214 Mr. Harvey on Square and 



be brought to bear on the same ■point y, within less than twelve 

 fathoms of the quarter ; the lines of fire being respectively B y, H y, 

 and E y, Fig 2, Plate III. In Fig 2, Plate iV, the guns are repre- 

 sented in the positions necessary to produce this important effect ; 

 and where, it will be perceived, that the most ample space is 

 afforded for working them. Hence it follows, that the quarter, 

 which, in the old form of the stern, was decidedly the weakest part 

 of the ship, in the curvilineal stern possesses the most ample means 

 of defence. 



A like important defence may also be created, supposing it 

 should be necessary at any time, to concentrate the lines of fire in 

 some point nearer the principal axis of the vessel ; as the point Z 

 for example. Fig 2, plate III. To accomplish this, the guns at both 

 the stern and quarter ports may be employed at the same time, 

 with sufficient space of working them ; the lines of fire being D z, 

 S z, and/z, the point where they unite being only twelve fathoms 

 from the stern. 



Such are the effects capable of being produced, by the extreme 

 bearings of the lines of fire hitherto described ; but it is evident 

 many varieties may be created, to meet the diversified circum- 

 stances, under which ships of war are liable to be placed. In the 

 first place, both the stern-guns may evidently be fought right aft, 

 at the same time, the lines of fire M w, M m, being in such a case 

 parallel ; secondly, one of the last-mentioned guns may be fought 

 right aft, and the other trained to any angle, between the line of 

 fire M m, and the limit/" F ; the sectorial figure m w x, containing 

 an angle of 30°, produced by the first-mentioned bearing, and the 

 limit just alluded to being swept over in such a case. By varying 

 the bearings of these guns, sectorial spaces may be ranged over, 

 of any magnitude, within the limits of the extreme bearings /'F,/F. 



It would be possible moreover, to fight the guns at the adjacent 

 stern and quarter ports, as indicated by the bearings Ez, and I i, 

 the lines of fire intersecting in /, and commanding the sector i u v, 

 whose angle amounts to 24°. It is evident also, that by causing 

 the line of fire I i, to approximate towards H h, successive sectors 

 will be created, at every new point of intersection. So likewise, 



