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 so, as capable of performing valuable service, although not endowed with the quality of extreme speed.

If the sole object were to pursue the ordinary vessels of the merchant service, a speed of 12 knots would suffice; but it may be important, as calculated to produce a certain moral effect, to interrupt the regular postal service of an enemy. It will be admitted that the fastest mail steamer does not exceed 14 to 15 knots in smooth water. M. Dislère accordingly suggests that all we want is a somewhat higher speed, and that 15 to 15½ knots is the extreme speed necessary for ships designed to protect or to intercept commerce. 'We should,' he says, 'if we wish to keep within moderate dimensions, be satisfied with the speed strictly necessary to disturb an enemy's commerce. The task of capturing the armed cruisers of the enemy would devolve on a few, a very few ships of extreme speed, such as the "Inconstant" or the "Duquesne."'

The opinion of Mr. Goschen may be claimed in support of a policy of building smaller ships than those belonging to the 'Bacchante' class. In moving the Navy Estimates in 1872, he said that the Admiralty intended 'to increase the number of the most useful class of ships that they had at that time, those of the "Amethyst" class. Besides that, they proposed to commence two covered corvettes of the "Active" and "Volage" class, large unarmoured cruisers, going 15 knots; for that was a class they thought they could increase with great advantage. They proposed also to complete within the year the frigates "Blonde," since re-named the "Shah,"