Fig. 52.—British second-rate. 1665.

Fig. 53.—Midship section of a fourth-rate.

In order to complete the illustrations of British warships of the latter half of the seventeenth century views of a second-rate are given in Fig. [52], and a cross-section of a fourth-rate in Fig. [53].

It would be impossible in the present work to notice in detail all the alterations in size and structure of ships which took place during the eighteenth century. A few of the leading changes may, however, be mentioned. In the year 1706 an attempt was made to systematize the dimensions of the various rates, and the figures as given in the following table were fixed:—

Number of guns908070605040
Length of
gun-deck		162 ft.156 ft.150 ft.144 ft.130 ft.118 ft.
Extreme
breadth		47 ft.43 ft.41 ft.38 ft.35 ft.32 ft.
Depth of hold18 ft. 6 in.17 ft. 8 in.17 ft. 4 in.15 ft. 8 in.14 ft.13 ft. 6 in.
Tonnage155212831069914705532

When the figures were compared with those of contemporary French ships of the same rates, it was found that the British vessels of every class were of inferior dimensions. Whenever British men-of-war were captured by the French, the number of their guns was reduced. It was universally admitted that the French ships were superior in sailing qualities; so much so was this the case that, whenever a French squadron was chased, the English-built ships in it were the first to be overtaken. The subject of the superiority in size of the French ships was constantly coming to the front, and in 1719 a new establishment was made for the dimension of ships in our Royal Navy, according to the following scale:—

Number of guns.908070605040
Increase of length2 ft.2 ft.1 ft.04 ft.6 ft.
Increase of breadth2 in6 in.1 ft.1 ft.1 ft.1 ft. 2 in.
Increase of tonnage156759375163