[5] Some persons regarded the existence of these four small port-holes as converting the tower into a nest for projectiles, although a single enemy could not possibly have attacked more than two of these ports at once, situated as they were. What would such persons think of the batteries of the _Nelson_, _Northampton_, and _Shannon_, each open for more than one hundred feet in length, on each side of the ship, in so far as armor is concerned? [6] The _Italia_ and _Lepanto_, for example. [7] See Notes, page 58. [8] “The British Navy,” vol. i., p. 438. [9] _Ibid._, p. 427. The writer trusts he may be excused from again quoting these very important sentences from the work of the former Secretary to the Admiralty, notwithstanding that he recently had occasion to quote them elsewhere. [10] The reasons for placing this ship in the list of armored ships, against the writer’s own judgment, have been stated previously. (See Notes for new ships.) [11] Harbor-defence vessel. [12] Three turret-vessels, nearly resembling the _Gorgon_, which belong to the Indian and colonial governments, are not included in this list, nor are several unimportant small vessels, _viz._, _Scorpion_, _Wyvern_, _Viper_, _Waterwitch_, and _Vixen_. The very few remaining thinly armored wood-built ships are also excluded. [13] Ships for local defence of ports. [14] Cruisers for distant service. [15] The thicknesses of decks given are those of the horizontal, or nearly horizontal, parts of the deck. Where the decks slope down at the sides the thickness is sometimes increased a little, as will have been seen in the section of the _Mersey_. (See Notes for new ships.) [16] See Notes, page 60. [17] The editor of these Notes wishes to acknowledge his very great indebtedness to the Office of United States Naval Intelligence for the data relating to foreign navies, notably to Lieutenant R. P. Rodgers, Chief Intelligence Officer, and to Lieutenants W. H. Beehler, J. C. Colwell, and W. I. Chambers, Assistants. The notes upon the United States Navy are to a great degree reprints of his own contributions to the editorial and news columns of the New York _Herald_. [18] “Recent Naval Progress,” June, 1887. [19] Lieutenant Colwell, U.S.N., in “Recent Naval Progress,” 1887. [20] Lieutenant Chambers, U.S.N. [21] “Our War Ships,” Cusack-Smith. [22] It is called a belt in _Lloyd’s Universal Register_, but the term is very likely to mislead.—E. J. R.