HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

33 ?

CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH.

Enquiry into the General Principles of Marine Architecture—The Properties and Requi-sites of Vessels—Reason why Ships so constructed as to draw but little Water sailbest before the Wind—Invention of Sliding Keels—Description and peculiar Beneftsresulting from the Use of them—Statement of the particular Advantages which Ves-sels of small Draught of Water possess over those of a contrary Description—Causesof the Uncertainty with which the Tonnage of Vessels is at present calculated —Statement of the Ability which flat floored Visselsfrequently possess of carrying Cargoesexceeding their nominal Tonnage , while, on the other Hand, those which are sharperbuilt are incapable of containing so much as their calculated Burthen allots to them — Pro-gressive Statement of all the superior Benefits which may naturally be Expected to re-sult from the Use of flat-floored V°ssels, particularly when fitted with Sliding Keels—Their Ease at Anchor—Superior Facility with which they take the Ground, andgreater Chance there is of preserving not only the Lives of the People, but the Vesselsthemselves, in case of their being actually stranded—Proposal for rendering Ships lessliable to founder at Sea , by caulking between the Timbers which compose the Frame,as well as the Inside Lining—Proposal for dividing the Hold into different Compart-ments—The Benefits to be expectedfrom the Adoption of such a Plan—The little Causefor Apprehension in case a Vessel, so fitted, should spring a Leak—The Advantages tobe expected from it in case of Fire—The Aid which the Use of Sliding Keels affords tothe Stowage of a Vessel, as well as in the Prevention of its broaching to, and the fatalConsequences that generally result from such an Accident—Reafons why Vessels so con-structed will tack quicker, and in less room—Why they will also Wear with moreFacility—Why they are belter calculated to answer as Bomb Vessels, Fire Ships,Floating Batteries, Gun Boats, Gun Batteaux, or Flat Boats, designed for theDisembarkation of Troops—When applied to Commercial Purposes, the Advantagesthey possess as Coasters, or as Vessels adapted to Inland Navigation—The superiorEase with which they would lay to in a Gale of Wind—The Convenience with whichthey would carry mixed Cargoes—Expectations of their longer Durability than that ofVessels constructed m the ordinary way—Proof of the Advantages resulting from theAdoption of the Use of Sliding Keels, established by the Certificate and Examinationof the Officers belonging to the Trial Cutte •*, built for the Purpose of Experiment —

General