The temperance system adopted on board the American vessels had resulted in the greatest possible advantage, both in the efficiency and discipline of the crews; and, with these, in the increased safety of the ship and consequent diminution in the rates of insurance. Indeed, Mr. Minturn stated that American underwriters attached so much importance to it, that at the commencement of this reform they encouraged it by offering to return 10 per cent. on the premium, on all vessels that performed a voyage without the use of ardent spirits. Such are a few of the leading points of evidence furnished to the Lords’ Committee, who adjourned _sine die_ on the 6th July, 1848. FOOTNOTES: [80] I take this from Mr. Labouchere’s account given many months afterwards. See Hansard, vol. xcviii. p. 1008. [81] These are the exact words given by Mr. Labouchere in his speech, May 15, 1848. [82] _Vide_ ‘Parliamentary Papers,’ vol. lix., 1847-8, p. 33. [83] Vice-President of the Board of Trade. [84] This paper was the Government organ. [85] See Hansard, vol. xcvi. p. 1313. [86] ‘Parliamentary Paper, 1847,’ No. 28. [87] How completely this prediction has been falsified by the substitution of steam vessels for all the old sailing line-of-battle ships! [88] The first ship of the line built by contract was in 1755, when Messrs. Wells built the _Elizabeth_, of 74 guns; and, since that time, private shipbuilders have contributed greatly to the public wants. They built and repaired (chiefly in the last war) 93 sail of line-of-battle ships, and 466 frigates and smaller vessels, making a total of 559 vessels of war. In the last war Napoleon I. had as building ports, Venice, Genoa, Toulon, Rochefort, L’Orient, Cherbourg, Antwerp, and, practically also, all the ports of Holland. [89] One of the most remarkable incidents of the manning of a ship of war is that of Sir Edward Pellew and H.M.S. _Nymphe_. When war was declared by the French in February, 1793, it was unexpected; and the navy was on a peace establishment of only 16,000 sailors and marines. It was necessary at once to increase this number to 60,000. Pellew, finding it impossible to get seamen for his frigate, at once put eighty Cornish miners on board his ship, and a few months later fought and won the celebrated action with the _Cleopatra_—most of his crew never having seen a shot fired before. (See Osler’s ‘Life of Viscount Exmouth.’) [90] There belonged, in round numbers, to the United Kingdom and her colonies and possessions on the 1st January, 1875, 7,500,000 tons of merchant vessels: of these about 2,000,000 tons were steam vessels; and as each of these will perform the work of four sailing vessels, it may be said that we now possess in our merchant service an equivalent to 13,500,000 registered tons of sailing shipping, so that in twenty-five years we have more than trebled Admiral Martin’s highest estimate.