[25] At the beginning of the eighteenth century the English first rates carried 100 guns. The second rate comprised two classes: (1) a three-decker of 90; (2) a two-decker of 80. Ships of these rates were few in number and very expensive. The bulk of our fleets consisted of third rates: two-deckers of 70 guns in war and 62 in peace time and on foreign stations (_Charnock_). [26] Sir C. Knowles: _Observations on Shipbuilding_. [27] _Letters of Sir Byam Martin_: N.R. Soc. [28] Sir C. Knowles: _Observations on Shipbuilding_. [29] In 1784 Thomas Gordon published a treatise entitled _Principles of Naval Architecture_, drawing attention to the work of the French scientists and advocating increased length and breadth, finer lines, and a more systematic disposition of materials, for improving the strength and seaworthiness of our royal ships. No notice was taken of his communications to Lord Sandwich, but there is no evidence that his predicted fate overtook him: “to be traduced as an innovator theorist, and visionary projector, as has been the fate of most authors of useful discoveries in modern times, particularly in Britain.” “The bigotry of old practice,” recorded Mr. Willett in 1793, “opposes everything that looks like innovation.” [30] Fincham says their armament was established as, thirty 32-pounders on the lower deck, thirty 24-pounders on the middle deck, thirty-two 18-pounders on the upper deck, and on the quarter-deck and forecastle eighteen 12-pounders. [31] James: _Naval History_. [32] _Letters of Sir Byam Martin_: N.R. Soc. [33] Sharp: _Memoirs of Rear-Admiral Sir W. Symonds_. [34] Hannay: _Ships and Men_. This formula was known before, for Bushnell mentions it in his _Compleat Shipwright_ of 1678. [35] Sharp: _Memoirs of Admiral Sir W. Symonds_. [36] E. J. Reed: _On the Modifications to Ships of the Royal Navy_. [37] _Ibid._ [38] Lieut.-Col. H. W. L. Hime: _The Origin of Artillery_. [39] In the _Histoire d’Artillerie_ of MM. Reinaud and Favé long excerpts from Bacon are examined, from which it appears that he suggested the use of gunpowder in military operations. Gibbon says: “That extraordinary man, Friar Bacon, reveals two of the ingredients, saltpetre and sulphur, and conceals the third in a sentence of mysterious gibberish, as if he dreaded the consequences of his own discovery.” [40] Lieut. H. Brackenbury, R.A.: _Ancient Cannon in Europe_. Vol. IV and V of Proc. R.A.I. [41] Schmidt: _Armes à feu portatives_. [42] Sir Harry Nicolas, in his _History of the Royal Navy_, attributes the documents to the reign of Edward III: an error of more than seventy years. The mistake is exposed by a writer in Vol. XXVI of _The English Historical Review_, in an article on “Firearms in England in the Fourteenth Century.” The writer also gives the English records relating to the use of firearms at Cressy. [43] Brackenbury.