ship's lifeboatV 101 



The quantity of buoyancy in the shipboat, being, consider- 

 ably more in proportion to her size, and being carried to a 

 greater height, gives more security against oversetting; an4 

 if to these advantages there be added the far greater one of 

 having only to drift before wind and sea, no shadow of' 

 doubt remains of the success of the shipboat over that of 

 the other. 



Lastly. — This plan carries with it the very strong recom-The plan ad 



mendation of private interest as well as of public utility, vantageousto 

 * , ... private interest, 



Suppose a ship to be riding in an open bay or roadstead, 



a storm comes on, and, if in winter, a long dark night is soon 

 5 to foUov. In this situation the mariners, being extremely 

 doubtful whether the vessel could hold it out over the night, «. 

 and terrified at the awful prospect of being thrown, as it 

 were, blindfold into the most perilous of all situations, the 

 determination would most undoubtedly be to cut and let the 

 ship run on shore while there was light, as giving the only -^ 



chance for saving life. 



The same determination may be taken in hopes of escap- 

 ing by favour of a falling tide, and in both cases lives, ship, 

 and cargo may be all lost, as has certainly very frequently 

 happened. Whereas could safety be ultimately relied upon as it would en* 

 from the boat, the ship would be allowed to ride so long as ^**"^^S*^ n^®'^ 

 anchors and cables could hold her ; and in the mean time ship in danger. 

 the storm might abate, the wind might shift, or her tackling 

 might prove sufficient to ride out the storm, and thus lives, 

 ship and cargo would all be safe. 



, ^ In every situation the prospect of safety by means of 

 the boat would prevent every precipitate measure, and eiT-' 

 courage men to make those exertions for saving ship and 

 cargo, which are not to be expected from men despairing of 

 life. 



In the foregoing plans there is nothing that can be reck- It is simple, & 

 oned complex, nothing that requires nice adjustment, or ^f "^^^^j^ction- 

 doubtful and precarious effect. They are unquestionable 

 in principle, simple and easy in execution, and absolute in 

 security ; and if the nece:<8ary previous preparation, which" 

 is very little, has been made, they will be found as expedi* 

 tious as any emergency can require. They have been* 

 proved by experiment as far at circumstances would per- 



