On Stowage and Sailing, 321 



never be carried to the last degree of perfection, nor all pos- 

 sible good qualities be given to ships, before we at the same 

 time possess in the most perfect degree possible, a knowledge 

 both of the theory and practice. 



** Lastly, it is evident from all that has been said, that a ship 

 of the best form will not show its good qualities, except it is at 

 the same time well rigged, well stowed, and well worked by 

 those who command it." 



I have quoted the authority of Chapman to show that much 

 depends on the stowage and management of a ship. 



Many experiments have of late years been tried, many im- 

 provements made, and much, no doubt, yet remains to be done. 

 But although naval architects appear still to differ respecting 

 the formation of the body, it appears to me there is less room 

 for improvement in the structure, than in the system of stowage 

 and sailing, which appears to require considerable alteration, 

 before it can reach perfection. 



It has been very generally observed how well our own 

 ships after an action, and those captured from the enemy, 

 have appeared to sail under jurymasts, or, comparatively 

 speaking, they have appeared to sail better in proportion 

 under jurymasts, than with their proper ones, — a strong proof 

 in support of which occurred a few years since : — 



The Essex, late American frigate, sailed from Plymouth, 

 under very low jurymasts, attended by the Dwarf cutter, of 

 two hundred and ten tons, for Dublin, there to remain as a 

 dep6t. At the entrance of the Bristol Channel, they fell in 

 with a large smuggling lugger, to which they gave chace off* 

 the wind ; the Essex, after a considerable run, capturing the 

 lugger, and leaving the Dwarf out of sight, or nearly so, — a 

 proof she must have sailed as fast as if properly masted. 



I shall mention one more circumstance. It will be recol- 

 lected, the Vanguard, Lord Nelson's flag-ship, lost her fore- 

 mast off" Toulon, previous to his fleet joining him, and his 

 pursuit of the French fleet to Egypt. His lordship proceeded 

 in the Vanguard, under a jury foremast, to Egypt, back to 

 Sicily, and to Egypt again, where he found the enemy ; and 

 I do not recollect the Vanguard causing the least delay or im- 



