272 



MODERN INVENTIONS. No. II. 



HOLDSWORTH'S REVOLVING RUDDER IRON STEAM-BOATS HANCOCK'S 

 BOILER PERKINS' OBLIQUE WHEEL STEVENS' PADDLES PERRING'S 

 ANCHOR BOTHWAY'S BLOCKS AN IMPROVED CHAIN CABLE DON- 

 LAN'S PHORMIUM TENAX, OR NEW ZEALAND FLAX WATSON'S SAFETY 



TUBES HARRIS'S LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS, &c. 



ON, on, on ! The art of governing, after the varied practice of cen- 

 turies, may still remain a matter of pure speculation an endless argu- 

 ment for unborn ages, fashion may turn back upon herself, and renew 

 the long discarded attire of abused antiquities, medicine and quackery 

 may continue at fisty-cuffs, whilst suffering humanity is drooping to 

 despair, theology may be torn into tatters by unreasonable sceptics and 

 bigotted disputants, and every shred become the standard of a new sect, 

 all else may vary, wind, retrograde, eccentricise, fly off at a tangent, 

 or be like Milton's wife's ghost, " evanished j" but the advance of in- 

 vention, and the progress of discovery, must still speed on ! Again, 

 gentle reader, we are embarked with you on our monthly voyage ; but 

 how shall we shape the course of our selections? Heureusement 

 though at sea in thought, we are not wholly without a guide, for ready 

 at hand is 



HOLDSWORTH'S REVOLVING RUDDER, with which we can advance or 

 retire without the necessity of going ' about ship/' Such, indeed, is 

 the chief excellence of this rudder ; which, instead of being confined in 

 its operations to less than the limits of a semi-circle, of which the stern- 

 post of the vessel would constitute the centre of motion, is fixed on an 

 axis at a sufficient distance from the sternpost, and can perform a full 

 circular revolution can turn completely round upon its pivot ; and, 

 when it is necessary that the vessel should have stern-way, or should go 

 stern-foremost, the rudder may be allowed to present its heel towards 

 the stern of the vessel, and still possess the necessary power of guidance ; 

 the simple difference being, in such cases, that the vessel may be said to 

 be astern of the rudder, instead of being in the contrary or usual 

 position. For steam vessels, and for canal boats, this is an admirable 

 and indisputable improvement ; for sailing vessels some doubts may be 

 admitted, until experience shall have given her approval. Mr. Holds- 

 worth is one of the members for Dartmouth ; we have nothing to do 

 with that gentleman's politics, when discussing the merits of his inven- 

 tion ; whilst it is pleasant to reflect, that among our senators may be found 

 not only many distinguished patrons of mechanical genius, but some 

 who are directly actuated by its influence. 



Chance, mere wayward chance, has caused us to commence this notice 

 with the description of a rudder ; there is certainly some relationship 

 between chance and fancy. One of our olden and much loved rhymsters 

 says 



" There ever will be 

 An identity 



In the medley of chance, 

 And the frolicsome dance 

 Of fantasy!" 



