Virginia Argus

According to Steel's list for July 1811.
Of the line	-	254
Fifties and forty-fours	-	35
Frigates	-	247
Sloops and Yachts	-	196
Bombs and fire-ships	-	12
Brigs	-	183
Cutters	-	32
Schooners, gun vessels, luggers, &c.	-	83

VIRGINIA ARGUS

RICHMOND, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1811.

For the Virginia Argus

Total 1,042

The actual disposition of this force is as follows:

In the Downs. 3 ships of the line; 1 frigate; 10 sloops or yachts; 8 brigs; 2 cutters; 3 gun-vessels. Total, 27.

North Sea and Baltic. 20 ships of fifties; 12 frigates; 22 sloops or brigs; 6 cutters; 6 gun-vessels.

English channel and on the coast of France. 9 ships of the line; 1 fifty; 9 frigates; 10 sloops or yachts; 12 brigs; 9 cutters; 6 gun vessels. Total, 56.

On the Irish station. 1 ship of the line; 5 frigates; 1 sloop or yacht; 2 brigs; 2 cutters; 8 gun-vessels. Total, 19.

Of Jersey, Guernsey, &c. 1 ship of the line; 1 forty-four; 2 brigs; 2 cutters; 3 gun-vessels. Total, 9.

On the coast of Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar. 29 ships of the line; 1 fifty; 22 frigates; 14 sloops or yachts; 3 bomb, or fire-ships; 16 brigs; 5 cutters; 4 gun-vessels. Total, 94.

In the Mediterranean and on Passage. 19 ships of the line; 33 frigates; 13 sloops or yachts; 17 brigs; 1 cutter; 2 gun vessels. Total, 85.

On the coast of Africa. 1 frigate; 1 sloop. Total, 2.

At Halifax, Newfoundland, &c. 3 ships of the line; 1 fifty; 5 frigates; 11 sloops or yachts; 2 brigs; 7 gun-vessels. Total, 29.

West Indies, viz. Leeward Islands, Jamaica, and on Passage. 2 ships of the line; 1 fifty; 19 frigates; 17 sloops and yachts; 20 brigs; 1 cutter; 9 gun-vessels. Total, 69.

In South America. 2 ships of the line; 7 frigates; 1 sloop; 3 brigs. Total, 13.

Cape of Good-Hope and Southward. 2 ships of the line; 10 frigates; 4 brigs. Total, 16.

India, and on Passage. 5 ships of fifties; 19 frigates; 3 sloops and yachts; 5 brigs; 1 cutter. Total, 32.

From which it appears that the British have, at sea Total, 548

It furthermore appears from this statement, that the British have, in the American seas, that is to say, at Halifax, Newfoundland, in the West-Indies, and in South America—

Ships of the line	-	-	7
Fifties or forty-fours	-	-	2
Frigates	-	-	31
Sloops and Yachts	-	-	29
Bombs and fire ships	-	-	3
Brigs	-	-	25
Cutters	-	-	8
Gun-Vessels	-	-	16

besides the ships at sea, there are in port and fitting, 20 ships of the line: 8 fifties or forty-fours; 13 frigates; 27 sloops and yachts; 1 bomb or fire-ship; 17 brigs; 3 cutters; 30 gun-vessels. Total, 119.

Guard-Ships. 4 ships of the line: 2 fifties or forty-fours; 4 frigates; 4 sloops and yachts. Total, 14.

Hospital-ships, Prison-ships, &c. 30 ships of the line; 4 fifties or forty-fours; 4 frigates. Total, 38.

Total in Commission. Total, 719

In Ordinary and repairing for service.

Ships of the line 65

Fifties or forty-fours: 11

Frigates 83

Sloops and Yachts 60

Bombs, or, fire-ships 4

Gun-Vessels .. :. Total, 261

Building Total, 62

All of which make the grand total, before-mentioned, of 1,042. Of these the following numbers have been taken from the nations specified:

Establishment of Rates and Men. Total, 207

1st rate, a ship, of 100 guns, has from 875 men to 850

2d rate, from 98 to 90 guns, from 750 to 700.

3d rate, from 80 to 64 guns, from 650 to 500.

4th rate, from 60 to 50 guns, from 420 to 320.

5th rate, from 40 to 32 guns, from 300 to 220. 295

Ships of the line	-	-	39
Fifties or forty-fours	-	-	2
Frigates	-	-	19
Sloops and Yachts	-	-	2

From the French	109
Danish	46
Spanish	25
Dutch	24
Italians	3

6th rate, from 28 to 20 guns, from 200 to 140.

Sloops, from 18 to 16 guns, from 120 to 90.

Gun-brigs, cutters, &c. from 14 to 6 guns, from 50 to 25.

When an admiral's flag is hoisted in a first rate, her complement of men is 875; when a vice-admiral, 870; a rear-admiral, 855. Ships of the line, fifties, frigates, and royal yachts, are commanded by post-captains: Sloops of war, bombs, fire-ships, armed ships, store-ships, and arm's en flute under fifty guns, by commanders. Schooners, cutters, &c. by lieutenants. Store-sloops, occasionally, by masters. Small craft by midshipmen, who have passed for lieutenants.

It is this prodigious naval force which so much inflates the pride of Great Britain, and has rendered her so imperious to other nations. It may easily be conceived that the officers, seamen, agents, and their relations and friends, who are connected, either directly in or indirectly, with this immense establishment, must be exceedingly numerous, and of course; must have great weight in any question on of peace war.

From the insolent tone of the British prints it is evident that the prompt behavior of commo- the affair of the Little Belt, luO:cth naval feeling of the British puy.ic M lle nary interest alone sways thic Eugh Counciis, we shall, in all probabi- litv, have a war. But. we still believe the Bri- tish ministry will not be so wilfully blind as to rush into a measure which mist precipitate the downfall of tiiat empire; for it. will not c3cape the observation of s:gacious men, that althongh. 'we cannct- canc, with :the 'naval strength of Great Britain, 'vet tihat we can give her very vital blows in another way.