8^ Sfiip's LIFEBOAT* 



II. 



Method qfmakhg any Ship's Boat a Life boat , to preserve the 

 Lives of the Crew in imminent danger ; by the Rev. Jame« 

 Bremner, Minister of Walls and Flota, Orkney Islands*, 



Case of Ship- J7XAVING a great many years ago witnessed a melancholy 

 ^"^^ scene of shipwreck, and seen men perishing at little more 



than the distance of one hundred yards from the shore, it 

 forcibly struck tne, that thout^h there was no possibility of 

 getting from the shore to them, yet there was a great proba- 

 bility that means might be found, by which those in such 

 situations might with safety be enabled to effect their escape 

 to the shore; and farther considering, that the very preca- 

 rious aid of some accidental piece of wreck (under every 

 disadvantage and in a tempestuous sea) sometimes serves to 

 save life, I was confirmed in the opinion, that some method 

 might be devised, which, upon good grounds, would hold 

 , forth the promlhing prpspect of safety in all the common 

 and general cases of shipwreck. Hence it was, that to 

 devise such a scheme became the object of my research ever 

 after. 

 Plans for say- The following plans (especially the first) are so simple, and 



jng Persons ^|^^ ^^^^^ ^^ obvious, that I cannot allow mvself to think 

 J^uipwreckea. 



that any seaman can entertain the smallest doubt, but that 



a boat so prepared would live in any sea whatever, could nei- 

 ther sink nor overset, and could carry in safety a number of 

 people, in proportion to her size, over a bar, or from the 

 wreck to the shore through any surf. 

 Buoyancy That empty casks must float, almost wholly above the sur- 



of empty Yace of the water, is so clear, that no person can be so ab- 

 surd as to question it; and it is equally certain, that every 

 cask will support weight of any kind in proportion to its 

 size. In order then to accomplish theend proposed, there is 

 only one thing more wanted, and that is, by means of su65- 

 cient seizings or holdings, to secure the casks in their 

 places. Were you to tell a seaman, that be is not master of 



* Trans, of the Soc. of Arts, vol. XXVIII, p. 135. The silver medal 

 #f the Soci«ty and twenty guineas were Toted to the author. 



^^9. 



