In a paper titled 'Future policy of warship building.' Delivered at the annual meeting of the Institution of Naval Architects on the 18th of March 1891, Lord Brassey considered that the limit for torpedo gunboats would be 900 tons. If vessels exceeding this displacement were employed for torpedo attack, or as the inner line of a blockading squadron to meet the attack of torpedo boats, their length and draught would make them too conspicuous and an easy target for gunfire or torpedoes. Brassey recommended that the limit be kept at 650 tons and that the vessels should be armed with three torpedo tubes and no gun larger than a six-pounder. If more was required the next type of vessel should have a displacement of over a 1,000 tons. Brassey was not in favour attaching torpedo boats to a fleet. Under such conditions they were a constant source of anxiety and in bad weather they had to seek the shelter of the nearest port. The loss of an Italian torpedo boat when cruising with the squadron demonstrated that they were unsuitable for this work. Their mission was harbour defence, and for this purpose no better weapon could be found.