ship's lifeboat. 89 



future ages, will no doubt meet with a favourable reception 

 from every humane and benevolent mind. 



But humanity and true benevolence are not merely spe- Truehuira- 

 culative, but active principles; and wherever they I'^^^ly princhUe/*'* 

 exist, the helping hand is instantly stretched forth, to exe- 

 cute the dictates of the feeling heart. 



As no subject can be more interesting to individuals than 

 the present, or more important to society, may it not then 

 be expected, that every friend to humanity and to his coun- 

 try will not only heartily wish success to the present plan, 

 but also lend his best assistance to have it brought into all 

 the practical etlect, of which it may be found susceptible ? 



It is to be understood, that the plan is intended to apply 

 to cases of shipwreck in general, and that it may very often 

 succeed even in cases of extraordinary difficulty and peril. 



This will comprehend the far greater number of all ship- 

 yrrecks that happen, and the authqr thinks himself war- 

 ranted to say, that no solid objection can be offered to the 

 effectual operation!^ of his plan to this extent, and that it 

 will be found fitted to answer all the purposes of a life boat, 

 by saving lives, where other^Yi§emen ipust inevitably have 

 perished. ' 



At the same time he begs it may be understood, that heTliepkn ap«. 

 does not speak with this confidence from his own opinion conlpetent 

 only, however well-founded in principle and experiment it judges, 

 may be, but because the plan itself, after repeated investi- 

 gation, has received the unanimous testimony and approba- 

 tion of professional men, and of men too who must be al- 

 lowed to be the most competent as well as the most re- 

 spectable judges in the kingdom, namely, theTrinlty House 

 ofLeith, in whose records a copy of it will be found. 



The Report of the Highland Society of Scotland confirms, 

 that in their Committee appointed to witness the experimentat 

 Leilh there were naval men of that number who were com- 

 petent judges, and in whose skill they could confide, and 

 for this reference is made to the Appendix of their second 

 volume. 



It has been repeatedly submitted to the Trinity House of 

 London, It was first submitted to them by Lord Melville, 

 the treasurer of the navy, and their answer under the hand of 



