Naval Construction in this Country, '^ 



lofty sail cannot be cited than the fact of its not procuring, 

 under the most favourable circumstances, a rate of sailing 

 rarely exceeding one-fourth the velocity of the wind. 



As the number of masts should be so regulated as to create 

 facility in managing the canvas, which is well known to be at 

 present hardly manageable in a gale of wind, on board large 

 ships, from the enormous size of each individual course and 

 topsail, we should not hesitate, therefore, to have four ver- 

 tical masts, as recommended by Bouguer, instead of three, in 

 ships built in accordance with the principles we have been dis- 

 cussing. This would, cceteris paribus, require shorter masting 

 and smaller yards, and the sails being much less, individually, 

 would be more easily managed and not so liable to accidents. 



From what has been said, and the actual experiments now 

 pending, it is apparent that the theoretic construction of ships 

 is at a very low ebb in this country; yet a fine opportunity now 

 presents itself, if we choose to avail ourselves of it, for rescu- 

 ing the nation from this generally acknowledged odium. Let 

 a proper use be made of the corps of Naval Architects we 

 have, somehow or other, at last got, and let their exertions, under 

 a degree of encouragement equal to that bestowed on the old 

 ship-builders in vain for so long a period, be directed towards 

 the improvement of their art. If they fail, they cannot claim 

 the excuse of having their endeavours repressed ; if they suc- 

 ceed, as no doubt they will, in advancing their profession to 

 something beyond mere carpentry, we shall be enabled to bid 

 adieu to the old and ruinous method of blundering, under the 

 reign of which nothing but disappointment can ever be reason- 

 ably expected. 



We have seen and do still see the immense advantages de- 

 rived by our country from the encouragement of those branches 

 of science connected with its manufactures and agriculture ; 

 and if we wish to keep our present superiority, we must follow 

 up vigorously this principle in all its universality. To the cavils 

 of ignorance and bigotry against such a mode of proceeding 

 we would answer, in the words of one of the most enlightened 

 members of the present administration, " This country can- 

 not stand still, whilst others are advancing in science, in in- 



