HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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for a series of years, in pursuit of what he has considered as perfection, but whichat last proves a phantom; he may be able to establish a few general data, whichmay be adoptable in countries and situations, where natural impediments do notoppose their entertainment.

In the following Chapters some account will be given of the various experi_ments which have been made, particularly in Britain, in the hope of discoveringthose general principles which should influence the mind and conduct of marinearchitects. Though considerable time, labour, and expence has been bestowed,there appears still considerable room for farther enquiry, and investigation ; buthuman assiduity steadily directed to the attainment of one point has very rarelyproved ultimately unsuccessful, and it would argue an unwarrantable distrustin the power of mental energy, to consider it incapable of overcoming the greaterpart, at least, of those obstacles which have been considered, as opposing perfectionin the science.

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