MODERN INVENTIONS. 



What then if we place fancy at the helm, an<l essay to describe such a 

 vessel as she can at once conjure up for us, and whose build and material 

 shall be compounded of the recent improvements in nautical structure ? 



The child of the four elements the latest combination of the powers 

 of earth and water, of fire and air, is already floating upon the waters of 

 imagination, and we are safely on board ! Can we believe the evidence of 

 our senses ? are we indeed embarked in a 



STEAM BOAT BUILT OF IRON ? Aye, truly, and a bonny, buoyant 

 boat it is! constructed by the descendants of a man whose splendid 

 manufacturing machinery, and highly finished workmanship, obtained 

 for him the title of " the Prince of Engineers." We have borrowed for 

 our descriptive vision, the first vessel formed of iron plates, by Maudsley 

 and Co., for navigating the Indian rivers. Without detracting from 

 their merit in this the most recent proof of their skill, we must not 

 permit it to be supposed that the same idea had not been previously 

 acted upon by Fairbairn and Lillie, of Manchester, and by other 

 eminent followers of the mysteries of Tubal-Cain, who have built many 

 iron boats of great capacity for inland navigation, and proved them to 

 combine the advantages of greater stowage, strength, and buoyancy, 

 than those built of whatever description of timber. Maudsley's boat is 

 fitting up with condensing engines; but our fancy-figured barque is 

 burthened with no such wonderful combination of seemingly volitive 

 machinery no Brobdignag clock-work but with those simple and yet 

 perfectly effective engines which, from their having been first applied to 

 the impulsion of steam-carriages, have obtained the appellation of "loco- 

 motives." Now, by using these, and by availing ourselves of the excel- 

 lent, economical, and safe steam-producer, called 



HANCOCK'S BOILER, we are enabled to apportion a much more 

 extensive space, or cabin-room, to the accommodation of our friends 

 the readers of the " Monthly" and our " water-skimmer" will speed 

 still more lightly over the wondering waves than either of those heavier 

 laden vessels, which, under the scientific guidance of Captain Johnson, 

 are destined to carry commerce and civilization into the fertile bosom of 

 the wealthy Ind. It has already been evinced by long-continued expe- 

 riments, that Hancock's boiler is capable of resisting more wear and 

 tear than any other that has yet been used for steam-carriage purposes ; 

 and we may take occasion to observe, that in the general details of con- 

 structing loco-motive vehicles, he bids fair to outrun all competition, 

 and very shortly to realize the well-founded expectations of practical 

 men : but we intend to make our fellow- passengers fully acquainted 

 with all that is peculiar in our equipment, and must inform them that his 

 boilers consist of hollow, square, or other conveniently formed tables or 

 chambers, which are manufactured of the best charcoal iron; these 

 tables are placed edgewise, in an upright position ; are connected and 

 secured by nutted bars ; and have their contents whether of water or 

 steam communicated to each other, throughout the whole arrange- 

 ment, by two or more tubes, the fire being permitted to pass between 

 and around each compartment or table in such a manner that all their 

 surface is exposed to the action of heat. The accidental fracture of part 

 of the boiler should any failure occur by the remotest chance cannot 

 affect the strength or durability of the remainder ; nor create the slightest 

 risk to those who might be near. 



Now, then, we have our boilers and engines on board, and it is time 



