 *nd 1844, and it will be seen that the present Admiralty have almost doubled it : —

In many ships the Admiralty have very much increased the horse-power, and by improvements have rendered them much more effective. Those formerly classed as frigates "they have properly named sloops, and have given the title of frigates to steamers more worthy of the name. The following is a list, with the amount of horse power of those actually afloat :. —

Frigates. — Terrible, 800; Retribution, 800; Penelope, 650; Sampson, 450; Gladiator, 430; Firebrand, 430; Vulture, 430; Scourge, 420; Cyclops, 320.— Total, 4,630 horse power. Sloops, Transports, Packets, &c. — Eclair, 350; Devastation, 350; Gorgon, 320; Geyser, 320; Medina, 313 ; Medusa, 313 ; JtferKn, 313 ; tf^ewi?, 284 ; Cormorant, 280; Growler, 280; Spiteful, 280; Stromboli, 280 ; Driver, 280 ; Sfy#, 280 ; Thunderbolt, 280 ; Vesuvius, 280; Fira^o, 280; Fwew, 280; Hecatfe, 240; i?ec/a, 240 ; i^re/y, 220 ; Hermes, 220 ; .Hydra, 220; Rhadamanthus, 220 ; -Medea, 220 ; Salamander, 220 ; PJiasnw, 220 ; Jaratw, 200 ; Rattler, 200 ; Dee, 200 ; Polyphemus, 200; Prometheus, 200; Alecto, 200; Ardent, 200 ; Cherokee, 200 ; Lucifer, 190 ; Volcano, 190; Shearwater, 160; Acheron, 160; if#e, 150; Pro*j»ero, 144 ; Tartarus, 134 ; Gleaner, 130 ; Porcupine, 130 ; Carron, 120 ; O«er, 120 ; Plainer, 120 ; .Btarer, 120; Jackall, 120; ZeVarflf, 120; Avon, 100; .4rfaV, 100 ; 100 ; Columbine, 100 ; Confiance, 100 ; Cttcfoto, 100; Das/Ser, 100; DoifereJ, 100; i?^o, 108; Ligtning, 100; Locust, 100; Meteor, 100; Pfofo, 100; Sydenham, 100; /asper, 100 ; Sprigiitly, 100; Zephyr, 100 ; African, 90 ; Dower, 90; Dwarf, 90 ; Mnos, 90; Widgeon, 90 ; Montreal, 80 ; Monkey, 80; Advice, 80; Pigmy, 80 ; CowzeJ, 80 ; Fearless, 76 ; Wildfire, 75 ; Wilberforce, 70 ; Albert, 70 ; Swallow, 70 ; -4rieZ, 70; Beaver, 62 ; CAarora, 60 ; Redwing, 60 ; Mohawk, 60 ; 50 ; Princess Alice, 50 ; Myrtle, 50 ; Niger, 35 ; Experiment, 25 ; Rocket, 20 ; 22wiy, 20 ; JBee, 10.

Yachts. — Victoria and Albert, 400 ; Black Eagle, 260. Thus we have actually afloat 107 steam-vessels of all classes, with a power exceeding that of 20,000 horses. Again, in the building department, there has been no want of energy as to the improvement of the vessels, both in size and power : for engines to the amount of 1 0,000 horse-power are ordered, and engines and vessels for more -than one-half of this power are nearly ready. .

Unsea worthy Ships. — Our attention has been called to the act of parliament, 5 and 6 Vie, cap. 107, " An act for regulating the carriage of passengers in merchant vessels," which, although it would, if it were in force here, have a most salutary effect, and tend much to the safety and health of that large number of persons who, in a colony like this, are compelled to make occasional voyages by sea. In the first place, no vessel would be allowed to take more than three persons (including crews) for «very five tons of burthen, (vessels trading -among these colonies sometimes take a passenger for every ton), and a certain allowance of space must be provided for every passenger. Care would, be taken that a due proportion of provisions for every passenger was put on board, instead of as now there being no check but the cupidity of the owner. To show how necessary some provision of this kind is, we may state that we have now before us a letter from a person who recently left the colony in a ship for London, stating that the passengers wore put on short allowance of meat and .water within three days of leaving port ; and, if the vessel ever reaches England, we expect to hear that there was the greatest suffering on board. The most important clause in the act, however, is the 13th, which authorises the chief officers of the customs to have any vessel about to carry passengers surveyed, and not allow her to be cleared out unless satisfied of her seaworthiness. This is the clause to which we particularly

call the attention of the executive, as being imperativelyneeded here. We fnd also, that the framers of the act expected it would be adopted in the colonies, for not only is power given to governors (38th clause) to adopt theact by proclamation ; but by the 46th clause, power is given to make alterations respecting the scale of provisions, &c. Had this act been in force in this colony, it would have prevented much misery, and probably have saved many lives. — Sydney Herald.

Sept. 1841 In commission 9,329 In ordinary « 2,565 Building 1,897 1. July iat 13/941 3,167 9,526 13,791 26,634