Curvilineal Sterns of Ships. ^ 211 



and called forth the repeated and warm eulogiums of the officers 

 present. Instead of having the projecting timbers of the stern- 

 frame, and the rudder-head to contend with, in determining the 

 different positions of the guns, as in the experiments performed on 

 the deck of the Boadicea ; — or the danger of blowing out the entire 

 stern-frame *, or of occasioning fire in the vessel, both of which are 

 possible in the case of a vigorous contest, from the muzzle of the 

 gun, when trained right aft, being three feet rvithin the stern-frame ; 

 the gun in the curvilineal stern could be worked, as truly remarked 

 by Capt.Wise, with all the ease and convenience of one at a broad- 

 side-port ; and that moreover when it was trained right aft, its muz- 

 zle was found to project considerably beyond the stern-frame : — 

 thus reducing the chances of fire to those of a broadside-port ; 

 whereas in the square stern, they would be increased, under similar 

 circumstances, very much beyond them. 



The first bearing determined at the last-mentioned port was in the 

 direction E e. Fig. 2, Plates III and IV towards the adjacent quarter 

 of the ship, and forming with the axis, X Y, an angle e E X, of 48-|°, 

 being the greatest angle from the line of the keel, at which the gun 

 could be trained. The extremity of the gun was an inch within the 



* That the blowing out of a square stern is not an hypothetical case, but 

 has in some instances been rendered absolutely necessary, frona its imperfect 

 and injudicious form, may be proved by a reference to the gallant action of 

 the Blanche with La Pique, in which the main and mizen-masts of the former 

 " being shot away, and head-sails filling, she payed off before the wind, thus 

 " bringing La Pique astern, towing by the bowsprit. The Blanche was 

 " immediately much annoyed from her quarter-deck guns, which were well 

 " served, and pointed forward, without the English frigate being able to 

 " return a gun, having no ulern-ports on her main deck." The gallant com- 

 mander had no alternative left but to blow out the stern-frame. To accom- 

 plish this, all the firemen, with their buckets, were assembled in the cabin, 

 and both the after-guns pointed against the stern, which made a clear breach 

 on both side.-i, tlie fire occasioned by the execution of this prompt and judi- 

 cious plan being immediately extinguished. The La Pique was now raked 

 with great effect, her decks being cleared fore and aft, and soon after she 

 suiTcndercd. An officer remarks, who distinguished himself in this gallant 

 action, tliat if the expedient of blowing out the stern-fiame had not been 

 adopted, the most serious consequences might have been apprehended ; at 

 all events, the loas of many men. 



