498 
actly what the public services require, 
yet these considerations constitute 
no reason why, if another person can 
suggest an improved plan, it should 
not be done. 
I am therefore induced to submit 
the following plan to preserve the lives 
of seamen in their perilous efforts to 
assist a ship in distress, and the perpe- 
tual dangers which otherwise and at 
all times attend the common boat; to 
say if something under the influence of 
a sail cannot be constructed, so as to 
communicate from the shore to a ship 
in distress, or to encounter a gale of 
wind without much, if any danger,— 
at least not the danger of a common 
boat; and I think I have made a mo- 
del that will answer either as a life- 
boat, a fishing-boat, (for this is often 
exposed to imminent danger, as the 
word “Clovelly” too painfully brings 
to one’s recollection,) or for any other 
general use, where danger is to be 
apprebended, or necessity requires. 
This boat, according to my idea, may 
be made of any manageable size, for 
two men, for eight, ten, or more; of 
course of any size or dimensions ; ca- 
pable of being Jaunched at amoment’s 
notice; rigged in any character, cal- 
culated either for the sail or the oar, 
but chiefly the sail; managed without 
difficulty, and without any other ma- 
nual assistance than the rudder. It 
may upset, but cannot remain so; or, 
if it should be momentarily upset, no 
injury can arise, because it must in- 
stantly right again; nor yet sink, though 
ten thousand waves wash over it. It 
shall work off upon a lee shore much 
better than the common bur or Deal 
boat in the sharpest surf, either with- 
out difficulty or danger to its crew; 
and shall go as near the wind, make 
less lee-way, and sail with as much 
rapidity as any boat that has ever yet 
been built; and, I may with truth add, 
without so much as wetting the jackets 
of its crew,—affording an ample stow- 
age, according to its size, without be- 
ing incumbered with any thing that 
will retard its course. It may be 
shaped either for celerity or burthen, 
or for common purposes; and I should 
think that 20/7. would most amply sup- 
ply all the extra expenses of a common 
boat, and most common, boats can be 
converted into it without the least 
difficulty ; though a boat to be built 
with an eye to this improvement,—if 
such, on inspection, it should turn out 
40 be,~would be preferable. J am no 
Suggestion of an Inproved Life- Boat. 
(Jan. 1, 
sailor, and not much of a mechanic; 
nor do I live in any sea-port town, 
and therefore do not know whether 
any boat answering this description 
has ever been offered to the public: 
but I believe not, as I never heard of 
any such; asa fishing-boat, and one 
for ordinary purposes, I am sure there 
never has; and if, from what I have 
remarked, it be deemed worthy of 
consideration, I am ready to submit 
the model to inspection. 
Mr. Greathead’s boat is only adapt- 
ed for rowing, and I apprehend the 
expense of it is considerable, and its 
management with oars so arduous in 
a storm, particularly to those who are 
unacquainted with it, as well as ex- 
cessively dangerous and laborious, as 
to preclude the common use of it, 
when there .ought to be such a boat, 
or some such boat, not only at every 
port, but within every three or four 
miles of the coast. 
This model is attended with so little 
extra expense, and is so much more 
desirable than the common boat, that 
it.can be used for all daily and ordi- 
nary purposes, and therefore will 
always be fit for use, and can be used 
as a life-boat at a moment’s notice ; 
whereas the professed life-boats are 
either put away in houses, and get 
dry, or otherwise used so seldom, 
that, like a fire-engine in a country 
town, when upon a sudden emergency 
their services are wanted, they are 
unfit for use. The first time the 
Aberdeen boat, as I have been in- 
formed, was required, it immediately 
filed, from being kept in a dry 
place, and could not be used. After 
that, it was kept afloat, and soon got 
rotten. 
The most serious disasters frequent- 
ly occur from the accidental upsetting 
of boats, when no danger is dreamt of, 
—in rivers, and from going to and 
from ships at anchor in bays and 
roads; for there are winds and seas 
that are highly dangerous to open 
boats, that are not so to ships. If the 
common boat ship a sea, there is an 
end of her, and all on-board; she be- 
comes water-logged, and cannot right 
again. The proposed boat cannot up- 
set, ship a sea, or fill; if a squall in a 
river—where unexpected gusts often 
strike a boat or bark—strike this boat, 
the sails trim themselves of their own 
accord, she rights in an instant, and is 
in a condition to receive the wind, 
come as it will. If her gunwhale be 
pressed 
