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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

of them almost unnecessary; but it may not, however, be considered extravagantto point out that the.internal commerce of the kingdom might in a great mea-sure by this contrivance, be connected with that carried on by sea, and conse-quently a saving would be made, of all that time, as well as expence, which isunavoidably occasioned, at present, Ly the removal of cargoes from the vesselswhich have brought them into port, on board the lighters which are to conveythem inland. A depth of four or five feet water only, being, as already shewn,sufficient to float a sloop or vessel, of no mean burthen, built according to thisproposed system, which is in every respect fitted to encounter the dangers of thesea, there are many canals through Great Britain, into which, if furnished witha falling mast, they might pass with as much facility as the barges or lightersnow used.

Two other advantages, almost equally valuable with those already pointed out,are also to be obtained from the use of separate bulkheads and sliding keels ; thefirst is the great ease with which a cargo, consisting of mixed and most oppositecommodities, may be carried in the same vessel; nor does there appear to be a singlespecies of lading to which it may not be considered fitted, except that of masts,a very insignificant exception from the immense commercial catalogue. Thesecond benefit is that of durability ; there is nothing that Seems so highly injuriousand detrimental to the timbers or frame as the circumstances of being alternatelywet and dry, or exposed to, and again totally excluded from the externalair. It is well known that the bottom of a ship or vessel will frequently lastfifty or sixty years, but the upper works always decay in much shorter space oftime ; the reason has been already assigned. But when the timbers composing

a specimen of nautical improvement, equal, if not exceeding, any other. The public, I fear, do notyet know how much is due to you, for the pains you have taken to accommodate them; for one, I begto return you my thanks for the information you have furnished me with, and which, I am sure, will inseason prove very advantageous to me ; especially if I carry stone from Barbicomb Bay up the canal, andBovey Coal, in war time, to the rock in that bay. I wish vou may find a general good opinion prevail,and that the countenance of the public may not be wanting to make you the greatest return you are un-doubtedly entitled to.

(Signed) James Templer.

P. S.—I forgot to observe that we sailed several leagues without using the rudder, steering the vessel■with particular accuracy by the keels only, a circumstance almost incredible to those who do not see it;but the reason is so substantial, that it accords with true mechanical principles, and the effect iscurtain.”

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