HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

34 1

building would be to try experiments on the general use and introduction of longflat floors, which are supposed, by many, to promise, under certain regulations*the most extensive advantages.

The only objection that can be advanced in opposition to this system, is, theinaptness of a flat-floored vessel to hold a good wind, a difficulty which may beinstantaneously removed by the adoption of sliding-keels ; provided they arefound, on more critical enquiry, to answer the intended purpose, without occa-sioning injury to the vessel, or material inconvenience to the mariners.

To return then to the examination of those arguments which are adduced idfavour of this new contrivance, it is, in the first instance, agreed as a preliminary ;and the fact is certainly too obvious to admit of the smallest cavil, thatvessels, so built, must inevitably draw less water than those of any other form.This being admitted, it will be necessary to state the various advantages that havebeen experimentally found to result from the encouragement of this system, andthose which, in theory, may, in addition, be expected to be derived from it. Thesame principle which causes flat-floored vessels to sail faster before the wind, tocarry a superior cargo, and draw less Water, will operate with equal force in ren-dering them easy at anchor. Experience, and the occurrences of fiiany years,prove that the North Country-built ships, ail of which have flat floors, and theDutch fishing-boats, will ride at anchor, when the violence of the windand sea would render k extremely dangerous, and, perhaps, impossible, for those©f any other construction to persevere in the same measure. Their form, with thefullness of their body fore and aft, enables them to rise and fall, according to thelift of the sea, with the greatest ease to themselves ; while, on the contrary,sharp, and, as they are commonly called, clean built ships, pitch with theutmost violence, frequently with such force as to endanger the instantaneousloss of all the masts ; to say nothing of the strain which the suddenness of thetremendous jerks must give the hull, and the injury the anchors and cablesare in momentary danger of experiencing from the same cause. Captain Cook,whose practical knowledge in navigation, and the properties of a vessel, stood,perhaps, inferior to that of no person in the world, gives a decided preferencein favour of the flat-floored vessel, as being best calculated for a distant andperilous voyage, in consequence of her peculiarly possessing those valuableproperties just enumerated.

Flat-floored vessels are certainly better enabled to take the ground with safety tothemselves, than those of a different description; they rest on the sand or mud, so

Vol. Ill. j B that