the 38-ton, and we were not prepared to view with equanimity foreign vessels with an advantage over ours in this respect. The outcome of such views was the 'Inflexible,' designed by Mr Barnaby, then Chief Constructor of the Navy. In her the armour at the side only extended for a length of 110 ft., in the centre of the vessel, so that the complete armoured belt was abandoned. This was the principal innovation, which led to
THE 'INFLEXIBLE.'
much controversy at the time. There was a breastwork or citadel, as in the 'Dreadnought,' the whole breadth of the ship, which was increased to 74 ft., a remarkable amount of beam for a length of 320 ft. In the 'Monarch' the proportions were 330 by 58. By thus contracting the citadel of the 'Inflexible' to 110 ft. it was possible to protect the sides with 24 in. of iron, disposed in two thicknesses of 12 in. each, with a layer of wood backing between. Diagonally across the citadel, and within its walls, were placed two turrets, each armed with a pair of 80-ton guns, such a bound had ordnance made since
