166 Mr Roberts on a new method of 



In the eastern continuation of the hills basalt occurs, but no 

 stems of trees have been met with. — Frotn Poggendorff' s An- 

 nalen, 1838, vol. xlv. p. 179. 



A new method of Beshipjnng a Fiidder at Sea, and that with 

 ease in the strongest weather. By Martin J. Roberts, 

 Corresp. Mem. R. G. S. of Cornwall, M. L. E. S., &c. 

 Communicated by the Society of Arts.* 



The late gales, or rather hurricanes, have claimed the at- 

 tention of scientific men as phenomena worthy of elucidation, 

 and we must rejoice that the task of collecting and arranging 

 the facts for this pin-pose has fallen on so able a man as Mr 

 Scott Russell. 



But these gales have also called our attention in another 

 and more painful manner, and our sympathies have been 

 awakened by accounts of the dreadful loss of life and pro- 

 perty that has taken place on om' own shores. I may well 

 quote an old song, and say 



" Ye gentlemen of England, who live at home at ease. 

 How little do you think upon the dangers of the seas." 



Amongst these dangers, a frequent and a most fearful acci- 

 dent is, the loss of the ship's rudder ; when this occurs, she 

 lies a helpless log at the mercy of the waves, liable to broach 

 to, and be thrown on her beam ends, or have every thing 

 washed off her deck. This accident (the loss of the rudder) 



* Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into Mr Roberts's new me- 

 thod of Reshipping a Rudder at sea. 



Committee — Admiral Sii- D. Milne, Rd. Hunter, Esq., D. Stevenson, Esq., 

 J. Slight, Esq. 



Present — Sir David Milne, Rd. Hunter, Esq. 



The Committee consider the invention to be valuable, and calculated to 

 aflFord, in many eases of extreme danger, a speedy means of repairing the 

 damage. 



The chafing on the grommet must be very great, and possibly rope made 

 of American hides might be found to withstand it, if the wire rope should 

 not prove sufficiently durable. The Committee think that many ships 

 might be saved if the precautions recommended by Mr Roberts were uni- 

 versally adopted. Rd. Huntee, Coiirener. 

 April 26. 1839. 



