Nautical Economy. 'W 



deserves considerable attention. On the instruction of the 

 French artisans, we extract the following : — *' The system 

 of mutual instruction among the working classes prospers in 

 the bosoms of our ports, and schools are founded for the 

 particular instruction of the sons of the inferior officers of 

 the arsenals, in the elements of calculation, of geometry, and 

 of design, as far as necessary for the plans of ships ; also the 

 principles of statics, so as to enable them to judge of the 

 action and effect of machinery. Frizes of gold medals and 

 special promotions are to be the rewards of the most deserv- 

 ing students. 



** The plan of these schools, which may be cited as 

 models, is due to M. Tupinier, subdirector of the ports and 

 arsenals of France. 



" With regard to the creation of estabhshments of general 

 utility to the progress of the marine, Brest was formerly the 

 only port properly furnished with them. Since the peace, 

 however, libraries are forming in each of the others ; and, in 

 almost all, cabinets of natural history and botanical gardens 

 are enriched at every voyage undertaken by our ships, either 

 to foreign coasts, or to those of our colonies." — '' iVn ob- 

 servatory has been given to Toulon ; and Rochfort is to be 

 similarly enriched. In both these ports naval museums are 

 formed, in order to preserve types of the most eminent 

 vessels, whose originals either are, or soon will be, destroyed 

 by time. Models of ingenious machines, representations of 

 interesting manoeuvres, a methodical collection of raw ma- 

 terials, of tools, and of the product of all the arts exercised 

 in a dock-yard, — such are the riches collected in these inte- 

 resting repositories." 



We are of opinion, that the establishment of institutions 

 of learning, similar to those of France, at each of our three 

 great naval arsenals, Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Chatham, 

 would be highly beneficial to the country. Advocates of a 

 fallacious economy would deplore the expense of such na- 

 tional undertakings ; and the malignant opposers of advance- 

 ment in knowledge would also object to it ; but it may be 

 asserted, that past experience, and a present view of naval 

 affairs, loudly call on the country for some struggles for 

 our attainment of superiority in naval science. Who could 

 remark a young naval power, like America, possessing supe- 

 rior vessels to our own, in the last war, without perceiving the 

 necessity of this step? — it reverberated through the houses of 

 parliament, with just complaint. 



At the present time it is well known that ships of the United 



