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 class. Gunboats of from 500 to 700 tons, powerfully armed and capable of attaining a speed of 11 knots, are well fitted for the protection of commerce, or to attack foreign cruisers or privateers like the 'Alabama.'

Having given a general summary of professional opiuiou on this subject, I can best express the conclusions, at which I have arrived, by quoting the two following questions, propounded by Captain Hood, with the replies of Captain Waddilove. Captain Hood asked a question No. 2,388 in the blue-book of the Committee on Naval Designs: 'Looking solely to the protection of our commerce, and seeing that the "Inconstant," of 4,006 tons, steams 16½ knots at the measured mile, and the "Volage," of 2,300 tons, steams 15¼ knots, would it be more advisable to have a certain number of "Inconstants,"or double the number of "Volages?'" He is answered by Captain Waddilove: 'Taking the question of Admiral Elliott, if you are to capture privateers of great speed, you must have something that will equal or surpass them in speed. I think that double the number of "Volages" would be a better provision for the protection of our commerce than half the number of "Inconstants."'

'Do not you think that a vessel of 2,300 tons, possessing the power of steaming 15 knots, has ample speed for the protection of our commerce?' To this question the answer was: 'I should think she probably has; but if the enemy's vessel were faster than that, of course it would be insufficient.'

It is proper to add that Mr. Reed expressed