Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are
digitized we are able to read books that are some times for decades no longer
available for the public for several reasons. That’s quite a pity while these
books contains useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete
or nor accessible. In his book for politicians and merchants Martin described
all the countries part of the so-called civilised world. If available he
published information dealing with the armed forces and the merchant trade
shipping.
“p. 55: The maritime forces of Denmark consisted, in
September, 1866, of three frigates and one floating battery, iron-cased,
carrying a total of 44 guns ; one steam ship of the line, 64 guns; four steam
frigates,
p. 56: with an aggregate armament of 162 guns; three
steam corvettes, with 44 guns; four corvettes, mounting 12 guns; six paddle-wheel
vessels, carrying together 38 guns; and seven iron gunboats, with an aggregate
of 13 guns. Of sailing vessels Denmark possessed, at the same date, two ships
of the line, of 84 guns each ; one frigate, of 48 ; one corvette, of 20 ; and
one brig, of 16 ; besides a receiving ship, transports, and a flotilla of row
boats. The chief ironclad vessels of the Danish navy are the Esbern Snare, the
Absalom, and the Rolf Krake. The Rolf Krake, built by Napier, of Glasgow, is
plated with 4½ -inch iron, and has two turrets, which carry four 68-pounders;
it is of 1,200 tons burthen, and draws but 16 feet of water. The
Esbern Snare and Absalom are smaller iron-clad vessels, converted from wooden
ships. The navy is manned by about one thousand men, officered by one
vice-admiral, one rear-admiral, and twenty captains.”
Source
F. Martin. The Statesman’s Year-book. A
statistical, mercantile, and historical account of the states and sovereigns of
the civilised world. A manual for politicians and merchants for the year 1868.
London, 1868.
