Transcriber’s Notes: Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. Equal signs “=” before and after a word or phrase indicate =bold= in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved. Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected. NAVIES of THE WORLD; GIVING CONCISE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PLANS, ARMAMENT AND ARMOR OF THE NAVAL VESSELS OF TWENTY OF THE PRINCIPAL NATIONS. TOGETHER WITH THE _LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN ORDNANCE, TORPEDOES, AND NAVAL ARCHITECTURE_, AND A CONCISE SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL NAVAL BATTLES OF THE LAST TWENTY YEARS, 1860-1880. BY LIEUT. EDWARD W. VERY, U.S.N. NEW YORK: JOHN WILEY & SONS, 15 ASTOR PLACE. 1880. COPYRIGHTED, 1880, BY JOHN WILEY & SON. PREFACE During the past twenty years the changes in the “matériel” of which fleets are composed have been so rapid and universal that it has been impossible at any time to form a true estimate of the strength of the navy of any maritime power that would be of any value beyond a very limited time. With displacements advancing from 5000 to 13,000 tons; weight and power of ordnance developing beyond the most exaggerated conceptions of twenty years ago; torpedo warfare springing into existence and developing as a new and special arm; modifications in engines and boilers by which speed has been developed from 12 to 18 knots, and steaming capacity from 2500 to 6000 miles; the revolution of naval tactics, and the entire change in the conditions of naval warfare brought about by the development of armor defence and the ram attack,—it is only through paying the closest attention and under exceptionally favorable circumstances that naval officers have been able to comprehend the magnitude of the general result. It is only within the past two years that the craze for naval development has subsided to a slow and steady advance, and the present time has been seized upon as one favorable for measuring the actual strength and resources of the navies of the world.