ON LIFE BOATS. 25 



•f a curved keel is the difficulty it occasions of steering the 



boat straight, particularly when from the height of the end 



the steersman is so high above the water. 



To come to rny boat, of which a plan is given in plate 2. Description of 



You will perceive from her size and width, that she is secure ew oa * 



from upsetting, without being incumbered below with an iron 



keel, or above with high ends. She cannot sink, which is 



the chief thing. Her wings are close; and yet they can be 



opened to admit many things. The space of the boat is not 



occupied by belts of cork, or hollow cases that cannot open, 



like Lukin's: while the wings, from their size, afford cabin 



room ; and, being in compartments, if a rock force through 



one, the others remaiiiing sound will prevent the water from 



rising much in that which is damaged. Perhaps Mr. Lu- 



kin would say, if these be opened, and any thing put in 



them, they will cease to be wings, and will not buoy up the 



boat like a hollow case: but you know one great secret of 



buoyancy is the resistance at bottom. Thus put an empty 



basin into water, and try to sink it, and you will find how 



great its resistance is, though completely open at top: or by 



putting weights into it you may satisfy yourself, that it will 



float a considerable burden. In mine the burden can be 



suited to the occasion ; and if not wanted to hold any thing, 



keep the lids close, and they are airtight buoys. As the 



wings of my boat are so broad, they form a deck, on which 



people may lie, particularly if a few iron stanchions be 



placed along the gunwale and connected by ropes. These 



stanchions might have a joint at the bottom, allowing them 



to yield inwardly, but not outwardly, which would prevent 



any damage if a heavy sea should roll the boat against the 



wreck. 



You must remember a peculiar feature in the boat, the Herfecullari- 



larse cabin in the bow for women and children, with ven- tl ?\' 



° i i • • i • A lar 6 e cabin, 



tilators on the valve principle, to admit air upwards, but no 



water downwards. I need not dwell on the importance of 

 this cabin, in cases of shipwreck, to affrighted and half 

 drowned women and children. It is obviously an indispen- 

 sable requisite to a life-boat, that it should be incapable of 

 sinking; but mine cannot even fill, or be waterrlogged. and after ports 

 This is effected by very simple means, which do not appear *? dischar S e 



even 



