Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-10-03
New Regulations Of the English Nasy.

4'1" tHe IHStSN 4NUtg.
In consequence of the variations from the
regulations which in lapse years and BY tie force OF
imperative circumstances have upon the Brit
ish naval system the Board Of Admiralty have lately re-
moulded the whole Their propositions upon the rates
classification aud manning slips Of var-and the pay
fatinss and number of officers and have received
The sanction OF an order ia Council and commenced on
the tiIsrot January Of the preseht year.
the P0tt SAiPS OF The navy divided into six rates,
which division tool place in the reign ofCbaies Erst
and has continued with notifications pre-
ient time The "a gun ship generally airoduced
into the service an about the second year the reign of
GeoSe ine "a when that description Of vessel was in
cnded among the third rates.
During the whole Of the period hereinbefore referred
TO- and indeed down 10 1893, the force Of the ships
stated from the actual number they really
Out the PRODUCTION ofcaT which began partially
III l7T9 and which finally adopted, The present
extended scale in the Navy during the of the
revolutionary war increased the armament of the
as they were found ableto carry greater number
ronades than the guns in whose stead they adopted
So thai the real force Of the ships has longer
pended with their nominal force and that princip pie
variation beInsonce admitted, ships that time
received denominations their number of guns oIlen
we believe, caprciousIy, and in classes only
of the whole Navy, agreeing with their real force
few instances will show Your Royal Highness the
constituencies into which this deviation from tie cid rules
OF the service has led.
rhe Caledonia rated 10 guns. carries 100 guns while
The Hibena, ship ofneaTly the same dimensions which
carries exactly the number of guns Only at
ITO guns, being less number by four than that which
the San Joseph rated though the former has fact 10
guns more than the later.
All ships of the second rate. though rated as s. carry
upwards of 100 guns, aud they have all guns than
guns and they ought all therefore, accordingi the es
tahsed REGULATIONS 10 be included in the first rate, and
there are in fact real second rates. viz
OF between go and 100 guns at present existing in the
Royal Navy, ina sea-guing condition.
In the third rate of the ships at so guns
carry CO. aud Others rated carry guns hut
the majority ofhe denomination carry a. and this
Is one ofthe few cases in which the real and nuni-
nal force agree.
IN the fourth rate, of the ships rated guns Que
class dhat two decks carries SIS guns, another that
on one deck carries 10 guns and upwards.
IN the rate, there three trIgates rated
guns, namely the Sybie, taken from the French which
guns the Lavnia, built after her. which car.
ries so guns and the late American ship President the
guns mounted III which, on the day of her capture were
81, besides one - Founder hOwitzer.
The frgaes rated at 40 carry 80 aud those rated
at 80 carry 40 and upwards.
The majority of those rated SO guns carry a. and
some OF those rated at 81 carry 80 aud u.s. being
than others that are rated at % and 80.
Similar differences between the real and the nominal a.
mount of force exist in the h rate, bat it
~ to specify the details.
We trust we shall he excused for observing your
ROya HIsbness that il wholly unworthy the character
Of the Royal Navy of this kingdom 10 maintain this sys
tem which though introduced by the accidental cause
have mentioned, aud without any design 0f deception
yet may give occasion foreign nations accuse us Of
misrepresentation, when state that British fgae Df
81 guns has taken foreign frgae Of a. when fact
the British frigate was of equal IL not superior force"
The board then recommend tie following modification
Of the classes.
The list rate to include all dCckes, which carry
900. s5e, 600 men.
The I'd rate to include all ships Of 50 guns and up.
wards on two decks, and to carry 100, $50 men.
The sd include all ships of 90 guns upwards
and less than 80 guns. aud TO carry 60 GOO men
The 4th rate TO include ships Of so and upwards Int
less than 40 guns, and 10 carry $50 $50 men.
The 9Th rate to include all ships from 90 10 so guns and
to carry 900 or 23s men.
The 9Th rate, to include all Ships from n 10 80 guns
and to carry I75. i4j or US men.
OfslOops thereare many varieties, that cannot
propose reduce the eight schemes Of complement
existing to less tbaH four, as follows VIZ soops, 1875,
1875 % and rs men,
Bries mot sloops) cutters schooners, and bombs we
propose reduce from ten schemes OF complement TO
tive, namely, 90 or50 men.
not require large complement as 90 men, we may he
authorized assign such complement as we may deem
necessary.
As there are longer any regular Ere ships in the
vice we bnimby propose that, whenever may become
necessary 1T vessel ofths description, wemay
be authorized assign to them such complement of OH
men, together with the Of such rate class
size the vessel employed, the nature Of tue
particular service may render exPedent
We farther Propose, that when IL shall be necessary
III out troop ships, may be authorized TO assign
to them such rates aud compliments as may seem pro-
by these regulations the forty varieties Of
plements, IN use IN the navy, will be reduced to
twenty.
IT'S obvious that the extra expense Of providing masts
yards rigging aud Of various dimensiers, for
ships Of the actual force must be very great be
cluse IL required fsr the particular ship foT which
they originally prepared they are either useless,
or must be altered NJ other ship great loss
Of labor time, and materials and, ~ case OF accidents
urgency this varsity dsabes the ships from assisting
each other aud IL requires that the naval arsena both
home aud abroad, should be furnished at very great
expense with much larger assortment OF these articles
than would he necessary IL they could he made more
generally applicable to the probable wants Of The whole
Heet; tins will be explained to your Royal Highness
foTcibly ~ stating that for the sngle class ~
ships OF the third rate called Tis there lately not
hess than different schemes Of masiing aud rig
ginE ana that squadron might he composed Of seven
vessels Of this force which could not properly employ
one auohers spare spars aud sails, aud for zach Of
which the dock yards mast necessarily have their ndivi
dual gear.
We have i'm conjunction with the Navy ROafd aud
With the assistance Of a committee Of experienced
officers taken measures for pushing this principle Of
uniformity Car The nature Of the case would allow
aud though the experience Of what has occurred on Tor