On rendering Assistance to Persons drowning. 363". 



the handkerchiefs, and then seizing the stick by the mid- 

 dle ; or, indeed, as many hats may be put on the walking- 

 stick as it will hold, which will not be less than four, giving 

 a buoyancy equal to 28 pounds or more, without the risk 

 of the hats' filling with water. If, instead of a stick, two 

 hats were connected together by a handkerchief, the hata 

 may be us --d to swim with as boys use corks. 



As this is the time of year in which most accidents hap- 

 pen of the description which I am trying to avert, I hasten 

 to give it to the public, that it may get as extensive and 

 quick a dissemination as possible; though perhaps, with 

 more thoueht, the plan may be capable of improvement. 



One circumstance more I shall beg leave to mention, be- 

 fore I make some general observations. If a person should 

 fall out of a boat, or tlr: boat upset by going foul of a cable, 

 &c., or he should fall off the quays, or indeed fall into any 

 water from which he could not extricate himself, but must 

 wait some little time for assistance, had he presence of 

 mind enough to whip off his hat and hold it by the brim, 

 placing his fingers within side the crown, and hold it so, 

 (top downwards,) he would be able by this method to keep 

 his mouth Vvcll above water till assistance should reach him. 

 It often happens that danger Is d:scried long before we are 

 involved in the peril, and ume enough to prepare some one 

 of the afore-mentioned methods ; and a courageous person, 

 I am confident, would, seven instances out of ten, apply 

 to them with success; and travellers in fording rivers at 

 unknown fords, or where shallows are deceitful, might 

 make use of the first of these methods with advantage. 



By experiments I have made, it appears that a common 

 sized hat, such as is now in fashion, will support more than 

 ten pounds weight without sinking; but with a weight of 

 about seven pounds it would not be liable to fill, even if 

 there were a little ripple on the water. The handkerchief, 

 applied as above directed, covering the open part of the hat, 

 prevents its being readily filled by the splashing of the water; 

 and as it is well known that the human body is nearly of 

 the same specific gravity as water, it must be evident that 

 a buoyancy of seven pounds will, if properly managed, keep 

 the head sufficiently above the surface till more effectual 

 assistance is procured. 

 Ci.;ncerv-lanc, I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



January 15. HeNRY LaWSON. 



P. S. Would it not be useful, if, at the different receiv- 

 ipg-houses of the HuniJUic Society, a number of large foot- 



' balls. 



