ABSTRACT
Despite hostility towards the Inspector General after 1805, the spirit of his attitudes and ideas was adopted by those who had responsibility for naval dockyard operations. The lead was taken by the Commissioners of naval revision who recognised the importance of technology, system and resources. In the ten years between 1795 and 1805, much had changed in the social environment of naval technology. The Inspector General’s department had accustomed the Admiralty to reasoning and attitudes derived from scientific principles while the introduction of steam engines, the Wood and Metal Mills, had publicised the new technology available to the navy. Bentham claimed great economies and championed spin-off technology such as lathes. The Navy Board was wary of proposals like that for a new steam-powered rope and canvas manufactory but did later promote sawmills and smitheries. This reflected new thinking at the board, partly effected by the appointment to be Surveyors of the Navy of men with mechanical turns of mind. Indeed, mechanisation was permeating dockyard thinking in the greater system by which artificers were encouraged to work ‘with greater spirit and despatch’. It complemented the new facilities and in 1812 permitted the Navy Board to propose building and repairing all ships of the line and frigates in the dockyards without help from the merchant yards. It was a confidence for which Bentham as Inspector General had laid a foundation and to which the Commission of revision contributed with the object of making the yards work together like one great machine.
