28 Observations on the State of 



possibly been taught or understood in the establishment over 

 which he presides, and that therefore he is the representative 

 of it in the late and present trials for the palm of excellence ; 

 but we cannot by any means assent to this : many of the 

 students must have left his tuition seven, eight, and nine years, 

 and must be between thirty and forty years of age ; and it 

 would be strange indeed, if during such ^ period, and in the 

 prime of life and intellect, some of these, if not all, had not 

 cultivated the science after their own bent of mind, and formed 

 original ideas on the subject : we say, therefore, that Dr. 

 Inman's constructions cannot be called the production of the 

 establishment — they are merely the effort of one man, whose 

 attention it appears is distracted by a multiplicity of occupations, 

 and can only, along with the vessels of Capts. Symonds, Hayes, 

 and Sir R. Seppings, be deemed criterions of the particular 

 views of an individual. 



Mysticism and ignorance always accompany each other ; 

 and we may reckon that in proportion as the latter disap- 

 pears from amongst our ship-builders, so will the absurd 

 vagaries of the former recede, and the subject be placed 

 at last on the true principles of philosophical induction, 

 instead of the caprices of imagination. We look forward, 

 therefore, to this new body of naval architects for the expulsion 

 of all quackery from their profession, and for the exposition 

 not only of what we really do know, but also of what we do not 

 know about it : this is the only way to arrive at truth, which 

 should be the sole object of all investigation ; but which we 

 are afraid has hitherto been sadly garbled and perverted 

 wherever it has had to do with naval architecture in this 

 country. 



But we repeat that we do not see that the nation is at all 

 likely to benefit from the science or exertions of those gentle- 

 men so long as they are placed in situations where a superior 

 education can have no other effect than producing disgust and 

 chagrin in the mind of the possessor ; and if the institution at 

 Portsmouth be designed for no better purpose than that of 

 supplying house-carpenters, joiners, and still more inferior 

 trades, with foremen, it had better be abolished. Some would 

 regard it, as at present used, as a gross mockery on the public 



