WS MPEUL PRO IEC T'S. 
I. TESSELS thus’ constrnéted 
will answer better as coast- 
| ers of all kinds, and for the coal 
trade. ‘he advantages which coast- 
ers will derive from this construction 
are many, It is certain that great 
numbers of them are lost, owing to 
their great draught of water ; and it 
is. also well known that their pas- 
sages are frequently much lengthen- 
ed, by their being obliged, w hen the 
wind is contrary, to run to leeward 
to get a good harbour, or roadsted. 
In such cases, if they drew a few 
feet less water, they would go into 
many harbours which they are now 
obliged to pass. But the inconve- 
nience does not rest here, for, even 
when they arrive at the intended 
port, they are, perhaps, often 
obliged to wait several days for a 
spring tide, which, when it comes, a 
gale of wind probably prevents them 
from taking advantage of, and get- 
ting in; and often the same time 
may be lost in getting out of ‘the 
harbour. » Besides loss of time, and 
consequent expences to the owners, 
great quarrels are sometimes pro- 
duced, through the same causes, be- 
twixt owners, captain, and crews 
all which would, in a great degree, 
be prevented, were these vessels of 
a smaller draught of water, Ac- 
‘cording to the plan herein recom- 
mended, vessels of one hundred and 
twenty, to one hundred and forty 
tons, would not draw, when loaded, 
above 54 feet of water at most; and 
all other vessels in the same propor- 
tion. They who are concerned in 
shipping, and know what water ves- 
sels of such burthen at present draw, 
must see, with astonishment, the 
advantage of this construction ; 
which would likewise prove more 
<onvenient, as such vessels would 
mot require a pier te Jie to, and are 
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845 
capable of being moored in any part 
of a harbour; and, if the ground 
admit of it, carts, &c. might come 
along side, and load or unload them, 
which would also save a great ex- 
pence. 
2. Vessels built on this construc- 
tion would answer in canals ; where 
the canal is above four or five feet 
deep. Let us suppose the duke of 
Bridgewater’s canals, and all others 
now made, or to be made in the 
kingdom, to-be equal to the depth 
of the Scotch canal betwixt Glas- 
gow and Carron, the locks to be 
from sixty to seventy feet long or 
more, and trom twenty to twenty- 
six or more wide ;«in such a case, 
all the trade from any part of the 
inland country adjoining to the ca- 
nals, could load at any public place, 
town, or village, where a manufac- 
tory was carried on; and proceed 
to the most distant parts of the 
known world, without the assist- 
ance of any other craft. This idea 
is submitted to the consideration of 
all those who are concerned in such 
public undertakings. 
3. Vessels thus construéted would 
be exceedingly convenient to carry 
corn or mixed cargoes, part of which 
it is required to keep separate. This 
is certainly a great convenience, 
when it can be obtained without les- 
sening the tonnage, and bulk heads 
will serve to separate the cargo, let 
it be as opposite as iron and gun- 
powder. ‘The bulk heads answer as 
separate apartments, or like shift- 
ing boards, either for corn, salt, 
&c. There is, perhaps, nothing 
except masts, which such a@ vessel 
will not answer for better than any 
other. 
4. Vessels built with sliding-keels 
have the advantage of all others in 
case of losing the rudder. Although 
what 
