The Leader's final logbook covers 1 January to 18 December 1919, and is UK National Archives catalogue reference ADM 53/46416
The Phaëton's first logbook covers 20 April 1886 to 2 November 1887, and is UK National Archives catalogue reference ADM 53/14963
The Phaëton's final logbook covers 25 March 1902 to 28 April 1903, and is UK National Archives catalogue reference ADM 53/24832
The Amphion's first logbook covers 5 July 1887 to 31 August 1887, and is UK National Archives catalogue reference ADM 53/12451. Note that Lyon and Winfield (page 270) quote a completion date of August 1886, whilst Conways (page 75) quotes 1887.
The Amphion's final logbook covers 1 August 1903 to 25 May 1904, and is UK National Archives catalogue reference ADM 53/17022.
The Arethusa's first logbook covers 8 July 1887 to 1 September 1887, and is UK National Archives catalogue reference ADM 53/12513. Note that Lyon and Winfield (page 270) states that Arethusa was completed on 29 September 1887, whilst Conways (page 75) says 1886.
The Arethusa's final logbook covers 28 November 1902 to 3 April 1903, and is UK National Archives catalogue reference ADM 53/17281 B.
Hansard HC Deb 15 March 1883 vol 277 cc620-1 House of Commons, Debate on naval estimates for 1883-4, response by the Secretary to the Admiralty, Mr. Campbell-Bannerman, to a question by Mr W.H. Smith, 15 March 1883.
Hansard HC Deb 07 May 1883 vol 279 c131 House of Commons debate on navy estimates, 7 May 1883, remarks by Mr W.H. Smith. "I cannot help thinking that if an officer was made responsible, from the first, for the complete design for a ship, and was called upon to see it carried out, without any tinkering or changes in construction, we should see our ships fitted more quickly, and at much less cost than now. It is in the knowledge of all who are acquainted with the Admiralty construction that alterations are frequently made in ships, and they are due, generally speaking, to the fact that things have been forgotten, or not properly considered in the first instance, and it is nobody's fault. I think the Board of Admiralty should make all that some one officer's duty, so that a design for a ship of war should be as thorough and complete as the design for a house, or for a first class mercantile steamer would be. I know very well the conditions with which the Admiralty have to comply are complicated, and that they must march with the times, and make such changes from time to time as may be necessary; but I think designs should be considered completely by competent persons at the first, before the ship is laid down, or the design has left the Office of the Admiralty. It has been alleged that one of the reasons for the delay in the construction of the Leander is that the Admiralty have not fully decided upon the smaller arrangements which have to be carried out by the builders. I have no doubt that is true; but anyone who walks through a Dockyard will know that what I am insisting upon is not usually complied with. A great many things are left open for consideration and decision on a future day; but consideration and alteration do seriously interfere with the efficiency and rapidity of the work."
See also Hansard HC Deb 15 July 1884 vol 290 cc1184-5 House of Commons debate on Navy Estimates, 15 July 1884. Mr. W.H. Smith said: "…I refer to the steel steam cruisers of the Leander class. In one part of the Return they are spoken of as complete so far as the contractor is concerned. In the abstract of ships building and completing in Her Majesty's Dockyards, we are told that the Amphion is to advance to 1,443 tons after her arrival at Devonport, and the Arethusa is to be completed. These, with the Leander, are, no doubt, valuable ships, and I think they could all be completed in three months, if the Admiralty gave the order for it. If they are left incomplete they will infallibly be attended with expense, because there will be a disposition to alter them, and make changes in them—probably to re-arrange their armaments in some way. It has been decided what the ships shall be by giving the orders to build them, and it is simply a waste of money to delay and make alterations after they are complete so far as their hulls, or gun-ports, or fittings generally are concerned. These ships, I venture to say, ought to be completed and made ready…"
Hansard, HC Deb 16 March 1885 vol 295 c1327-28, House of Commons, response by W.H. Smith to the departmental statement by the Secretary to the Admiralty. "There seems to be a kind of paralysis, or an extraordinary condition of things, which prevents us getting the ships when we spend the money. If we take the case of protected ships—shown on page 204 of the Estimates for last year—it will be found that the Mersey was to be advanced to 1,339 tons; the Severn, to 955; the Thames, to 662; the new Mersey, 814; another new Mersey, 61; Calypso, to 1,470; Calliope, to 1,397; the Pylades, to 772; the Amphion, to 1,443; the Arethusa, 93; the Leander, 164; the Phaeton, 92; the Mariner, to 520; the Racer, to 520; the Icarus, to 209; the Melita, 87; the Swallow, 50; and the Acorn, 80. I went through the corresponding figures also, as they are shown on page 210 of this year's Estimates, and I will give them to my hon. Friend if it is necessary. I find they show a deficiency of 1,297 tons, 10,513 tons were promised, and only 9,216 were built. In other words, of protected ships, only four-fifths of the tons promised were built. The Contract Vote shows the same thing. The Benbow was advanced to 3,451, slightly more than was promised; but the other contract ships show a deficiency of 511 tons. Taking the whole together, the programme shows that we had 20,679 tons promised, and that only 17,111 were built, a gross deficiency of 3,568 tons. I will illustrate how this is done by the case of the Arethusa, Leander, and Phaeton. It was shown in the Estimates of 1883–4, page 204, that each of these vessels required 251 tons to be built in them to complete making 753 tons in all. Of these tons the Estimates of 1883–4 provided for - Arethusa, 251; Leander, 55; Phaeton, 92; a total of 398. The Estimates of 1884–5 provide for- Arethusa, 93; Leander, 164; Phaeton, 92; total, 349. Now, the Estimates of 1885–6 provide for the Arethusa, 214; and for the Phaeton, 275; a total of 489. In the three years, therefore, it is provided that 1,236 tons shall be built into ships, in which only 753 tons were required. The ships have not grown bigger, and only one of them, the Leander, is now in course of completion. These facts require grave consideration, for they strike a blow at the confidence which the Committee ought to place in the Estimates of a great public Department like that of the Admiralty."
Hansard, HC Deb 08 June 1885 vol 298 c1399, House of Commons, response by the Secretary to the Admiralty to a question by Mr. Edward T. Gourley, 8 June 1885. "Mr. Gourley asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, How many and what design of Torpedo craft are to accompany the Evolutionary Squadron about to be assembled in the Channel under the command of Admiral Hornby; whether any portion of the Fleet is to be manned by officers and men of the First and Second Class Mercantile Reserves; and, further to inquire if the cruise is to be a game of war, combining manœuvring with land forces, or to be limited to the usual summer routine? Sir Thomas Brassey The torpedo flotilla which will accompany the Evolutionary Squadron under the command of Admiral Hornby includes the Hecla and Polyphemus, and eight first-class and eight second-class torpedo boats. Of the 13 iron-clads in the Squadron, all except the Lord Warden and Penelope are fitted with two or four torpedo tubes. Three most important unarmoured vessels in the Squadron - the Conquest, Mercury, and Leander - are similarly fitted. A few officers of the Royal Naval Reserves are being selected for service with the Squadron. The men of the Reserves have not been called out. During the cruise many experiments will be carried out with especial reference to the torpedoes. Mr. Gourley asked whether the fleets were engaged in what might be designated a game of war? Sir Thomas Brassey replied, that the trials and exercise would be carried out under the direction of one of the ablest officers in the Service, and he had been invited to give his attention to the use of the torpedo."
