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IRON VESSELS, AS APPLIED TO STEAM NAVIGATION.

If the arguments adduced in favour of iron for ship-buildingbe correct, we may date from the present time an era in the historyof navigation most important to the world at large, and moreespecially to this country. To steam navigation, its importance canscarcely be calculated. The machinery and fuel occupy so large aportion of the vessel that very little room is left for stowage. Theweight and tremour of the engines shake and strain wooden vessels,and the machinery itself, until the repairs of both swallow up mostof the profit that would otherwise be realized ; and it is no triflingconsideration that, in using iron for the hull, a finer form can begiven, and, consequently, a much higher rate of speed than can beattained in wooden vessels, while the lightness of iron vessels rendersless necessary the full bow that is now deemed an essential to thesea-worthiness of a timber-built ship. It may be added, that someof those nuisances which (though considered comparatively triflingby seamen,) are exceedingly unpleasant to sensitive voyagers, arenearly, if not entirely, unknown in iron vessels. The nauseoussmell arising from bilge-water, vermin, worms, and the eating awayof the timber are instances of this kind, and their absence is veryadvantageous, especially in tropical climates.

It has long been felt to be desirable, in steam navigation, thata greater degree of adaptation should exist between the vessel andthe machinery. In wooden steamers, two interests have always tobe reconciled. The ship-builder employs all those means which heconceives to be best calculated to strengthen his vessel, and toooften clings to principles of construction, which, when applied tosteamers, are ill suited to the attainment of high speed. Theengineer, generally very regardless of the requirements of thevessel, and having little sympathy with the ship-builder, thinksonly of seeing his engines well accomodated, and working smoothly.If the vessel, when completed, goes well, both are exalted; if thereverse, neither is to blame. Unfortunately, a fair excuse may bemade for this want of unity of design in the two departments.A wooden vessel, when she takes the ground, and, frequently, whenshe encounters heavy weather, becomes so much altered in shapethat, were the engines so attached as to form “ part and parcel” ofthe whole, they would be in danger of being broken down, or otherwise