The Royal Navy of the Napoleonic Era

Britain's declaration of war in the spring of 18 o three had come as a surprise, and the navy was not on a war footing. Napoleon's ships of the line were scattered all over france, 21 at brest in the northwest, 12 in the south, on the mediterranean at toulon,. Others scattered around in smaller bases in france and allied states, or cruising at sea. If they were going to take on the royal navy, the french would need all their forces concentrated in one place where they might deliver a decisive blow. But the british were able to deploy blockade squadrons around every major french port. Blockade duty was among the most hated assignments