war with France, there were naval stores in hand at the different dock-yards, to the amount of 1,812,9827.; and, so rapid was the equipment of ships, "that, at the end of nine months, there was sixty sail of the line in commission, as ships of war; and seventy-four of 50 guns and under, exclusive of sloops and small vessels, more than at the beginning of that period; a degree of dispatch almost astonishing, as nothing to be compared with it had been done in any former war.' When the peace of Amiens was signed on the 1st of October, 1801, the state of the Navy was as follows:---Of the line, and down to 54-gun ships inclusive, 144; 50 and 44-gun ships and frigates, 242; and sloops, armed vessels, &c. 317. Total 703.

"From the foregoing abstract, it appears, that the number of ships and vessels at the conclusion of the war in October, 1801, exceeded the number at the close of the war in 1783, by ships of the line, 6; ships under the line, sloops and other vessels, 241. More, in the whole, 247."

During the last war we took and destroyed, of the enemies' ships, 86 of the line; 3 fifties; 206 frigates; and 275 sloops and small vessels; making a total of 570. The value of the different stores in the dock-yards on the 1st of January, 1802, was 2,610,908. On the 1st of January, 1805, the Royal Navy consisted of 175 ships of the line; 24 from 50 to 60 guns each; and 750 frigates, sloops, and other armed vessels---Total 949. A force, in

possession of which, with proper management, we may bid defiance to the world in arms *.

At the time we are writing this article, we have before us the following piece of intelligence. About 110 men, belonging to this blockaded country, headed by a few officers, landed a few days since on the French coast near Bourdeaux, captured one of the enemy's forts, spiked their guns, blew up the powder, and then calmly returned to their ship.

* A fact is mentioned by the author of the above article, which we had heard before, but the truth of which had been doubted, namely, That in an action with Lord Howe, at the be ginning of last war, and that of Trafalgar, the French used red hot balls. We do not profess to be very conversant with the laws and customs of warfare, but we should think, that a determination to sink every ship that fired red hot shot, would not only be wise but humane.

The author has taken no notice of the reforms introduced by Lord St. Vincent, while he presided at the head of the Admi ralty, though they certainly came within the immediate purpose of his work. But prudential motives, probably, and a know. ledge of his Lordship's disposition, occasioned the omission; and to say the truth, he must be a rash man, who, after what we have lately witnessed, ventures to meddle with this naval noli me tangere. These reforms, however, were so important in their effects, that they deterred that excellent nobleman, Earl Spencer, who had governed the naval department with so much honour to himself, and with so much advantage to his country, from resuming his seat at the Admiralty,

CRITICISM ON SOME ABSURDITIES OF MODERN SCULPTORS,

IN THEIR PERFORMANCES, ORIGINATING FROM A VISIT

TO WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

THE master of the family turned to Edward, and asked him how he had been pleased that morning with Westminster Abbey Doubtless to any other question the young soldier would have returned a plain and simple answer, but his mind being still full of of enthusiasm on that subject, he replied, that he had been delighted, and never in his life before had experienced such feelings. The warmth with which this was delivered, greatly interested the company in his behalf, and as it afforded a new topic of conversation, the abbey with its aisles and towers, the chapel with its curious roof, the tombs of our kings, and the monuments of our best men, soon became the subject of praise and criticism. The conversation grew doubly interesting; for how could men of literature and genius talk of such themes, without awakening a thousand recollections of patriotic and immortal bards? By degrees, however, this enthusiasm subsided, and the taste and execution of these monuments were discussed: some praised the sculpture of this figure, and some of that; but amidst all the remarks made, it was observed that neither Charles nor Edward spoke a word on the subject. "I suppose," said the host to Charles," you have no statues in your village churches, and that consequently you have little knowledge of sculpture?" "I must indeed be very ignorant on

that point, or naturally of a bad taste," replied Charles; "for really several monuments that have been highly praised by these gentlemen, appear to me to be absurd in their very principles." "How so?" asked a connoisseur, who had particularly distinguished himself by descanting on their various merits. "Nay," said Charles, "I do not pretend to set up my judgment in opposition to what seems the general and approved taste of men who have made these subjects their study; but I must confess, it appears to me absolutely ridiculous to see so many naked limbs, in di❤ rect opposition to the habits and manners, not only of the periods in which they lived, but of any nation in Europe for these several centuries past. My friend and I were puzzling our brains to find out a cause, or, to speak truly, an excuse for this taste; but I must own it was beyond our comprehension." "Very like," replied the connoisseur, somewhat nettled:

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yet still there are reasons, which to men of talents have appeared sufficient to justify this practice." As the company seemed to listen to this dispute without any of them interposing, after a short pause, Charles replied, "I should be glad to hear of them, Sir, if it is not too much trouble." 66 By no means," said the other: "in the first place, the Roman garb, both civil and military, is well calculated to shew the art of the sculptor, and the shape of the limbs; the toga, thrown in graceful folds over the shoulders, and round the body, is beyond doubt infinitely more elegant than the modern coat; and, on the other hand, the short military garb serves to shew the turn of the limbs, and enables the sculptor to display

the muscles to the greatest advantage: add to this, the ancient garb being now obsolete has become a sort of classical dress, which will be equally an invariable standard a thousand years hence, as it has been for these two centuries past: whereas, our dress is perpetually varying; and a statue in this dress, even of our grandfathers, with long waistcoat flaps, high pocket-holes, huge wig and rapier, stockings rolled over the knee, and broad-toed shoes, would cut rather a ridiculous figure in Westminster Abbey." "Not

much so,” cried Charles, "as an English admiral in a Roman dress leaning upon a cannon, as in the monument of Admiral Holmes; or as another brave seaman standing between two palm-trees, with his left foot upon the rostrum, or back of an ancient gallery, as that of Admiral Watson; or General Wolfe dying on the field of battle stark naked; or the monument of General Ligonier, in which battering rams are mixed with cannons and bombs, and muskets with shields, as ornaments and supporters. Such incongruities appeared both to my friend and myself as absolutely unpardonable, although, I must confess, your ingenious defence has rendered the ́ custom somewhat more excusable in my eyes than it appeared this morning." After thanking him for the compliment, as the company seemned still willing to hear more upon the subject by not interfering, or changing the conversation, the gentleman went on: “But you still have not weakened my objection to the statues of our great men being represented with modern garbs, namely, the absurd appearance they will make a hundred years hence." "To tell you the