station in the line of battle were third-rates. The first and
second rates were exceptional vessels, and were only employed in
particular services. A comparative table of the dimensions and armament
of the various rates, or classes in the year 1688, is annexed:--

------------+------+---------+---------+---------+-------+---------+-------
| | | | | | Guns |
|Length| | Depth | Draught | | on war |
Designation.| of | Breadth.| of | of | Tons. | service | Crew.
| keel.| | hold. | water. | | at home.|
------------+------+---------+---------+---------+-------+---------+-------
| Feet.| Feet. | Feet. | Feet. | | |
1st Rate |128 to| 40 to | 17.9 to | 20 to |1100 to| 90 to | 600 to
| 146 | 48 | 19.8 | 23.6 | 1740 | 100 | 815
2nd Rate |121 to| 37 to | 17 to | 16 to |1000 to| 82 to | 540 to
| 143 | 45 | 19.8 | 21 | 1500 | 90 | 660
3rd Rate |115 to| 34 to | 14.2 to | 16 to | 750 to| 60 to | 350 to
| 140 | 40 | 18.3 | 18.8 | 1174 | 74 | 470
4th Rate | 88 to| 27 to | 11.2 to | 12.8 to | 342 to| 32 to | 180 to
| 280 | 34 | 15.6 | 17.8 | 680 | 50 | 230
5th Rate | 72 to| 23.6 to | 9.9 to | 11.6 to | 211 to| 26 to | 125 to
| 81 | 27 | 11 | 13.2 | 333 | 30 | 135
------------+------+---------+---------+---------+-------+---------+-------

The first so-called frigate was designed by Peter Pett, and built at
Chatham in 1646. She was named the _Constant Warwick_. Her dimensions
were: length of keel, 85 ft.; breadth, 26 ft. 5 in.; depth, 13 ft. 2
in.; tonnage, 315; guns, 32; crew, 140. She worked havoc amongst the
privateers of the time.

The bomb-ketch was originally introduced by a famous French naval
architect named Bernard Renan, about 1679. This class of warship was
first employed by Louis XIV. in the bombardment of Algiers, where it
produced an enormous effect. Bomb-ketches were of about 200 tons
burthen, very broad in proportion to their length, and built with great
regard to strength, on account of the decks having to bear the downward
recoil of the mortars. The latter were placed in the fore-part of the
vessel, which was purposely left unencumbered wit