See p. 121.

The ships in the following list, and in every similar one throughout the work, are classed, with the exception presently to be noticed, not as the British, but as the French class them. Without the adoption of this plan, much confusion would ensue ; and, indeed, the rated force of a French ship of war seldom differs more from the mounted force (see p. 54) than in the addition of four brass 36-pounder carronades. The same description of ship which the British denominate a "28-gun frigate," the French call a " 24-gun corvette ; " but, for the sake of consistency, we shall designate as frigates such large and powerful "corvettes." The alphabetical letter in front of the name shows to what class in the Annual Abstracts the ship, on being transferred to the British navy, belongs. The vessels in italics had been captured from the British.

A list of ships of the line and frigates, late belonging to the French navy, captured, destroyed, wrecked, foundered, or accidentally burnt, during the year 1793: