Rome-and, in our times, without being deficient in purity or magnificence, it has the addition of two other principles, comfort and convenience, which are more attended to in England than in any other country.

Naval architecture, from this its very improper term, feems to be connected with civil architecture, but its use and ́principles are widely different.

Trees hollowed by fire became veffels fufficient for the purposes of navigation in the first ages of fociety-in fome countries canoes were formed of leather, and continue to be fo made upon the Wyebut if in this inftance we adhere to the custom of our forefathers, we have left them far behind in the prefent ftructure of our ships, which is upon the most perfect principles of mathematics and mechanics, as far as they are yet practiced.

Different

Different nations are conftantly endeavouring to rival each other in ship-building-to construct veffels of greater force, more tonnage, and swifter failers. By this conftant emulation, ships have been built uniting these properties, which former ages must have deemed impoffible to have accomplished. The fleets of the Saxon kings were but row-boats-the great ship of Harry the eighth (and fo named) far exceeded all others hitherto built, and was esteemed the wonder of the world; yet it was not equal to one of our fourth rates. A modern frigate of forty-four guns would have been an overmatch for the ftouteft veffel of Queen Elizabeth's fleet, as a feventy-four upon the prefent establishment is of fuperior force to a first-rate of the last century.

By the natural progress towards perfection, ship-building would keep pace with the other arts, and we find that it did fo from hiftoric facts. Long after

F 3

the

the beginning of this century the different rates of men of war proceeded by round numbers—it was a ship of 20, 30, The French navy 40, 50 guns, &c. being commonly worsted in their engagements with ours, the force of their fhips was increased-Thus, a 70 gun ship became a 74 with greater tonnage, more men, and heavier cannon, and fo of the other rates. This advance of strength was inftantly imitated by the other maritime powers, fo that all having increased, things remained in the fame relative fituation as before.* This must always be the case, so that we contend for fuperiority in points which must foon be equal. It is the opinion of the English, that the French fhips fail better than their own. If this were fo, it seems difficult to account for the French ships not getting away from ours when it is their

* Since writing the above, the Spaniards have built fhips of 130 guns, and the French of 120. The English first-rates, as yet, remain as before.

their purpose to escape-this fo feldom happens, that we must suppose the opinion is more liberal than juft. As far as I have had an opportunity of observing, the ornamental carvings at the head and stern are defigned and executed with much more taste by the French artists than by our own.

Engraving is practifed in every country of Europe that has advanced into the Silver-Age, but at this time it is thought to be best understood in England. It was in our country that mezzo-tinto was invented, and our artifts in this branch are confeffedly the first in Europe. It was in England that etching and engraving were first united, and where the point was first used. Etching, engraving, fcraping, and pointing feem to include every poffible method of producing effect for the taking off impreffions-but let us not set bounds to human invention—it is the purpose of this imperfect effay to

fhew that in all ftudies, arts, and sciences, we have better times and greater improvements still to expect.

The finking of dies for coins was in a deplorable state in every part of Europe, except Italy, until within the last 150 years. The favages of New Zealand could produce nothing worse than the pieces of our early Henrys and Edwards. They were improved by degrees, but the principle on which they were formed was quite falfe, until Simon, in his works for the Protector, gave a fpecimen how coins fhould be defigned and executed, by taking the Greek for his model, as the Romans had done before him. The moderns have attained to so great a perfection in this art, that they are not unequal to their Roman and Greek predeceffors in defign, and superior in execution; which may arife from the great advantage of our machinery for coining, over the punch and hammer.

Man