108 Mr Wilson on the State of the Arts in Italy. 



pin by means of a piece of cord, in this last respect resembling 

 a mode adopted in boats on our own coasts. The blade of the 

 oar slightly overbalances the portion within the fulcrum on 

 which it rests, the handles nearly touch each other, meeting 

 a-midship. By this contrivance, one man can manage a pair 

 of very powerful oars, and can drive a boat, which is appa- 

 rently but ill adapted from its form for speed, with surprising 

 rapidity through the water ; he can arrest its progress, or turn 

 it with equal rapidity and certainty, and with very little ex- 

 ertion. 



My knowledge of boats and ships is indeed very trifling, 

 but I could not help seeing how easily the fisher of Orbetello 

 manoeuvred his rude boat ; and therefore I have been induced 

 to bring forward this notice of a vessel and mode of rowing 

 which I am not aware has been described. Besides, it sug- 

 gests ideas as to the probable mode in which the ancients ma- 

 naged their triremes, well worthy the attention of the anti- 

 quary, especially if he will combine the hint thus obtained 

 with the modes of rowing followed in the Bay of Naples on 

 board the Sorrentine boats, which, I have been led to ima- 

 gine from an examination of pictures in Pompeii, are much 

 the same in every respect as the galleys which in old times 

 navigated the same sea. 



My next drawing represents (fig. 5), by means of a section, 

 an apparatus used in Italy for warming baths. I need not de- 

 scribe it, but shall merely observe generally, that it is made 

 of copper ; the live charcoal is put upon the grating A, which 

 is put into the stove by means of the handle B, the fire is kept 

 alive by air supplied through the tubes C C, and when im- 

 mersed in the water of a slipper-bath, this light and portable 

 apparatus will heat it in a quarter of an hour. I think it might 

 be useful in this country. 



In the (fig. 6) same drawing I have introduced the ladders 

 used by architects in Rome in measuring the antiquities, and 

 by the fire-brigade. Probably these are known here,* yet we 



* I am informed that the scaling ladders used in our arrny are of this 

 description (fig. 6 A). The ladder (fig. C 13) is used by the Eoman fire-bri- 

 gade, being very light, and is hooked over a window sill. I have often seen 

 men ascend into houses by means of this ladder. 



