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Art. XVIII. ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. 



I. The Philosophical Transactions for 1820. P. II. 



Tins part of the Philosophical Transactions, besides six ana- 

 tomical and physiological papers by Sir Everard Home, Bart., 

 illustrated by several finely engraved plates, from the excellent 

 drawings of Messrs. Clift and Bauer ; a very elaborate paper 

 giving a sketch of an analysis and notation applicable to the 

 estimation of the value of life contingencies, by Mr. Gompertz ; 

 and some astronomical observations by Mr. Groombridge ; 

 contains the following communications, which will probably be 

 thought interesting to the general reader. 



\, On a nao Principle of constructing Ships in the Mercantile 

 Naiy, by Sir Robert Seppings, F.R.S. 



This country is so deeply interested in whatever tends to 

 give additional safety to the persons and property employed in 

 commerce, as to render the improvement of ship-building a matter 

 of first-rate importance. Our readers are aware that Sir R. Sep- 

 pings has frequently given the results of his inquiries upon this 

 subject to the Royal Society ; and that he has introduced many 

 weighty improvements into that department of naval architec- 

 ture, relating to the construction of ships of war. In the paper 

 now before us he treats of vessels employed in the mercantile 

 service ; and after showing the erroneous principles and loose 

 practice that have hitherto prevailed in this department, and 

 adverting to the lives and property that have in consequence 

 been sacrificed, describes the means of obviating such serious 

 defects. 



In the present mode of constructing mercantile ships, half 

 the timbers only of the frames or ribs are so united as to form 

 any part of an arch, every alternate couple being unconnected 

 with each other, and resting upon, instead of giving support to, 

 the external planking. To the disgrace of the English merchant- 

 ship-builder this practice is almost peculiar to him, a prefer- 



VoL. X. 2D 



