First published in 1847, this classic work of naval history provides a comprehensive survey of the Royal Navy from its earliest days to the start of the French Revolution. The author covers a wide range of topics, including naval battles, shipbuilding, and the development of naval strategy. Drawing on a wide range of primary sources, including official Naval records and personal journals, the book provides a rich and engaging account of one of the world's most formidable naval forces. A must-read for anyone interested in naval history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.