58 Dr Davy's Voyage from England to Barhadoes, 



berths closed, and always at night, and often likewise the ports 

 in the saloon — the common dining-room — to the no trifling 

 discomfort of the passengers, after so suddenly passing into a 

 tropical climate. If the saloon and lower berths are ill- venti- 

 lated, some other compartments of the ship are worse, especi- 

 ally those near the engine, heated by communicated heat, not 

 being protected by bad conducting surfaces. The mess-room 

 •of the officers of the vessel may be mentioned as an example. 

 In dimensions it is about 8 feet by 6 ; and besides the en- 

 trance door has only one port for the admission and exit of air. 

 At 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the 3d of July, when the tem- 

 perature of the air on deck was 80°, in this confined space it 

 was 90°*1. It was just after the officers* dinner. A young 

 midshipman present, who was bathed in perspiration, submit- 

 ted to have his temperature tried ; under the tongue it was 

 99°*8 ; in the closed hand, 98°-5. I no sooner entered than I 

 was also in a profuse perspiration, but without experiencing any 

 oppressive feeling of heat. Such a feeling the officers did not 

 speak of experiencing ; but they did say, and they are men not 

 given to complain, that they were subject to get cold going 

 suddenly from their vapour-bath into the open air. 



It is to be hoped, that the company which has shewn so much 

 enterprise in establishing a regular communication with the 

 West Indies by such noble steamers, and so much perseverance 

 in contending with difficulties, and resolution in striving against 

 disasters considered almost ruinous, will not be satisfied with 

 having brought their establishment of steamers into tolerable 

 order, but will assiduously apply themselves to improve them 

 to the utmost extent ; and first, and most of all, as regards de- 

 fective ventilation. Simple means, I am confident, might be 

 suggested, by which this could be effected, without the neces- 

 sity of incurring any great expense, and without risking or 

 impairing the timbers. A very ingenious machine for ventila- 

 tion has lately been invented by Dr Arnott, of which I had 

 the satisfaction of seeing a model before leaving town. It is 

 recommended by its cheapness and freedom from complexity. 

 It is admirably adapted to introduce fresh and cool air into 

 any part of a steamer. By means of it, at the expense of a few 

 shillings, or a few pounds at farthest, aided by air-tubes judi- 



