At that juncture, so great were the
maritime resources of England, that a naval authority thus reported
concerning her resources:--"From our ships in reserve and building, we
could form a naval force far surpassing that which any other nation in
the world can boast of having afloat. We have in reserve, at the four
ports of Portsmouth, Devonport, Chatham, and Sheerness, not less than
161 vessels of the 'effective ships of the royal navy,' and these
estimated to carry not less than 6,807 guns. Besides these, too, we have
a goodly number of paddle-wheels and other small craft. Though some of
the vessels may not, without considerable repairs, be in a state to send
to sea, yet most of them are excellent sea-going vessels--far superior,
indeed, to anything Russian--and could be fitted out for service on
very short notice. Then we have of vessels building--5 at Portsmouth,
7 at Devonport, 1 at Sheerness, 6 at Chatham, 11 at Pembroke, 4 at
Deptford, 4 at Woolwich, and one at Mill wall.--Total 39." The French
naval force in the Black Sea, under the command of Vice-admiral Hamelin,
was composed of the _Friedland, Valmy, Ville de Paris, Henri IV.,
Bayard, Charlemagne, Lena, Lupiter, Marengo, Gomer, Descartes, Vauban,
Mogador, Cacique, Magellan, Sane, Caton, Serieuse, Mercure, Oliviere,
Beaumanoir, Cerf, Promethee, Salamandre, Heron, and Monette._ The
squadron of Viceadmiral Bruat, intended to act in the Black Sea, the Sea
of Gallipoli, and in the Eastern Archipelago, comprised the following
vessels:--_Montebello, Napoleon, Suffren, Jean Bart, Ville de Marseille,
Alger, Pomone, Caffarelli, Roland_ and Primauguet. Independently of
these three squadrons, and all the frigates, or steam corvettes, which
were assembled in the Mediterranean for the transport of the army of the
East, were all the naval stations in the West Indies, the Pacific Ocean,
the Indo-China seas, and in all quarters where the fishing interest
existed.

The first bombardment of Sebastopol took place on the 17th of October,
in which the fleet took an active part; but the combined efforts of the
artillery, afloat and ashore, failed to subdue the gigantic works which
had arisen for the defence.

The allied fleets rendered great services in protecting Eupatoria, which
had been garrisoned mainly by Turkish troops, and which the Russians
vigilantly watched and incessantly harassed.

Various bombardments and incessant watching occupied the fleets until,
in the following