HISTORY OF xMARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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a disability to perform this duty, are too frequently blazoned in the page of na-val history to require any argument or description in proof. Owing to the pre-sent generally adopted method of building ships, it is a matter of utter im-possibility that they should all be equally weatherly, unless they were not only allprecisely of the same form and dimensions, but kept also in one uniform andexact trim. Hence arises that, in consequence of the varied draughts of water, andother causes, it is seldom or never in the power of the ships composing a fleet, topreserve a regular line. The French, who have been most particularly attentiveto this branch of naval tactics, generally keep a point or two from the wind ;but still, notwithstanding their great application, they are unable to effect theirown wishes perfectly, although their line, owing to the great similarity be-tween ship and ship, is less liable to natural derangement than that of any othercountry. Captain Schank, however, entertains the best founded hopes, thatall the inconveniences just pointed out would be completely done away by thesystem and use of sliding keels. He furthermore imagines, that, in thecase of a fleet proceeding on any expedition, a considerable part of the delay,which now scarcely ever fails to take place during such voyage, would be con-siderably lessened, if not completely done away. “ It qften happens,” says he,that the commander-in-chief of a fleet, having a number of vessels withtroops and stores on board, under his protection, is under the necessity of bring-ing to on the approach of night, for the purpose of keeping all the ships toge-ther. This measure is unavoidably adopted merely from the circumstance ofsome being more apt to fall to leeward,than others. It frequently happensthat, notwithstanding this precaution, in the morning, many of the fleet havevery materially altered their allotted situation, not only with respect to the Admi-ral, but to each other; an alteration generally productive of the most materialand serious inconvenience. These difficulties, however,” continues the inge-nious inventor, “ I conceive might be very successfully remedied by the use ofsliding keels; since, if the commander-in-chief, observing the approach of agale of wind, will bring to, and order the sails to be reduced, as far as he shallthink expedient, the keels to be regulated as circumstances appear to require,and the signal made for the whole fleet to take up his drift, sufficient experience;has been had to prove, that, though an hundred ships were in company, the ex-tent of the whole, after laying to during a long winter’s night, need not be more thanthree miles, unless the commanders were grossly negligent, or some unforeseenchange of the wind should take place. On the other hand,” proceeds Captain

3 C 3 Schank,