Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-02
Naval Powers of England and France.

The British Navy at the present time consists alto.
geher, exclusive of old ships for harbor service) OF
345 vessels, great and small, including steamships
OF these, 81 ships of the line; IS are sailing fri
gates; 81 corvettes,' or soops of war, and 1914 are
smaller vessels: capable Of carrying 20 guns and un-
der Five of the ships of the line, inc udins the Roy
al Albert OF 100 guns, and the St. Jean dAcre of 100
guns, are fitted with powerful engines as screw steam.
OF the STEAMSHIP ps of-war there are 16 screw
frgates, II screw soops, screw steamships
and 16 steam frlgates with paddle wheels
number of the above vessels are still onthe stocks,
but almost all OF them so near completion that they
might be launched and put into commission in few
weeks. That portion of the British naval force on
foreign stations, is, with the exception of The hpditer-
ranean and Tagus fleets, comparatively insignificant,
and all the ships of in The ports of England if eff
cieny manned and armed, formidable botI, in mag
nude and numbers; and in of need it is suppos-
ed there would be, addition 10 the present number
of seamen and marines full force from the merchant
service, fisherman and coast guard sufficient to defeat
any possible armament from France. in case Of war
the mercantile fleet of England could afford ships and
seamen a scale of Unprecedented magnitude Be-
longing to the port of London alone the number of
powerful steamships, from 300 10 1000 TONS would
amount 10 strong naval force; while those OF Lon
don, Bristol, Glasgow, the Royal Mail contract pack
ets the Pennsular and Oriental, and the General Steam
Navigation Company, whose large steamers ply be-
tween London and Scotland, could also he made avail
able while the large East India merchantmen belong
lily be armed as frigales
The French Navy, at the present time, consists
oil ard new, great and small, and the stocks of
32s vessels, including steamers. Of this fleet 40 are
ranked ships Of the line. There are so frgaies
corvettes; so briggs 80 vessels officiating gun briggs
schooners and tenders, and 16 transport ships Be-
sides these. there 102 steamers ncuding so pack.
ets) afoa and building in the slips. There are 10
steam frigates, 20 sloops corve,tes. and floating
batteries of 400 and the other of 500 horse power
number of the French line of battle ships, and
the larger frigates magnificent vessels their sail
ing lines of admirable draught, and their models beau
tful. Several Of their steamships are strongly
and firmly constructed and efficiently fitted out bui,
generally. their machinery is far inferior TO that of
England and their speed slower than that of English
steamships. None of them equal, eithe. in power
or speed, 10 the fleet of The Cunard ne or to several
of the ships of the West India and Peninsular lines
The French mercantile navy parativeIy insignif-
lcant According TO the last account of the Minister
OF Marine. the number Of seamen. including the ma-
rines. the greater part of whom had never been TO sea-
is about 27 900
By the above statements, realers can see at a
glance the superiority of England as a naval power
But still the navy of France is by no means 10 be de
spised It's chief deficiency will be found in the scar.
city of able and skfu! seamen 10 man the ships in
case of war ar-Boston Journal.