P. 11: “While on the subject of the navy, I may state the opinion of several officers with whom I have conversed,
p.12: that the French build extremely well, and give probably more attention to the science than we do. Their ships are painted and set off to the greatest advantage: but, although they may rival us in some points, and have constant opportunities of imitating our most modern improvements, we still have a vast superiority in manoeuvring, and are acknowledged, in that point, to be unrivalled. To explain this, it may be observed,—formerly the naval profession in France had by no means that repute it has in England, and the officers were furnished from a very different class of society; more recently however, from dearth of occupation, and the advancement of France as a naval power, many young men of good family have entered into the service as aspirants.”
Source
Thomas Alcock. Travels Russia, Persia, Turkey and Greece 1828-1829. London, printed 1831. Digitized by Google.
