The subjoined table of the comparative dimensions of British and American ships, will enable the reader to appreciate the heroism with which our officers and seamen have defended themselves in the recent actions with our trans-atlantic descendants.
By this table it will be seen, that these American frigates are longer than an English first-rate; that they are longer than, and of nearly equal tonnage with, our modern large seventy-fours, and of greater tonnage than our old seventy-fours;that they are longer, broader, and of greater tonnage than any of our sixty-fours; and that they exceed in tonnage our fifties, in the proportion of nearly three o two; and our thirty-eights in the proportion of seven to four. Is not the term frigate most violently perverted, when applied to such vessels? As well might we call the Ville de Paris a fifty, or Caledonia a sixty-four; or as well might we call the one a jolly-boat and the other a yawl.
An excerpt from 'The Naval Chronicle: The Contemporary Record of the Royal Navy at War" 1813
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