CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL
OF
POPULAR
LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART.

THE BRITISH NAVY,
AS IT WAS.

The return of the Arctic Expedition to this country after many months'sojourn amid the ice-floes of the mysterious Polar Sea, has once moredirected public attention to that gallant service which has been theglory and safeguard of these islands.

Though unsuccessful in its main object, the voyage to the North hasagain brought out in high relief those admirable qualities whichare the characteristic of British sailors; for if devotion to duty,courage, skill, and endurance could have enabled Captain Nares and hisbrave companions to plant the glorious old meteor flag of Britain uponthat Ultima Thule of geographers, the summit of the earth, it wouldhave been braving there the fierce arctic gales at this moment. As itis, however, they have written a brilliant page for our island storythat will not soon be forgotten, by carrying forward, in the face ofalmost insurmountable difficulties, to the most northerly point yettouched by the foot of man, the Union-jack of Old England.

Whether the royal navy—for we are mainly speaking of the service underthe crown—will maintain its ancient reputation in new circumstances,is a matter of serious concern. The glory of the service was achievedwhen ships were of wood, and propelled only by the winds. And it isperfectly marvellous what was done under these conditions by all thegreat commanders. Things are now greatly changed. Steam-power isrelied upon, along with huge batteries moved only by machinery. Shipshave become a kind of floating factories, depending on the skill ofengineers, and involving such an immense attention to minutiæ as to bealmost beyond human nature. The pluck of the English sailor remains, asis observable from the Arctic Expedition; but it is a serious questionhow far pluck and the most brilliant seamanship in a commander will beable to perform deeds like those recorded in our naval annals. Before,however, entering on speculations regarding the future (which we shalldo in a subsequent paper), we propose at present to recall to thememory of our readers a few of the naval deeds performed in past times.

The British navy may be sa

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