| together, she is firm and strong 
enough to sustaina more than ordi- 
nary shock. It is well known to 
seamen, that when a large ship 
strikes the ground, the first indica- 
tion of her falling in pieces is when 
the edges of the decks begin to part 
from the sides; but this separation 
can never happen when the sides 
and the deck are firmly bound toge- 
ther by cross bulk-heads. In fact, 
this old Chinese invention is now on 
trial in the British navy, as a new 
experiment. Other schemes have 
likewise been proposed in this coun- 
try for propelling ships in a calm, 
by large scullers, by water-whecls 
placed at the sides or throngh the 
bottom, and by various other 
modes ; all of which, though taking 
the name of inventions, have been in 
common use among the Chinese for 
' more than two thousand years, 
Although the present king of this 
country has, to a certain degree, 
_ broken the fetters of custom, as far 
as regards the construction of ships 
of war, yet. in doing this, he has not 
been unmindful of popular prejudice 
_ which, in Asiatic countries in parti- 
cular, where they are wholly guided 
' by opinion, is stamped with a cha- 
_ racter too sacred to be torn up at 
once by the roots, Out of defer- 
ence to this prejudice, he caused 
that part only of the hull er body 
’ of the vessel to be altered which is 
immersed in the water ; ali the upper 
_ works, the masts, sails and rigging, 
- remaining Cochinchinese. 
Indeed 
_ it may be questioned if the pliant 
7 
bamboo, which forms so material a 
part of the upper works of their 
_ vessels, could be displaced with any 
advantage by solid timber, than 
which it is more light and equally 
strong. It is impossible not to ad- 
mire the good sense of this wise and 
CHARACTERS. 
878 
aetive prince, who, in steering this 
middle path, obtained a real advan- 
tage without introducing any visible 
change. 
Of tenacity to ancient custom a 
curious instance appeared on the 
part of the emperor of Japan, when 
the Dutch carried to this sovereign 
from Batavia, a few years ago, 
among other presents, the model of 
a ship of war. The ambassador 
happening to-observe the emperor 
casting his eye upon this model, and 
conceiving the occasion might be 
turned to the advantage of his em- 
ployers, ventured to make a propo- 
sal for sending to Japan a number 
of proper artificers from Helland, 
for the purpose of instructing his 
subjects in the art of ship-building, 
according to the practice of Europe. 
The emperor desired he might be 
asked how long his countrymen had 
been acquainted with the art of con- 
structing ships on the model he had 
brought. ‘I'he ambassador replied, 
about three hundred years. ‘* Tell 
him” says the emperor, ‘* that my 
people have built such ships as he 
sees floating in my harbours for as 
many thousand. years, and that 
I have not yet heard of any com. 
plaints against their utility. f[ 
shall not, therefore, pay so ill a 
compliment to myself or to my 
people, as to lay aside the test 
of ages for an invention of yes- 
terday. The Dutch ships may 
suit the Dutch, but not the Japa- 
nese. Tell him, therefore, | would 
advise him to take back this part 
of his present.”’ 
Character of the late Right Honour. 
able William Pitt. 
William Pitt, the illustrious eari 
of Chatham, had three sons, of 
whom 
