The dimensions of the Black Prince are as follows: This vessel is to be armed with Armstrong guns; and the engines, though nominally 1250 horse power, may, it is said, be wrought up to about 4000 or 5000. But the great peculiarity of this ship is, the enormous strength of its build and the thickness of the steel plates with which it is sheathed. About 213 feet of each side of the vessel is rendered impervious to shot or shell, by armour plates of wrought iron, from 15 to 16 feet long, 3 to 4 broad, and 41⁄2 inches thick, each plate averaging upwards of four tons. Their edges are planed, and they are fitted together with tenon and groove joints. In order to deaden the effect of shot, 18 inches of Indian teak wood are interposed between the armour and the "skin," or really water-tight iron shell of the vessel. The teak is of two thicknesses,-10 and 8 inches the former being laid with the length-way of the plank, running fore and aft, and the other layer of 8 inches being placed vertically. This sheathing of iron and wood extends from a little above the gunwale to about 5 feet below the water line. The armour-sheathed space is pierced on the main or gun-deck with thirteen port-holes on each side for 26 guns. These ports are contracted to about two feet, in consequence of the carriage being so constructed that the gun pivots round a point near the outer edge of the port. L The central armour-clad space and the bottom of the ship are divided into water-tight compartments in order to keep the vessel afloat if seriously damaged, and by this means any damage to the exterior plating, and the flooding arising from it, will be merely local. The moulded depth of the vessel is 41 feet. The armour plates cover 22 feet in depth of the top sides, 16 of which will be exposed above the water line, the armour thus descending about 6 feet below the surface of the water. The intention of government originally was that the vessel should be a steam ram, for the purpose of running down an enemy's vessel, and it was accordingly constructed with a stem of dimensions and strength commensurate with the work it was designed to accomplish. But the stem might be shattered by the collision, or it might be completely blown away, and so might the stern, which is not protected with armour. Yet, even should the stem and stern be thus blown to atoms, a new stem and stern are lying readymade underneath! The keel of the vessel is placed internally where it forms one of an extensive set of girders which run fore and aft, and between these deep floor-plates are introduced, to the lower edge of which and to the girders the plating of the bottom is attached. The frames, which consist of 10-inch plates and angle irons, are rivetted to the inside cage of the floors, and a great part of the bottom is then plated over on the inside of these, and made perfectly water-tight, thus forming a double security in case of injury to the bottom from grounding or any other cause. The vessel is built in compartments, so that, in the event of any part receiving damage, the damage is confined to the particular locality. For this purpose there are strong iron bulkheads running longitudinally from within a few yards of the stern, on each side of the vessel. The figure-head, which represents Edward the Black Prince in a complete suit of armour of the period, has been carved with much artistic skill from a built block of wood 16 feet in length, by Messrs Kay and Reid, ship-carvers, Glasgow. CHAPTER IX. THE MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. LIGHTS and shadows vary the aspects of nature, moral as well as physical. This work being a sort of picture of nautical affairs-a somewhat sketchy and miscellaneous one, no doubt we think it advisable to change the tone of our colouring here, and turn from the deeds to the misdeeds of man-of-war's-men. And the best illustration we could bring forward perhaps is THE MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. This subject will again convey us to the romantic and sunny regions of the South Seas. Seventeen years after Cook's return from his first voyage, a number of merchants resident in London, and connected with the West India trade, being desirous of introducing the bread-fruit tree into the West India Islands as an article of food, preferred a request to government that a vessel should be fitted out and sent to the South Seas for the purpose of procuring specimens and transporting them to the West Indies.* Government agreed. A small vessel of 215 tons was purchased and carefully fitted out with all the necessary appliances for her peculiar duty, under the able superintendence of Sir Joseph Banks. Lieutenant Bligh, who had * For description of bread-fruit, see page 192. |