The former class would be the more useful in distant seas, the latter would be the more valuable nearer home.
Programme of 1875–6Estimates for the present year provision has been made for building 10,359 tons weight of hull of armoured ships, and 3,453 tons only of unarmoured ships. Of the latter there are of iron corvettes with covered battery 1,452 tons, of which the ships of the 'Bacchante' class represents 960 tons, and those of the 'Euryalus' type 491 tons. Of small composite corvettes of the 'Magicienne' class there are to be built 551 tons. Of composite sloops there are to be built 1,050 tons, of which the 'Cormorant' class, of four guns, 900 horse-power, and 642 tons, represents approximately one-half of the proposed tonnage. The ton weight of hull is not the same thing as a ton of displacement, but for the purpose of comparison the mode of calculation adopted in the Estimates is satisfactory.
No exception can be taken to the programme in regard to the proportions the proposed additions to the various classes of ships bear to one another. But, considering the state of other Navies as to unarmoured ships, the next vessel to be laid down should be of the 'Magicienne' rather than the 'Boadicea' type.
The cost of the 'Bacchante' is, for the hull 109,200l. and for the engines 72,000l., or a total of 181,200l. Hence it will be seen that we can build five ships of the 'Magicienne' type for two of the 'Bacchante' type; and seeing that, for the protection of commerce, the 'Magicienne' class are adequate in power and speed, it is good policy to build ships of the smaller rather