I did not like the _Defence_. I thought her a dreadful ship. After the immaculate decks, the glittering perfection, the spirit and fire and pride of the _Marlborough_, the "flagship of the world," I was condemned to a slovenly, unhandy, tin kettle which could not sail without steam; which had not even any royal-masts; and which took minutes instead of seconds to cross topgallant yards, a disgusting spectacle to a midshipman of the _Marlborough_. Instead of the splendid sun and blue waters of the Mediterranean, there were the cold skies and the dirty seas of the Channel. I wrote to my father asking him to remove me from the Navy. The _Defence_ was one of the iron-built, or iron-cased, armoured, heavily rigged, steam-driven, broadside-fire vessels launched from 1860 to 1866. They represented the transition from the Old Navy to the New, inasmuch as they retained large sailing powers and broadside fire, combining with these traditional elements, iron construction and steam propulsion. They were the _Warrior_, _Black Prince_, _Defence_, _Resistance_, _Hector_, _Valiant_, _Achilles_, _Minotaur_, _Agincourt_, and _Northumberland_. The _Defence_, launched in 1861, was (in modern terms) of 6270 tons displacement, 2540 h.p., 11.6 knots speed, carried 22 guns, and had a complement of 450 men. She was commanded by Captain Augustus Phillimore, and was one of the Channel Squadron, which, in the year 1863, was commanded by Rear-Admiral Robert Smart, K.H. {42} CHANNEL SQUADRON (NAVY LIST, 1863, DESCRIPTION) Rate H.P. Name Guns Tons Com. Officer Complement 2nd S. 800 Revenge (Flag) 73 3322 Capt. Charles 800 Fellowes Iron-cased ship S. 1250 Warrior 70 6109 Capt. Hon. A. 704 A. Cochrane, C.B. " S. 1250 Black Prince 40 6109 Capt. J. F. A. 704 Wainwright " S. 600 Defence 16 3720 Capt. Augustus 457 Phillimore " S. 600 Resistance 16 3710 Capt. W. C. 457 Chamberlain Gunboat S. 60 Trinculo 2 --- Tender to 24 Revenge The Channel Squadron at that time was employed in cruising round the coasts of the British Isles, in order to familiarise people on shore with the Fleet. In later life it fell to me, as commander-in-chief, to conduct similar cruises, of whose object I thoroughly approve.