[ 25 ] 



be carried, and the lefs ballafl required. Weight it is true 

 does not operate exacflly upon Ihips as burden does upon ani- 

 mals ; its fituation, as I have ah'eady faid, determining in a 

 great meafure the refiftance to velocity it caufes ; but that its 

 operation is confiderable cannot I believe be doubted. In fliort, 

 I am perfuaded that pacKet veffels might be conftrudled on a 

 principle fo light, that they might pafs the Dublin Bar at any 

 time of tide, fo fpeedy, that they would commonly perform 

 their voyage in three-fourths or perhaps two-thirds of the time 

 thofe in ufe now employ ; and at the fame time that they 

 would, if poflible, be more fafe, and certainly much more 

 commodious, their building and failing charges would not be; 

 more confiderable. 



To determine the exadl extent to which the improvements 

 I recommend can, in general, be pradically applied, is not 

 my prefent obje(S. I only mean to fuggefl hints which, if 

 thought deferving of the trouble, may eafily be thrown into 

 regular fyftem ; and I will clofe an addrefs, imperceptibly ex~ 

 tended beyond its intended limits, with a word on fhips of 

 war. 



Should thefe improvements prove founded on true prin- 

 ciples of naval architecflure, their application may certainly be 

 extended to the conftrudion of frigates and all other King's 

 fhips carrying one tier of guns only ; but that thofe of two 

 and three tier can, in an equal degree, be improved, is an 

 affertion I will not hazard. The effedl of the weight the latter 

 carry above water muft be counteradled by a proportionate 



Vol. VI, D weight 



