Genre:

Essay

Subjects:

Steamships, Military Technology, National Efficiency, Dynamics

    Warns that with regard to 'iron-cased frigates, we have suddenly discovered the French to be far in advance of us' (120). It is a matter of national urgency that England be 'provided with a sufficiency of iron-clad vessels of the best construction science can devise' so that 'our navy will be rendered fit to cope with that of any enemy upon the seas'. In particular, these ships should be made of iron plates 'fixed sloping inwards obliquely, in order that the shot striking them may glance'. (122)