Star.
London, England, 1830-09-07 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Stn,—Many of your readers will be surprised at the inferiority o •
British litie-of.battic.ships to those of some foezign natim a, particulativ
the American, which, if not remedied, may prove of serious consequent :
to the nation at the breaking out of a war.
What might be considered a proper sail efficient mode of armirg th
navy twenty years ago, no longer remains so, tro:n the alterations a:.:
improvements of other rations ; the heavy ships of the Americans at.
their very superior armament to British ships of the same denomit A-
lio'', render a change in our system absolutely necessary, if it n
wished to meet them on an equal footing ; atm the British navy have
had sufficient experience to know they arc not to be despised. No m
meat is so fit as that of tranquillity to prepare ships capable of coping
with the best of other nations, as the first success of a war will fix Itself
in the minds o° the victor and the vanquished, and be felt in every st.c-
cceding contest.
As a specimen of the American navy, I will take the Frat.klin 76
gun ship, though she actually mounts 84 gun.. All those on the lower
and main decks, are long 32 pounders ; she has four long 32 pound
on the fore.caade, and four long 32 pounders abaft, ti.e other guns on the
quarter-deck and fore-castle are 32 pounders earronades. I say nothing o
the guns she carries on her tops. You perceive she carries guns of on •
calibre only, (by which much confusion in action is prevented,) viz. '42
long 32 pounders, and 12 carronades, in all 84 guns. At this montert
few men in England doubt the equality of an English 80 gun ship to
the one above described, and would visit with censure the captain tit t
suffered himself to be taken. The following explanation will show the
difference between the two ships :—The Engli.b 80 gun ship is anted
with 30 long 32 pounders, 32 light 24 pounders, 8 12 pounders, 12
32 pounder carronades, and 624 pounder carronades; that is to am,
88 guns, of four different calibre. The American ship has 72 long 32
pounders, from which she can throw effectually, for a considerable
time, two shots from each gan, and one from each of the c.arronades, the
weight of the broadside being 2,40131135. The English ship in conse-
quence of having light 24 pounders on her main-deck, could only throw
one shot with effect hem those guns, for reams, assigned in Bauch ant's
Naval Gunner; therefore, the weight of metal returned to the American
would only be 1,778115. allowing two shots from the guns of the
lower deck, one shot teem the guns of the main deck,
two from the 12 pounders, and one from the carronades, a differ.
ence of 7201ba. of metal every broadside, or nearly one-third. Tb
Americans boast the superiority of their ships, and it is perceived, not
without reason, the difference of the weight of metal thrown is nearly
equal to one-third more guns In favour of the American.
Is it just or prudent to task the courage of the British seamen so in.
adequately? Have we not a:reputation to sustain ?—which alone doe .
so much for us wherewith* British gag le con.:
.why risk it then so
unnecessarily ?

The Franklin, when in the Mediterranean, in the year 1828, carried
near WO men; the best mamas were English. It is notorious that 1.
large portion of the beet men fa the American frigates last war were
Englishmen, and so it will be again, foe no art will be left untried to in.
duos them to serve. An English 80 gun ship carries 760 men ; the
compliment of the Franklin was 860. who, every afternoon the weather
would permit, were exercised at the guns; they, consequently, were tx.
pert in handling them. When in their own poets, the American sailors
are exercised In batteries fitted with guns and tackling in every respect,
as on board their ships, where they are taught to appreciate the power of
the weapon they have to handle against an enemy afloat. by practising
with shot. It appears, therefore, that the American are superior to the
British two-deck ships in metal, men. and discipline. What ought to
be result ? and on whom should not the blame of the defeat of the British
ships rest ? Not on the English seamen 1

If the ship at present composing the British navy are not capable of
being armed so heavily as the best of other nations, let a new claw be
built, equally manned and disciplined, when our wit es and children
may still place that reliance in our wooden walls which have ever pro.
tected them from foreign insult.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
J. B.