RATES (continued)

Ships of the third rate carry from 64 to 80 cannon, which are 32, 18, and 9 pounders. The 80-gun Ships however begin to grow out of repute, and to give way to those of 70, &c. which have only two whole batteries; whereas the former have three, with 28 guns planted on each, the cannon of their upper-deck being the same as those on the quarter-deck and fore-castle of the latter, which are 9 pounders. The complement in a 74 is 650, and in a 64, 500 men; having, in peace, 4 lieutenants, but in war, 5; and when an admiral is aboard, 6. They have 3 master's mates, 16 midshipmen, 3 surgeon's mates, 10 quarter-masters and their mates, 6 boatswain's mates and yeomen, 4 gunner's mates and yeomen, with 18 quarter-gunners, 1 carpenter's mates, with 8 assistants, and 1 steward and steward's mate under the purser.

Ships of the fourth rate mount from 60 to 50 guns, upon two decks, and the quarter-deck. The lower tier is composed of 24 pounders, the upper tier of 12 pounders, and the cannon on the quarter-deck and fore-castle are 6 pounders. The complement of a 50 gun ship is 350 men; in which there are three lieutenants, 2 master's mates, 4 midshipmen, 2 surgeon's mates, 8 quarter-masters and their mates, 4 boatswain's mates and yeomen, 1 gunner's mate and 1 yeoman, with 12 quarter-gunners, 1 carpenter's mate and 6 assistants, and a steward and steward's mate.

All vessels of war, under the fourth rate, are usually comprehended under the general name of frigates, and never appear in the line of battle. They are divided into the 5th and 6th rates, the former mounting from 40 to 32 guns, and the latter from 28 to 20. The largest of the fifth rate have two decks of cannon, the lower battery being of 18 pounders, and that of the upper-deck of 9 pounders; but those of 36 and 32 guns have only one complete deck of guns, mounting 12 pounders, besides the quarter-deck and fore-castle, which carry 6 pounders. The complement of a ship of 44 guns, is 280 men and that of a frigate of 36 guns, 240 men. The first has 3, and the second 2 lieutenants; and both have 2 master's mates, 6 midshipmen, 2 surgeon's mates, 6 quarter-mailers and their mates, 2 boatswain's mates, and 1 yeoman, 1 gunner's mate and 1 yeoman, with 10 or 11 quarter-gunners, and 1 purser's steward.

Frigates of the 6th rate carry 9 pounders, those of 28 guns having pounders on their quarter-deck, with 200 men for their complement; and those of 24, 160 men; the former has 2 lieutenants, the latter, 1; and both have 2 master's mates, 4 midshipmen, 1 surgeon's mate, quarter-mailers and their mates, 1 boatswain's mate and 1 yeoman, 1 gunner's mate and 1 yeoman, with 6 or 7 quarter-gunners, and 1 purser's steward.

The sloops of war carry from 18 to 8 cannon, the largest of which have 6 pounders; and the smallest, viz. those of 8 and 10 guns, 4 pounders. Their officers are generally the same as in the 6th rates, with little variation; and their complements of men are from 120 to 6o, in proportion to their force or magnitude.

N.B. Bomb-vessels are on the same establishment as sloop; but fireships and hospital-ships are on that of fifth rates.

Reference Works