The length of this boat is 75 feet, its beam 10 feet, and draught of water 3 feet. She is built of steel of the best quality, no other metal possessing the requisite strength and stiffness for scantling, and plates of such lightness. It is divided into eight compartments by seven transverse bulkheads, the forward and after compartments being used for stores, the two central ones enclosing the machinery, while the steersman and operator are placed in the compartment immediately abaft the engines. The steersman's head projects above the deck, and is protected by a rifle proof steel truncated cone, the top part of which is movable like the visor of a helmet. The hull is decked over from end to end with a curved shield, the midship plating of which is capable of resisting rifle shots, even at close quarters; its curved form being well adapted for giving the maximum strength to the structure, and quickly frees itself from any large body of water. [Illustration: YARROW'S TORPEDO BOATS. PLATE XLIX] The propelling machinery consists of a pair of inverted compound condensing engines. The revolutions per minute at full speed are about 470, and the indicated horse power about 280. The propeller is of steel. The funnel is fixed at one side of the centre line, to be out of the way of the bow torpedo pole and gear. This type of torpedo boat attains a speed of from 17-1/2 to 18-1/2 knots per hour. The armament of some of these boats consists of three spar torpedoes, a bow, and two quarter ones. The bow pole, which is strong and heavy, is hauled out and in by means of a small auxiliary engine. Boats similar to these, but of larger dimensions, viz. 84 feet long and 11 feet beam, have also been constructed by this firm. Speed from 19 to 20 knots per hour. _English Torpedo Boats._--The following account of two torpedo boats which had been originally built by this firm for the Russian government, but, owing to the proclamation issued by the English government at this time prohibiting torpedo boats leaving England, were seized by the Customs authorities when on the point of completion, and were ultimately purchased by the English government, is an extract from the _Times_ under date the 4th of July, 1878.