THE 



QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



January, 1825, 



Art. I. — Results of Experiments relating to the comparative 

 means of Defence afforded by Ships of War, having Square 

 and Curvilineal Sterns. By George Harvey, Esq., 

 F.R.S.E., M.G.S., 4r. 



[Communicated by the Author.] 



.Although it would be possible to deduce ^ 'priori, the com- 

 parative means of defence afforded by ships of war having square 

 and curvilineal sterns, and to shew by a train of unquestionable 

 reasoning, that the new form latterly introduced into His Majesty's 

 navy, by Sir Robert Seppings, is calculated to benefit and improve 

 every class of vessels to which it may be applied, both as regards 

 strength and means of defence ; — yet, on a subject of so very prac- 

 tical a nature, and so intimately identified with the most important 

 interests of the country, a course of exact and intelligible experi- 

 ments, may be considered in every point of view, by the gallant 

 members of the naval profession, who must necessarily be regarded 

 as tlie best and most proper judges of the subject, as affording 

 results much more satisfactory and conclusive, than could possibly 

 be deduced, even from the clearest abstract and hypothetical 

 reasoning. 



Fully impressed .with the truth and importance of this view of 

 the subject, and residing in a naval port, where it is necessarily 

 regarded with great interest and attention, and where for a consi- 



VoT.. xvin. p 



