The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-06-17

these, it has at disposal, 5 u small steam
vessels in the revenue and coast survey ser.
vice none Of which, however. are 1T for
war purposes, except the Harriet Lane. q
new paddle cutter, Of $50 tons.
We have no room for detailed state.
ment Of the British naval force, or that Of
other European powers. The statement OF
. few general facts, however, will be sufli-
cient to show the enormous disparity BE-
tween the little navy We have enumerated in
the foregoing paragraphs, aud that by viz
tue of which Britain claims the empire OF
the seas.
Great Britain has some ninety vessels Of
the line, carrying from seventy-two to one
hundred and thirty guns, the majority Of
them screw steamers. Her sailing vessels Of
the line ART most OF them in disuse, being
used for receiving, store, and transport ships.
Her screw propcllers Of this class carry long
thirty-twos, and eight.inch guns, and one
ten.inch pivot gun. She has some thirty
large screw frigates, carrying heavy guns,
most Of them eight inch. She is also build
ing class Of steamers, several Of which arc
in the water, designed to cope with our own
new vessels OF the first class.
Her present class of screw sloops are large
vessels OF from one thousand two hundred
to thousand tons, carrying from twelve to
twenty.iour heavy eight inch guns, with one
pivot gun. She has about two hundred
and fifty eight steam vessels, all screw, d.
vided as follows : Despatch vessels Of six
hundred and fifty tons, and three hundred
horse power each, carrying two or four
,hirty.two FOUNDERS and two rivot eight
inch guns. 4 class Of vessels of about four
hundred tons, and one hundred horse power
carrying two howitzers and inch pivot.
Her third and most effective class Of vessels
are small screw gun boats, ranging from
two hundred to three hundred tons burthen
with from twenty TO sixty horse power car.
rying light eight inch gun or long thirty.
two FOUNDER, and one or two twenty-iour or
thirty-two pound howitzcrs. Besides these
she has between forty and fifty paddle steam.
crs, OF various siAs: from the Terrible, Of
one thousand eight hundred tons and twenty
guns, TO the Pigmy Of fifty tons ard one
gun.
From this statement 1t will be seen, that
il she has men 10 man them, Britain can
place thirty screw steamers Of the line
twenty screw frigates, forty screw sloops
and one hundred and fifty lighter steam YES
sells on our Atlantic coast, without decreas
ing the strength Of any Of her fleets on 9th,
or stations, and still have a large force il
reserve. But we must take into considera'
ton that, in case of war with us she would
have largely to increase all Of her fleets in
order to protect her commerce and colonies
from the attacks Of our privatcers. Anoth
er point claimed against her by France is
that her naval officers, but with but few ex
ceptions, arc not scientific and well educat
cd in their profession They go through nc
such course Of training as in the American
and French nayies. Still, the British navy
il most formidable, and contains at all times
large reserve force of over three hundred
sailing vessels. most OF them modernized
and capable Of being easily converted into
steamers.