Page:The Development of Navies During the Last Half-Century.djvu/255



the year 1840 steam had already made considerable progress in the Royal Navy since, nineteen years previously, the 'Comet' had made her début at Portsmouth. Fifty years ago there were no less than twenty-nine steam vessels whose names appear in the official Navy List. Of these the most important were the ’Cyclops,' 300 horse power, 1195 tons; the 'Gorgon,' 320 horse power, 1108 tons; and the 'Salamander,' 220 horse power, 818 tons. The first two of these ships were engaged at the bombardment of Acre, and the 'Salamander' was employed on the coast of Spain during the Carlist War.