SAVING THE VICTORY.

ADMIRAL AND NELSON’S FLAGSHIP

Efforts to save Nelson’s old flagship, the Victory, were furthered by an interesting and instructive lecture at the Royal Colonial Institute last night by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Doveton Sturdee, who spoke on the vessel’s history and what she meant to the Empire. Sir William Grey-wilson, formerly Governor of the Falkland Islands, presided.

Sir DOVETON STURDEE said the Victory held a most commanding position in our naval history. The present ship was the fifth of her name in the British Navy, the first being launched in 1560. It was a century older than any regiment in the British Army, and a hundred years older than any ship in the Navy. She was a direct connection between the Armada and Trafalgar. At one time she was ordered to be used as a prison-house, but was fortunately saved from such an ignominy. She was now lying in a position where she could be seen by all, and where she would be an inspiration to the youth of the country. Any foreign nation would value the possession of such a wonderful ship. Was Britain going to neglect such a magnificent asset? The vessel had the greatest history of any ship in the centuries of recorded naval history. Her keel was laid in 1759, and she was launched in 1765. She cost £83,000 (worth about £250,000 now). The Victory’s age was contemporary with the foundation of Canada and of British rule in India. She was very many years older than this American Constitution, and Americans were much interested in her – he had received 20gs from Americans for her preservation.

Altogether the ship was thirty-four years in active service – a long period for a wooden ship. She carried the flags of fourteen admirals, including Nelson’s. As the flagship of the Commander-in-chief she was engaged in four battles. The speaker followed in detail the various engagements in which the Victory had taken part, and said that no ship had had such war service as she hid. The Government of the day had often lost sight of her intrinsic value, and it was through the initiative of the Marquis of Milford-haven that she was taken into dock and saved from being sunk at hem moorings. Supposing, asked the admiral, the Government of the day had had the imagination to preserve the Golden Hind which took Drake round the world, what a great interest she would have been to us now! The “Save the Victory Fund” was appealing for £ 150,000, in order that the grand old vessel might be restored to what she was like at Trafalgar, after which she was much altered, owing to her injuries in the battle. Her bow was to be constructed to this beautiful shape it was in 1805, the stern was to be improved, the gun deck restored, cabins replaced, and other improvements effected. The Victory was lying in the Charles Dork, at Portsmouth, and all her defects could be remedied. The King had sent a contribution to the fund, the Prince of Wales was supporting the appeal, and the Duke of Connaught was the patron.