Note 42 — THE ITALIAN, RUSSIAN, GERMAN, AUSTRIAN, AND TURKISH NAVIES.

Curiously enough, neither Lord Brassey, nor Mr. King (United States Navy), nor Captain Von Kronenfels seems to have been aware of the origin of this little ship’s design, for it is mentioned by none of them, although all of them have been most ready to do me, in common with others, full justice in such matters. Mr. King, for example, speaking of a ship previously mentioned, says, “The most powerful ship belonging to the Turkish navy is the Mesoodiyeh, designed by Sir E. J. Reed, C.B., M.P., built by the Thames Shipbuilding Company, delivered to the Sultan in 1876, and now the flag-ship of the fleet.” He would doubtless have as readily acknowledged the authorship of the Feth-i-Bulend’s design, had he been aware of it. As I was the Chief Constructor of the British Navy when I designed for the Sultan of Turkey this ship and the Fatikh (now the German König Wilhelm), I think it right to state that I did so not only with the sanction but by the orders of the Admiralty, and in pursuance of what was then the declared policy of England, viz., that of giving Turkey the benefit of our good offices in efforts to produce a powerful fleet. Beyond a complimentary present of a jewelled snuffbox or two, I received no remuneration for my services to Turkey, and sought none, and desired none.—E. J. R.