Eighteenth-century naval ships were impressive infrastructures, but subjected to extraordinary strain. To assist with their "voyage repairs," the Royal Navy gradually established numerous overseas bases, displaying the power, reach, and ruthless logistical efficiency of the British state. This article, however, is concerned with what happened where no such bases (yet) existed, in parts of the world falling in between areas of direct British administration, control, or influence. The specific restrictions imposed by technology and infrastructures have been studied by historians interested in naval strategy, but they can also help to reframe national narratives of power or observe the transnational interactions surrounding access to knowledge and resources. This paper discusses the material, cultural, and diplomatic constraints that could appear when vessels, and especially "discovery ships," sailed in strange waters or sought technical assistance in allied ports. I argue that the "mortification" of some commanders at their vessels' unfitness for service was an important - and often neglected - element on the palette of emotions undergone by voyagers, capturing their strong sense of ultimate material powerlessness. Such frustration even became embedded in imperial cartography, as shown by the case study of Matthew Flinders. This perspective highlights the limits of naval technology, complicating imperialistic "success stories" and better reintegrating the navy into the history of maritime travel and transportation, from which it is often singled out.

中文翻译：

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探索与屈辱：脆弱的基础设施、帝国叙事和英国海军“探索”船的自给自足，1760-1815

十八世纪的海军舰船是令人印象深刻的基础设施，但承受着巨大的压力。为了协助他们的“航修”，皇家海军逐渐建立了众多的海外基地，显示了英国政府的实力、影响力和无情的后勤效率。然而，这篇文章关注的是在（尚）不存在此类基地的情况下发生的情况，这些情况发生在世界上处于英国直接管理、控制或影响区域之间的部分地区。对海军战略感兴趣的历史学家研究了技术和基础设施施加的具体限制，但它们也有助于重新构建国家权力叙事或观察围绕获取知识和资源的跨国互动。本文从物质、文化、以及当船只，尤其是“探索船”在陌生水域航行或在盟国港口寻求技术援助时可能出现的外交限制。我认为，一些指挥官对他们的船只不适合服役的“屈辱”是航海者所经历的情绪调色板中的一个重要——但往往被忽视的——元素，捕捉了他们对最终物质无能为力的强烈感觉。正如马修·弗林德斯 (Matthew Flinders) 的案例研究所示，这种挫败感甚至根植于帝国制图学中。这种观点突出了海军技术的局限性，使帝国主义的“成功故事”复杂化，并更好地将海军重新融入海上旅行和运输的历史，而海军经常被挑出来。不适合服务是航海者所经历的情绪调色板中的一个重要但经常被忽视的因素，捕捉到他们对物质的最终无能为力的强烈感觉。正如马修·弗林德斯 (Matthew Flinders) 的案例研究所示，这种挫败感甚至根植于帝国制图学中。这种观点突出了海军技术的局限性，使帝国主义的“成功故事”复杂化，并更好地将海军重新融入海上旅行和运输的历史，而海军经常被挑出来。不适合服务是航海者所经历的情绪调色板中的一个重要但经常被忽视的因素，捕捉到他们对物质的最终无能为力的强烈感觉。正如马修·弗林德斯 (Matthew Flinders) 的案例研究所示，这种挫败感甚至根植于帝国制图学中。这种观点突出了海军技术的局限性，使帝国主义的“成功故事”复杂化，并更好地将海军重新融入海上旅行和运输的历史，而海军经常被挑出来。