Ships Cover for the Mersey class second class cruisers HMS Forth (1886), HMS Mersey (1885), HMS Severn (1885) and HMS Thames (1885). A notable portion of the documentation relates to the design origins of the class, including a printed precis of the discussions that led to the acceptance of the new design [references are made to a similar document at the beginning of Cover 78]. These papers are accompanied by an early sketch design and comparative statements of dimensions and weights with existing ships. Further documents relate to armament to be allocated and ammunition allowance, scheme of complement, coal stowage and stibility calculations, including the results of later inclining experiments. The earliest documents date from May 1882, the very beginning of the design phase, while the latest are from December 1912, by which time the surviving pair [Forth and Thames] were serving as depot ships.