a general name for all large vessels with sails, fit for navigation on the sea; except galleys, which go with oars, and smack-falls. See Navigation.

A ship is undoubtedly the noblest machine that ever was invented; and consists of so many parts, that it would require a whole volume to describe it minutely. However, we shall endeavour to satisfy the reader the more fully on this head, as it is an article of the utmost importance. And first, to give an idea of the several parts and members of a ship, both external and internal, with their respective names in the sea-language, in Plate CXLVIII, is represented a ship of war of the first rate, with rigging, &c., at anchor: Where A is the cat-head; B, the fore-chains; C, the main chains; D, the Mizzen-chains; E, the entering part; F, the hawse holes; G, the poop lanterns; H, the ches-tree; I, the head; K, the stern; L, The bow-pit. 1, 2, Yard and sail. 3, Gammong. 4, horfe. 5, Bob-stay. 6, Sprit-sail sheets. 7, Pendants. 8, Braces and pendants. 9, Halliards. 10, Lifts. 11, Clew-lines. 12, Sprit-sail horses. 13, Bunt-lines. 14, Standing lifts. 15, Sprit sail top. 16, Flying jib boom. 17, Flying jib stay and sail. 18, Halliards. 19, Sheets. 20, Horses

M, The sprit-sail top-mast. 21, Shrouds. 22, 23, Yard and sail. 24, Sheet. 25, Lifts. 26, Braces and pendants. 27, Cap. 28, Jack staff. 29, Truck. 30, Jack flag.

N, The fore-mast. 31, Runner and tackle. 32, 33, Shrouds. 34, Laniards. 35, Stay and laniard. 36, Preventer Preventer-stay and laniard. 37. Woolding the mast. 38. Yard and sail. 39. Horses. 40. Top. 41. Crowfoot. 42. Jeers. 43. Yard tackles. 44. Lifts. 45. Braces and pendants. 46. Sheets. 47. Fore tackle. 48. Bow-lines and bridles. 49. Fore bunt-lines. 50. Fore leech lines. 51. Fore top rope. 52. Puttock shrouds.

O. The fore top mast. 53. Shrouds and laniards. 55. Yard and sail. 56. Stay and sail. 57. Runner. 58. Back stays. 59. Halliards. 60. Luffs. 61. Braces and pendants. 62. Horses. 63. Clew-lines. 64. Bow-lines and bridles. 65. Reef-tackles. 66. Sheets. 67. Bunt-lines. 68. Crofs trees. 69. Cap.

P. The fore top gallant mast. 70. Shrouds and laniards. 72. Yard and sail. 73. Back stays. 74. Stay. 75. Lifts. 76. Clew-lines. 77. Braces and pendants. 78. Bow-lines and bridles. 79. Flag staff. 80. Truck. 81. Flag staff stay. 82. Flag of lord high admiral.

Q. The mainmast. 83. Shrouds. 85. Laniards. 86. Runner and tackle. 87. Pendant of the gornet. 88. Guy of ditto. 89. Sail of ditto. 90. Stay. 91. Preventer stay. 92. Stay tackle. 93. Woolding the mast. 94. Jeers. 95. Yard tackles. 96. Lifts. 97. Braces and pendants. 98. Horses. 99. Sheets. 100. Tacks. 101. Bow-lines and bridles. 102. Crowfoot. 103. Top rope. 104. Top. 105. Bunt-lines. 106. Leech-lines. 107. Yard and sail.

R. The main top mast. 108. Shrouds and laniards. 110. Yard and sail. 111. Puttock shrouds. 112. Back stays. 113. Stay. 114. Stay sail and stay halliards. 115. Runnets. 116. Halliards. 117. Lifts. 118. Clew-lines. 119. Braces and pendants. 120. Horses. 121. Sheets. 122. Bow-lines and bridles. 123. Bunt-lines. 124. Reef tackles. 125. Crofs trees. 126. Cap.

S. The main top gallant mast. 127. Shrouds and laniards. 129. Yard and sail. 130. Back stays. 131. Stay. 132. Stay sail and halliards. 133. Lifts. 134. Braces and pendants. 135. Bow-lines and bridles. 136. Clew-lines. 137. Flag staff. 138. Truck. 139. Flag staff stay. 140. Flag standard.

T. The mizen mast. 141. Shrouds and laniards. 143. Pendants and burtons. 144. Yard and sail. 145. Crowfoot. 146. Sheet. 147. Pendant lines. 148. Peck brails. 149. Stay sail. 150. Stay. 151. Derrick and spann. 152. Top. 153. Crofs jack yard. 154. Crofs jack lifts. 155. Crofs jack braces. 156. Crofs jack slings.

V. The mizen top mast. 157. Shrouds and laniards. 159. Yard and sail. 160. Back stays. 161. Stay. 162. Halliards. 163. Lifts. 164. Braces and pendants. 165. Bow-lines and bridles. 166. Sheets. 167. Clew-lines. 168. Stay sail. 169. Crofs trees. 170. Cap. 171. Flag staff. 172. Flag staff stay. 173. Truck. 174. Flag gun. 175. Ensign staff. 176. Truck. 177. Ensign. 178. Poop ladder. 179. Bower cable.

Thus we have pointed out the external parts, masts, rigging, &c., an account of all which may be seen under their respective articles Mast, Hull, Rope, Rudder, &c.

In Plate CXLIX. is represented the section of a first-rate ship of war, shewing the inside thereof: where A is the head; containing, 1. The stem. 2. The knee of the head, or cut water. 3. The lower and upper cheek. 4. The tail-board. 5. The figure. 6. The gratings. 7. The brackets. 8. The false stem. 9. The breast-hooks. 10. The haft hole. 11. The bulkhead, forward. 12. The cat-head. 13. The cat-book. 14. Necessary feats. 15. The manger within board. 16. The bowprit.

B. Upon the forecastle. 17. The gratings. 18. The partners of the fore mast. 19. The gun wale. 20. The belfry. 21. The funnel for the smoke. 22. The gangway going off the forecastle. 23. The forecastle guns.

C. In the forecastle. 24. The door of the bulkhead, forward. 25. The officers cabins. 26. The stair case. 27. The fore top sail sheet bits. 28. The beams. 29. The car lines.

D. The middle gun-deck forward. 30. The fore-jeer bits. 31. The oven and furnace of copper. 32. The captain's cook-room. 33. The ladder, or way up into the forecastle.

E. The lower gun-deck forward. 34. The knees fore and aft. 35. The spirketings, or the first streak next to each deck; the next under the beams being called clamps. 36. The beams of the middle gun-deck, fore and aft. 37. The car-lines of the middle gun-deck, fore and aft. 38. The fore bits. 39. The after, or main bits. 40. The hatchway to the gunner's and boatswain's store-rooms. 41. The jeer capton.

F. The orlop. 42. The gunner's, boatswain's, and carpenter's store-rooms. 43. The beams of the lower gun-deck. 46. The pillars and the riders, fore and aft. 48. The bulk head of the store-rooms.

G. The hold. 49. The foot-hook rider, the floor-rider, and the standir, fore and aft. 52. The pillars. 53. The step of the fore mast. 54. The keelson, or false keel, and dead rising. 55. The dead wood.

H. A midships in the hold. 56. The floor timbers. 57. The keel. 58. The well. 59. The chain pump. 60. The step of the main mast. 61. Beams and car-lines of the orlop, fore and aft.

I. The orlop a midships. 63. The cable tire. 64. The main hatchway.

K. The lower gun-deck a-midships. 65. The ladder leading up to the middle gun-deck. 66. The lower tier or ports.

L. The middle gun-deck a-midships. 67. The middle tier ports. 68. The entering port. 69. The main jeer bits. 70. Twisted pillars or stantions. 71. The capton. 72. The gratings. 73. The ladder leading to the upper deck.

M. The upper gun-deck a-midships. 74. The main top-fail sheet bits. 75. The upper partners of the main mast. 76. The gallows on which spare top-masts, &c., are laid. 77. The fore sheet blocks. 78. The remmers. 79. The gun wale. 80. The upper gratings. 81. The drift brackets. 82. The pib dale. 83. The captain's pail.

N. Abaft the main mast. 84. The gang-way off the quarter-deck. 85. The bulkhead of the coach. 86. The stair case down to the middle gun-deck. 87. The beams of of the upper deck. 88. The gratings about the mainmast. 89. The coach, or council-chamber. 90. The stair-case up to the quarter-deck.

O, The quarter-deck. 91. The beams. 92. The carlines. 93. The partners of the mizzen mast. 94. The gangway up to the poop. 95. The bulk-head of the cuddy.

P, The poop. 96. The trumpeter's cabin. 97. The taffrail.

Q, The captain-lieutenant's cabin.

R, The cuddy, usually divided for the master and secretary's officers.

S, The state-room, out of which is made the bed-chamber, and other conveniences for the commander in chief.

T, The ward-room, allotted for the lieutenants and land-officers.

U, The lower gallery.

V, Several officers cabins abaft the mainmast, where the soldiers generally keep guard.

W, The gun-room.

X, The bread-room.

Y, The steward's room, where all provisions are weighed and served out.

Z, The cock-pit, where are subdivisions for the purser, the surgeon, and his mates.

AA, The platform, or orlop, where provision is made for the wounded in time of service.

Different kinds of Ships. All ships at first were of the same form, whatever uses they were designed for; but the various ends of navigation, some of which were better answered by one form, some by another, soon gave occasion to build and fit out ships, not only different in bigness, but also in their construction and rigging; and as trade gave occasion to the fitting out large fleets of different kinds of merchant-ships; so ships of war became necessary, to preserve them to their just proprietors.

Ships of war have three masts, and a bowsprit, and are fitted with square sails; the other parts being as described above, and represented in Plate CXLVIII. They are divided into several orders, called rates; that is, their degree or distinction as to magnitude, burden, &c. The rate is usually accounted by the length and breadth of the gun-deck, the number of tons, and the number of men and guns the vessel carries. There are six rates, viz.

A common first-rate man of war has its gun-deck from 159 to 178 feet in length, and from 44 to 51 broad. It contains from 1313 to 2000 tons; has from 706 to 1000 men, and carries from 96 to 100 guns. But one of the most considerable first-rate ships was that built at Woolwich in 1701; the dimensions whereof are as follow: The length, 210 feet; number of guns, 110; number of men, 1250; number of tons, 2300; draught of water, 22 feet; the mainmast in length 54 yards, depth 19; main mast in length 39 feet, in diameter 38 inches; weight of the anchor 82 Cwt. 1 qr. 14 lb.; cable in length 200 yards, diameter 22 inches.—The expense of building a common first rate, with guns, tackling, and rigging, is computed at 60,000 l. sterling.

Second rate ships have their gun-decks from 153 to 165 feet long, and from 41 to 46 broad: they contain from 1086 to 1482 tons; and carry from 524 to 640 men, and from 84 to 90 guns.

Third rates have their gun-decks from 140 to 150 feet in length, from 37 42 feet broad: they contain from 871 to 1262 tons; carry from 389 to 476 men, and from 64 to 80 guns.

Fourth rates are in length on the gun-decks from 118 to 146 feet, and from 29 to 38 broad: they contain from 448 to 915 tons; carry from 226 to 346 men, and from 48 to 60 guns.

Fifth rates have their gun-decks from 100 to 120 feet long, and from 24 to 31 broad: they contain from 259 to 542 tons; and carry from 145 to 190 men, and from 26 to 44 guns.

Sixth rates have their gun-decks from 87 to 95 feet long, and from 22 to 25 broad: they contain from 152 to 256 tons; carry from 40 to 110 men, and from 16 to 24 guns.

It is to be observed, that the new-built ships are much larger, as well as better, than the old ones of the same rate; whence the double numbers all along; the larger of which express the proportions of the new built ships, as the less those of the old ones.

Merchant-ships are estimated by their burden; that is, by the number of tons they bear, each ton reckoned at 2000 lb weight; this estimate being made by gauging the hold, which is the proper place of loading.

Besides those mentioned above, there are other forms:

1. The bilander, (Plate CXLIX. fig. 2.) which has rigging and sails not unlike a hoy, only broader and flatter: bilanders are seldom above twenty-four tons, and can lie nearer the wind than a vessel with cross-sails can do.

2. Bomb-vessels, (ibid. fig. 3.) have sometimes three masts, and square sails, as represented; but they are also frequently ketch-fashion, with one mast and a mizen.

3. Brigantines (ibid. fig. 4.) are now disused; but had two masts, and square sails.

4. Hag-boats (ibid. fig. 5.) are masted and sailed ship-fashion, but are built in the form of the Dutch fly-boat.

5. Hoys (ibid. fig. 6.) are fitted with one mast and a sprit-sail; whose yards stand fore and aft like a mizen, so that it can lie near the wind.

6. Hulks (ibid. fig. 7.) are generally old ships cut down to the gun-deck, and fitted with a large wheel, for men to go in when careening: it has also several capstans fixed on its deck, for setting ships masts.

7. Ketches (ibid. fig. 8.) are fitted with two masts; and their main-sail and top-sail stand square as those of ships do, but their fore-sail and jibbs as those of hoyds do.

8. Lighters (ibid. fig. 9.) are vessels made use of for laying down or shifting the moorings, for bringing ashore or carrying on broad ships cables, anchors, &c.

9. Pinks (ibid. fig. 10.) The Section of a First Rate Ship of War, Shewing its various Timbers and Apartments sail with three masts, ship-fashion; but are round sterned, with a small projection above the rudder. 10. Punts (ibid. fig. 11.) are built square, and used about the docks for fetching clay and other services as the master shipwright wants them for. 11. Shallop (ibid. fig. 12.) is a small light vessel, with only a small main and fore mast, and lugg sails, to haul up and let down on occasion. 12. Sloops (ibid. fig. 13.) have only one mast, with shoulder-of-mutton, square, lugg, and smack sails. 13. Smacks (ibid. fig. 14.) are transporting vessels, with one mast, and an half sprit-sail. 14. Yachts (ibid. fig. 15.) have only one mast, with an half sprit or smack sail, and sometimes ketch-fashion.

The most celebrated ships of antiquity are those of Ptolemy Philopater. One was 280 cubits long, 38 broad, and 48 high, each cubit being 1 English foot 5 inches, and carried 400 rowers, 400 sailors, and 3000 soldiers. Another which the same prince made to sail on the Nile, we are told, was half a stadium long. Yet these were nothing in comparison with Hiero's ship, built under the direction of Archimedes; on the structure whereof Mocton wrote a whole volume. There was wood enough employed in it to make 50 galleys; it had all the variety of apartments of a palace; such as banqueting-rooms, galleries, gardens, fish ponds, stables, mills, baths, and a temple to Venus. It was encompassed with an iron rampart, eight towers, with walls and bulwarks, furnished with machines of war; particularly one, which threw a stone of 300 pounds, or a dart 12 cubits long, the space of half a mile, with many other particulars related by Athenaeus.

Construction of Ships. Naval architecture may be divided into three principal parts: 1. To give the ship such a figure and proportion as may suit the service she is designed for. 2. To find the true form of all the pieces of timber that shall be necessary to compose such a solid. 3. To make proper accommodations for guns, ammunition, provisions, and apartments for all the officers, and likewise room for the cargo.

As to the first part, the length of the keel, greatest breadth, depth in the hold, height between decks and in the waist, and sometimes the height and breadth of the wing-transom, in ships for the merchant's service, are agreed on by contract; and from these dimensions the builder forms a draught suitable to the trade the ship is designed for. The first thing that is generally done, is to lay down the keel, the stem, and stern-post, upon the sheer-plane, or plane supposed to pass through the middle line of the keel, stem, and stern-post, cutting the ship in two halves lengthwise. They next determine the proper station of the midship-timber, where a perpendicular is erected, and is generally about two thirds of the keel before the stern-post; on this line the given depth of the hold is set off, from the upper-side of the keel; to obtain which point, the thicknesses of all the timber and planks must be added to the height agreed on. This being fixed, will enable us to determine the upper-height of the extreme or greatest breadth of the ship; which, sometimes, is that very point; and from the same place the lower height of the breadth must be determined. The two main heights of the breadth-lines, which nearly unite abaft and afore, are next determined. The height of the breadth-line of the top-timber is next formed; being limited in the midship by contract, but afore and aft only by the judgment and fancy of the artist. If a square stern is designed, the breadth at the wing-transom is limited, being generally about two thirds of the greatest breadth. The artist next fixes the breadth of the top-timber, and then describes the two half-breadth lines. After these are formed the places where the several timbers are fixed; and for forming the midship-frame, radius are assumed at pleasure, till the sweeps are made to please the fancy and judgment of the artist. When this midship-frame is formed, a pattern or mould is made to fit exactly to the curve, and the dead-rising, or water-line; and by this and a hollow mould, all the timbers are formed, as far as the rising-line, which is parallel to the lower height of the breadth-line.

We come next to consider the upper-works, or all that is above water, called the dead-work; and here the ship must be narrower, by which means she will strain less by working the guns, and the main-sail will be easier trimmed, as the shrouds spread less than they would otherwise do. But though these advantages are gained by narrowing a ship above water, yet great care must be taken not to narrow her too much, lest there should not be sufficient room upon the upper deck for the guns to recoil. The security of the masts should likewise be considered, which require sufficient breadth to spread the shrouds; though this may be assisted by enlarging the breadth of the channels.

Principal qualities belonging to Ships. A ship of war should carry her lower tier of guns four or five feet above water; a ship for the merchant's service should stow the cargo well; and both of them should be made to go well, carry a good sail, steer well, and lie-to easily in the sea.

1. To make a ship carry a good sail, Mr Du Hamel recommends a flat floor-timber, and somewhat long, or the lower futtock pretty round; also a straight upper futtock, and the top timber to throw the breadth out aloft; and at any rate, to carry her main-breadth as high as the lower-deck; for if the rigging be well adapted to such a body, and the upper-works heightened as much as possible so as to concur to lower the centre of gravity, there will be no room to doubt of her carrying a good sail.

2. To make a ship steer well, and answer the least motion of the helm, the fashion-pieces should be well formed, the tuck carried pretty high, and the midship-frame carried pretty forward; also there should be a considerable greater draught of water abaft than afore, a great rake forward, and none abaft, and a snug quarter-deck and fore-castle; all these will make a ship steer well. But to make her feel the least motion of her helm, it will be necessary to regard her masts; for a ship that goes well, will certainly steer well.

3. To make a ship carry her guns well out of the water, is effected by a long floor-timber, and not of great rising, a very full midship-frame, and low tuck, with light upper-works.

4. To make a ship go smoothly through the water, without pitching hard, her keel should be long, her floor long and not rising high afore or aft; the area or space contained in the fore-body should also be duly proportioned to that of the after-body, according to the respective weights they are to carry.

5. To make a ship keep a good wind, she should have a good length by the keel, not too broad, but pretty deep in the hold; which will make her floor- timber short, and rising great. As such a ship will meet with great resistance in the water going over the broad side, and but little when going ahead, she will not fall much to the leeward. Now some ship-builders imagine, that it is impossible to make a ship carry her guns well, carry a good sail, and be a prime sailer at the same time; because it requires a very full bottom to gain the two first qualities, and a sharp-bottomed ship best answers the latter; but when it is considered, that a full ship will carry a great deal more sail than a sharp one, a good artist may so form the body as to have all these three good qualities united, and likewise steer well; for which purpose, Mr Du Hamel recommends somewhat more in length than has been commonly practised.