CHAPTER XI
STEAM PROPULSION
Steam Navy in 1840 — Machinery at that Date — Paddle-Wheel Frigates and Sloops — Horse Power, Nominal and Indicated — Voyage of 'Inflexible' — 'Banshee' — Introduction of the Screw Propeller — 'Fairy' — 'Duke of Wellington' — 'Victoria' — Substitution of Iron for Wood — 'Warrior' and 'Black Prince' — 'Octavia,' 'Arethusa,' and 'Constance' — Progress made up to 1865 — Compound Engines — 'Pallas' — Increase of Boiler Pressure — Twin Screws — 'Inconstant' — Loss of the 'Captain' — 'Iris' and 'Mercury' — Steel Protective Decks — 'Polyphemus' — Forced Draught — 'Lightning' — Yarrow's Boats — 'Rattlesnake' — Triple Expansion — 'Barham' and 'Bellona' — Decrease in Weight of Machinery — Difference between Men-of-War and Merchant Ships — 'Blake' and 'Blenheim' — Large Number of Auxiliary Engines — Supply of Fresh Water — Evaporators — The 'Yaryan' — Growth of Steam in the Navy — Personnel — Probable Approach of Finality in Marine Engineering.
In the year 1840 steam had already made considerable progress in the Royal Navy since, nineteen years previously, the 'Comet' had made her début at Portsmouth. Fifty years ago there were no less than twenty-nine steam vessels whose names appear in the official Navy List. Of these the most important were the ’Cyclops,' 300 horse power, 1195 tons; the 'Gorgon,' 320 horse power, 1108 tons; and the 'Salamander,' 220 horse power, 818 tons. The first two of these ships were engaged at the bombardment of Acre, and the 'Salamander' was employed on the coast of Spain during the Carlist War.
