though in service, some of them since 1800, were not registered at the date of the abstract.* Here, at once, is the number required. With respect to the under-line totals, we have merely to deduct from the 665, the 67 " hoys, lighters, and transports, " and the 10 " hulks," and we have 588, a number which is four below the abstract number. This trifling difference is to be found, if we could stay to trace it, among the small-craft, several of which are included in the abstract, and not registered in the official list; while others, as fire-vessels, river-barges, " barge magazine," "latteen-settee," &c., that assist to swell the latter are not to be found in the former.

Having thus established the general correctness of the numerical totals of Abstract No. 10, and through it, we hope, its nine tabular predecessors, we will, after premising that, should any doubt arise respecting the proper classification of a ship, a reference to the notes (which, in fact, are the key to the abstracts) may clear up the point, proceed to draw a slight comparison between the first and last abstracts, the two between which an eight years' war had intervened. In doing this we shall confine ourselves to the line-totals, and even then, to the cruising totals only. According to the latter, the numerical increase is 13 ships ; but the most decided improvement is discoverable in the relative tonnages. For instance, the 113 ships in No. 1 measured upon an average 1645 tons ; while in the 126 ships in No. 10 measure 1740 tons. The accession of the five ships at B, C, and G, and of 26 out of the 30 at K, L., and M, have chiefly contributed to this important augmentation.

The number of line-of-battle ships, added to the British navy from the navies of foreign powers, were, French 27, Dutch 17, Spanish 5, and Danish 1 ; total 50 : � a number that, besides being considerably short of what Steel and other writers have recorded, contains a larger proportion of ineffective ships than they allow, as the following statement will show:

* Athénien, Nassau (late Holstein), De-Ruyter, Guelderland, Leyden, Texel (late Cerberus), and Utrecht.

� See Appendix, No 17.

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