To the Printer of the London Chronicle.
Sir,
Passing the other night through a Coffee-house, I overheard a conversation on the present posture of affairs, and as usual the members were divided, so that the debate was pretty equally contested, until a friend to the Americans asked the ministerialists, whether our navy was not at present in as indifferent a state, and as unfit for war, as when Hawke was first lord of the admiralty? This unexpected question I observed silenced his opponents, who contented themselves with simply denying the assertion; it made, however, such an impression on me, that immediately withdrawing from these orators, I determined to examine into the truth of this: so calling for some old news-papers, I was agreeably surprised, after a little search to find in one of the public papers a list of the men of war we had cruising in the Channel, and of those which had been dispatched since the beginning of this year to join the several squadrons on the North American and West India stations, by which it appeared that we had no less than twenty-eight ships of the line now cruising in the Channel, which of course I imagine must be fit for service. I observed, however, that the list was imperfect, and sat down to correct it, and having made out the following lists, I thought it would do no harm if they were made public; I therefore have taken the liberty of transcribing them hereunder, that if you should be of the same opinion, I may have the pleasure of seeing myself in print for the first time, and as your paper is read at the Coffee-house where the above conversation passed, it may afford the vanquished party room to triumph in their turn.
Ships of the Line now cruizing in the British Channel.
*Foudroyant 80 guns, *Prince of Wales 74, Invincible 74, *Boyne 74, Ramilies 74, Courageux 74, Centaur 74, Torbay 74, *Terrible 74, *Culloden 74, *Royal Oak 74, Egmont 74, Princess Royal .74, *Hector 74, Mars 74, *Albion 74, *Burford 74, Bedford 74, Stirling Castle 74, Cornwall 74, *Valiant 74, *Nonsuch 64, Belleisle 64, Exeter 64, Ardent 64, *Raisonable 64, Trident 64, Bienfaisant 64.
Those marked * have taken American vessels.
Besides those (which from their being employed may be supposed to be full manned or nearly so) there are several others in commission as guardships, particularly the Ocean, Queen, Prince George, and Sandwich, of 90 guns each; also several frigates, as the Arethusa, Maidstone, Fowey, &c. several sloops, as the Ceres, Speedwell, Ranger, Drake, Hound, &c. and several armed cutters.
The following have sailed since February for New York.
Augusta 64 guns, sailed with Major Balfour, express; Somerset 64, led the second convoy; St. Alban 64, was the third ditto; Isis 50, was the first ditto; Bristol 50, Experiment 50, now sailing; Thames 32, sailed from Corke; Liverpool 32, sailed with Gen. Clinton; Thetis 32, Surprise 32, Squirrel 28, Bute 20, Silver Eel 20, Camel 18, Zebra 14.
Sailed for Newfoundland.
Romney 50, Adm. Montague; Fox 28, was the convoy from Poole; Active 28, convoy from Jersey; Pegasus 18, convoy from Waterford.
Sailed for Quebec.
Apollo 32, sailed with Gen. Burgoyne; Blonde 32, first convoy; Carysfort 28, third ditto, sailed a fortnight ago; Lizard 28, Proteus 20, second ditto. Sailed for Guinea. Pallas 36.
Mediterranean Convoys.
Worcester 64, Ariadne 20.
Convoys sent to the West Indies.
Southampton 36 guns, Aeolus 32, Leostoffe 32, Grasshopper 20, Cygnet 18, Sylph 18,Weazel 16, Druid 10, Porpoise 20 guns.
N.B. No mention is made of several East Indiamen and other large ships armed and sent with convoys, as the Kent, Pigat, Buffalo, Lord Howe, &c. nor of letters of marque.
Total of Men of War enumerated in the foregoing Lists.
1 |
of |
80 guns |
20 |
— |
74 |
11 |
— |
64 |
4 |
— |
50 |
36 |
sail of the line. |
2 |
of |
36 guns. |
8 |
— |
32 |
5 |
— |
28 |
6 |
— |
20 |
7 |
— |
10 to 18 |
28 |
frigates and sloops |
64 |
ships of the line, frigates and sloops, sent to sea on |
actual service since January 1777. |
I do not pretend to say, Mr. Printer, that there are no errors in the foregoing accounts, but I am persuaded they are more correct than any which have yet appeared; there are I fancy some omissions, as I cannot think but there are above four men of war sailed for Newfoundland and above five for Quebec; however it is better to err on this wise than to exaggerate. — Permit me now to ask one query.
If to the above men of war you add the guardships in commission, the 50 and 40 gun ships, the frigates, sloops, armed vessels and cruisers in North America and the West Indies, say, in what time could all the powers of Europe combined, whether Turks or Christians, enemies or allies, produce a fleet comparable to ours, either in number or discipline, might or experience? I am, Sir, your constant Reader and new Correspondent,