of Steam-j)oweT in Navigation. 245 



chance which they would afford : — and no comparison, I should think, in both 

 points of view, between this and the ordinary steam-boat conveyance. 



4. The great object in contriving the jury-masts, would be to unite the 

 greatest possible length and strength with the lightest weight, and the utmost 

 facility in getting them up and down. For these purposes the masts might be 

 hollow ; the platform on which they are usually stowed, might consist of two 

 or three longitudinal beams, like partners, between which, when being step- 

 ped, they would rise easily and safely, whatever sea were running ; and to 

 facilitate the operation still more, the step on deck might move on a swivel, 

 and the heel be entered before beginning to raise the head. The rigging 

 should be as light as possible, not, perhaps, exceeding two runner-tackles 

 and a stay : and the sails should be square for running, and three cornered 

 stay-sails, for laying to. Two or three of each, with good ground-tackle, in 

 case of approaching the land, would furnish the necessary shift for almost any 

 emergency ; and much more than is usually possessed by dismasted merchant- 



Here, then, for the present, I close these speculations ; and 

 I cannot help thinking the subject very important, whatever 

 may be thought of some of the conclusions at which I have ar- 

 rived respecting it. There can be no question that the present 

 application of steam to navigation is at once unsafe and expen- 

 sive, as regards the construction of the vessels ; — that the power 

 employed is high, the effect small ; — that effect further limited 

 to certain lucrative and safe branches of trade, its pastimes 

 rather than its tasks; — and some improvement in these re- 

 spects, some way by which a more extended benefit may 

 be derived from this wondrous power, is obviously desir- 

 able. On the other hand, something would be gained by 

 a mere improvement in the build of steam-vessels, making 

 them smaller, lighter, more compact, deriving strength from 

 the disposition rather than from the mass of their materials, 

 thus at once safer and more powerful ; and, by a due apprecia- 

 tion in working them, of the superiority of these properties, to- 

 gether with minute economy, over mere speed and decoration. 

 But, besides this, the principle of traction seems given to man 

 expressly for the conveyance of heavy burdens ; its advantages 

 arc universally recognised and acted on in land communication ; 

 in locomotive engines, in particular, the effect thus produced 

 appears really almost miraculous, when it is considered that the 

 only Jidcrum is the friction aris'mg from the weight of some ten 

 or twelve tons, iron upon iron, whereas marine tugs have an ac- 



