The Royal Navy in Nova Scotia Waters

"Sketch of the new steam-frigate Shannon, of fifty-one guns, now ready for sea, the largest and most perfect first-class frigate at present completed and in commission. Though smaller by a thousand tons than her Trans-Atlantic rival, the vessels of the Shannon's size and class are considered by many of the greatest nautical authorities to be the most efficient and serviceable fighting ships afloat; and the vessel in question is a grand and advanced specimen of the perfection to which naval architecture has arrived in the Government dockyards of this country. The Shannon is the second frigate that has borne the name in our navy, her celebrated predecessor, under the gallant Broke, having immortalised the name by her successful encounter with the nobly fought American frigate Chesapeake --- one of the most brillant affairs in the annals of naval warfare. The build and equipment of the Shannon reflect the highest credit on all concerned in her construction. She is from designs furnished by the present Surveyor of the Navy, Sir Baldwin Walker, and was built at Portsmouth, is of the same class as the Euryalus and Imperieuse, but of larger proportions, being upwards of 250 feet in length, 2400 tons burden, and propelled by engines of 450 horse-power. Her armament consists of thirty 56-pounder 8-inch guns on the main-deck, and twenty long 32-pounders and one 68-pounder pivot-gun on the upper-deck. She is commanded by Captain Peel, and some important experiments are about being tried on her at Spithead."

Date: 1856

Medium: newspaper engraving

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives  Photo Collection: Illustrated London News, 29 November 1856