sides. He also invented a
method for stopping shot-holes.

In 1791 some experiments were made on board a ship in Portsmouth
Harbour, when he stopped a shot-hole on the outside of the ship, four
feet under water, in the space of one minute, without the assistance of
any person out of the vessel. He stopped in the same manner a space in
the ship's side, four feet under water, of four feet by four inches, in
two minutes and a-half. During the time of effectually curing both
leaks, the ship made only ten inches water in the well.

He also invented a wheel to work the chain-pump, which was much safer
and less liable to get out of order than that before in use.

The French Revolution broke out in 1792. On the 21st of the following
January, the French beheaded their king, Louis the Sixteenth; in
consequence of which the French ambassador at the court of London was
ordered to quit England. A short time before this the new Republic had
exhibited its hostile spirit against England, and on the 2nd of January
a shot had been fired from one of the batteries near Brest on the
British 16-gun brig-sloop _Childers_. Though a 48-pounder shot struck
her, no one was hurt.

On the 1st of February the National Convention declared war against
Great Britain and the United Netherlands.

England at this time possessed nominally 135 ships of war in commission,
and 169 in ordinary or under repair; 21 building or ordering to be
built, and 86 harbour-ships; making in all 411 ships of 402,555 tons.
Of these there was one of 100 guns, 12-pounders, of 2091 tons, in
commission; two of 100 guns, 18-pounders, under repair; and two of 100
guns, 12-pounders, under repair. Of second-rates there were four 98-gun
ships in commission, and eleven under repair; of 90-gun ships there was
one under repair. Of two-deckers third-rate there was one 80-gun ship
in commission and one under repair. Of seventy-fours there were 19 in
commission and 61 under repair. Of sixty-fours there were only two in
commission and 30 under repair, making a total of 113 line-of-battle
ships. There were 75 frigates either in commission or under repair; but
23 of these carried 28 guns only. Of the most useless class of ships in
the service, the 24 and 20 gun post-ships, there were 12 in commission
or under repair. Of 18-gun ship-sloops and gun brigs there were
altogether 40. Besides these there were 25 bomb fire-ships and cutters,
either in commission or under repair, m