THE abstract of the British navy for the commencement of this year * differs so slightly, in its more important totals, from that of the preceding year, as to require few if any additional observations. The first commission-column, shows an increase of 14 ships of the line, and of 50 ships altogether ; a sufficient proof that the dock-yards had not slackened in their exertions. The number of ships and vessels added to the British, from the French navy, since the date of the last abstract, amounts to 28, exclusive of five from the Dutch navy, � and two captured Dutch East India company's vessels, which we have considered as privateers. The 15 purchased vessels in the abstract, or the greater part of them, had been in the English merchant-service. The loss sustained by the British navy, during the year 1795, amounted to 12 ships, � including four of the line ; two of which, under circumstances that have been related, were captured by the French.

Of the 11 ships which, at the date of the last, or third year's abstract, remained on hand out of the 20 that were building at the date of the first, one ship only, the Ville-de-Paris, had been launched. Although the largest vessel hitherto built in an English dock-yard, this 110-gun ship was rather exceeded, in length, by each of the French 80-gun ships captured by Lord Howe. For instance:

Not, however, to be outdone by the French in the size of the 74-gun ship, the Admiralty had ordered ten to be laid down, nine

* See Appendix, Annual Abstract No. 3.

� See Appendix, Nos. 18 and 19.

� Ibid. No. 20.