command to seaward, they are excellently placed for the security of the port, and they are reinforced by other batteries of 7-in. guns, also covering the anchorage. There is, moreover, another battery of these guns upon a high hill in the centre of the island. It is probable that these works would be sufficiently strong to deter any stray cruisers from attempting to force an entrance for the purpose of destroying the coal depots, and it is unlikely that a belligerent Power would detach a fleet for the purpose.

JAMAICA.

Jamaica has been treated rather cavalierly in the scheme of defence, although it is a position of considerable consequence as a coaling station, in that it possesses the finest harbour and the only dockyard in the West Indies. Lord Brassey points out, with great justice, the extravagance exhibited in the items of expenditure for this last-mentioned establishment. It appears to be only suited for obsolete and diminutive vessels, and the supervision of repairs there costs annually ten times the value of the repairs executed. But the persistence of the French engineers in carrying out the project for a canal across the Isthmus of Panama develops features of interest hitherto non-existent in the position of Kingston Harbour, in Jamaica, as it is only two days' steaming from the town of Aspinwall, and would certainly be selected for an observing station in the event of complications involving the new canal route when finished. Port Royal, which commands the approaches to the anchorage of Kingston Harbour, is defended by several important works, including Apostles Battery and Fort Augusta, which are judiciously situated, having high command. Their armament consists of batteries of 10-in. R. M. L. guns of 18 tons, and others of less calibre. No modern breech-loaders have as yet been mounted there. A sum of £9000 has been voted for increasing the magazine accommodation at the station, and the necessary alterations are being carried out. But, in its present condition, an enemy's ironclad fleet, with long-range guns, could lie off the eastern arm of Kingston Harbour and shell that town, together with the naval establishment at Port Royal, without any defence being possible, as the carriages of the guns only admit of elevation up to seven degrees, and this would only cover a range of two and a quarter miles. Jamaica is, therefore, in a "parlous state," irrespective of its dockyard arrangements, which require extensive overhaul.

INDEX.

A.

ABSTRACT of Navy Estimates, 1889–90,

568-569.

number of officers, seamen, boys,
coastguard, and royal marines, 568.
effective services, 568.

non-effective services, 568.

Abyssinia, Indian Marine, 254, 273,
and Plate 1.

Acheron (French), 292, and Plate 65.
Action taken by Admiralty for prepara-

tion of designs for first-class battle
ships, 558.

Active, 256, and Plate 29.

Aden, protection of, 700.

Additional men for the fleet, 146.

Additions on account of naval pro-

grammes of 1889..628, 629.

to the list of ships, building and
completing, 627.

Admiral class, 51, 163, and Plates 5, 6,
and 8.

Administration, French Navy, 625.

disposition of barbettes, Advantage of building ships rapidly,

561, and Plates 5 and 8.

and belted cruisers, 499.
Mr. White's evidence on,

499, 500.

sinkage of, 52.

Colomb, on the naval mobiliza-

tion, 1888.. 21.

Darby, 7.

rams, 503.

144.

Advantages of quick-firing guns, 53.
Affondatore, 312, and Plate 98.

Aggregate cost of effective and non-

effective ships, 588, 589.

Agostino Barbarigo, 314, and Plate 104.]
Albert (Colonial), 274, and Plate 40.
Alexander II., 81, 331, and Plate 123.

Goldborough on the value of Alexandria, bombardment of, 9.

Grieg, 331, and Plate 115.

Hood does not agree with

committee, 444.

observations on report of
naval manœuvres, 444.

Krantz's views on wars of the

future, 233.

Lazareff, 331, and Plate 115.
Lord Torrington, 16.

Alger, Plate 82a.

Almirante Brown, 277, and Plate 47.
Cochrane, 285, and Plate 57.
Alternative dispositions of armament
considered and not approved, 557,

Alma, 292, and Plate 67.

Alternative routes to the East, 11.
American battle-ship, 163, and Plate
139a.

steel manufactories, 677.