980 ANNUAL 
universally to be found at hand in 
all cases, which could be converted 
into a floating apparatus, either for 
the use of the person in danger, or 
those who might venture to his as- 
sistance. What seemed to Mr. 
Lawson in a great measure to an- 
swer all those conditions, is the 
buoyancy afforded by a common 
hat reversed on the water, which 
will thus admit of being loaded 
nearly with ten pounds weight be- 
fore it will sink, and will bear seven 
pounds with safety; and as the 
body of a man is about the same 
weight as the water, a buoyancy 
equal to seven pounds will effec- 
tually prevent hissinking. ‘To ren- 
der the hat more manageable for 
this purpose, and less liable to fill 
with water from accidents, Mr. 
Lawson recommends that it should be 
covered with a pocket-handkerchief 
Jaid over its aperture, and tied 
firmly on the crown: Mr. Lawson 
asserts that with a single hat pre- 
pared in this manner, held by the 
tied part, a man, who even does not 
know how to swim, might venture 
safely to assist one in danger. 
When two hats can be had, Mr. 
Lawson recommends that a stick be 
run through the tied parts of the 
handkerchiefs which cover them: 
and if more hats could be got it 
would be still better; four hats 
may thus be fastened to a common 
_walking-stick, which will thus sus- 
tain at least 28 pounds. 
When a stick is not at hand, 
another pocket-handkerchief tied te 
the lower parts of those which co- 
vered two hats, would thus unite 
them like a pair of swimming corks 
and make them equally convenient. 
If a man happens te fall out of a 
ship or boat, he may support him. _ 
3 
REGISTER, 1806. 
self till he can get assistance, by 
turning his hat on its crown, and 
holding by its brim with both hands, 
so as to keep the hat level on the 
water, 
Mr. Lawson recommends that 
the Humane Society should have at 
their receiving-houses large foot- 
balls, furnished each with a string 
and small weight, to throw out to 
those in danger, (if the expence of 
swimming spencers for the same 
purpose should be thought too great) } 
by which they might support them. 
Selves till better assistance our be 
procured. 
Observations.—The number of 
accidents that happen every year 
both to swimmers and skaiterse (the 
more melancholy, as the sufferers 
are generally in full health and vi- 
gour, and often in the midst of 
gaicty and frolic) make Mr. Law- 
son’s contrivances for affording in- 
stant relief in all cases, very valua- 
ble ; and should therefore obtain 
them notice in every publication 
where they can be admitted. 
Large foot-balls also which Mr, 
Lawson recommends for assisting 
persons in danger, might be ren. 
dered more serviceable by uniting 
them in pairs like swimming corks ; 
and would be thus nearly equal to 
swimming spencers, which latter 
differ somewhat from a cork jacket, 
and consist of a cork girdle, which 
is made by stringing a number of 
old bottle-corks (which may be pre. 
cured at a small expence) on pack- 
thread, and uniting as many of 
those strings of corks as will form a 
belt of six inches diameter, which is 
inclosed in oil-cloth, and furnished 
with bands for girding it over the 
shoulders and between the legs. 
It is strongly shia “pea, in 
the 
