114 REPORT— 1853. 



has every right to expect that the funds so raised should be turned to the best 



account. 



Life-hoats should he a National object. — But the momentous question of efficient 

 life-boats can only be safely dealt with after the most patient consideration, founded 

 on extensive experiments as to the construction of the boats, and the rewards to be 

 given to those individuals who overlook the chance of salvage in order to save life, 

 and thus make a sacrifice. 



Life-boat of Mr. Richardson. — The boat to which I invite your attention, as being 

 safe under (it is believed) all circumstances, dates from the year 1830, when a wreck 

 at Weymouth, and the examination of Blanshard's pontoons, gave rise to the tubular 

 boat. 



Description, &c. — She is formed of two tubes of tinned iron, 40 feet in length by 

 2^ feet in diameter, tapering at the ends, and thus giving the appearance of shears, 

 as they rather approach one another towards the extremities. Iron frame-work, 

 securely riveted, unites the whole into one mass, which is further strengthened by 

 longitudinal bars of iron hoops within ; likewise, iron keels running from end to end 

 of the tubes. The latter, as an additional security, are divided into water-tight com- 

 partments occupied by air-pi'oof bags. A cork fender surrounds the fabric, on which 

 a platform is placed for the rowers and those who may be saved. She rows exceed- 

 ingly well, steers with facility, and is fast under sail. Sliding keels are proposed to 

 be added to increase the stability. 



Experiments made with this Boat, — After the most trying experiments, such as 

 landing through surf, and re-embarking on a lee-shore, towing in stormy weather 

 behind a steamer, without any one in the boat to steer, &c., Mr. H. T. Richardson 

 circulated a challenge to the Shipwreck and other Societies, and upwards of 50 life- 

 boats, and then made a voyage from Liverpool to Woolwich, expressly to meet and 

 compete with any boat that might be disposed to make a trial ; but not one ventured 

 to do so. 



Published Account of the Life-boat. — During this voyage of the Challenger life- 

 boat, which has been published by Pickering, she was subjected to various experiments 

 alongside the Leander frigate, and in presenceof the Port-Admiral, Sir John Oramaney, 

 at Plymouth. Two officers then belonging to that ship thus speak of the boat : — 



Naval Opinions of the Life-boat. — " I think Challenger the only thing built, at least 

 that I have heard of, deserving the name of life-boat. She has no capacity to retain 

 water ; she cannot sink or capsize, as was fully proved when 80 men of the Leander 

 stood upon one tube. I would willingly take a boat of the same dimensions as one of 

 our cutters or quarter life-boat at sea, and feel convinced that many a valuable life 

 would be saved if a ship had such a boat belonging to her." 



"I witnessed," says the other writer, "one of the most severe trials that possibly 

 could have been put to any boat in the world, and she behaved admirably when tried 

 alongside H.M.S. Leander, June 5, 1852." 



The Tubular ca7i scarcely be capsized. — Hitherto it has been found impi-acticable 

 to capsize the tubular boat, because, not having a sea-bottom, the force of the waves 

 passes oiF and through the space between the tubes. But were she overturned, her 

 buoyancy would be as great or even greater than before, and with some little arrange- 

 ment, she would, as may be easily proved, be a serviceable boat with the bottom 

 upward. 



Examination and Competition sought by Mr. Richardson. — We may therefore hope 

 that a real life-boat has at length been constructed, as patented by Mr. Richardson, 

 who would be the first to condemn her if she prove unwoi'thy. What is sought is a 

 full examination by the authorities, and competition with the best existing life-boats; 

 with which object Mr. Richardson has recently expressed to the Shipwreck Fisher- 

 men and Mariner's Benevolent Society his readiness to meet any of their boats for 

 the purpose of trial, at any lime and place between the Land's-end and John o'Groats 

 House, or on the west coast of Ireland, between Cape Clear and the Causeway; and 

 thus to prove practically whether the tubular is or is not the best life-boat at present 

 in use to save life, as she would undoubtedly be the cheapest construction, if the 

 chivalrous object of the inventor shall be accomplished. 



On Reaping MacJiinery. By A. Crosskill, Beverley. 

 After some observations relative to the reaping-machine of the ancients, he 



