HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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keels. “ It is extremely easy,” says the inventor, “ for the keels to be somanaged, that, in conjunction with the proper trim of the sails, the course ofthe vessel might be accurately directed to a given point, and become completelyeffectual when applied to the demolition of shipping in a harbour, or even of atown situated near the water.”

The greater part of the inconveniences which may be expected to attend theuse of sharply constructed vessels, in either of the cases last mentioned, and, onthe contrary, the many advantages which would result from the employment ofQthers having flat floors, strictly apply to all those which may be intended either forgun-boats, floating batteries, gun batteaux, or boats intended for the purpose ofdisembarking troops. Reason hath, in the latter instance indeed, caused theconstruction of vessels, specially built for the purpose; and no doubt but theextension of the system, in a certain degree, would be found as equally bene-ficial as the partial adoption of it has already proved. Trite as the remark mayperhaps be considered, it is necessary to observe, that all vessels should beformed with particular attention to the service which it is intended they shouldbe employed in. For instance, those intended for the general purposes of war-fare, and destined to act on the ocean itself, or to work up rivers, should ap-proach infinitely nearer to the common method of construction, than those fromwhich it may be required to make very limited voyages only ; and even then goinglarge with a fair wind, or towed to their place of destination by boats. In bothinstances, however, the adoption of separate bulk heads will be found equallybeneficial; and the shorter the distance is made between each, the greater willbe the advantage to all such vessels as are intended to act either as floating bat-teries, or gun-boats. The reason is obvious; for if a large shot, during the at-tack of a fortress, or any other species of service in which it might chance tobe engaged, should strike a. vessel so occupied, and pass through it, beingunprovided with the protection just pointed out, the accident would inevitablycause it to sink almost instantaneously, provided, the injury, took place belowtire water-line. On the othenhand, if furnished with the: means of securitypointed out, no injury cp.uld accrue from a single shot, <rr even two, takingplace, provided they did not pass .longitudinally through the vessel, from stemto stern, and consequently through all the bulk heads.; a misfortune very un-likely to happen in comparison with the former.

The necessity which ships of w'ar-are under of maintaining their allotted sta-tion, particularly in a line of battle, and the misfortunes which.have-arisen from

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