Description of a secure Boat, or Life Boat. 263 



his improvement in the keel and formation of the boat's 

 bottom, will give her greater stability than other boats of 

 tlie same dimensions, with the properties of sailing well and 

 drawing very little water. ]VIalcoi.m Cowan, R.N. 



James Nicolson, R.N. 



London, May 7, 180G. 



Gextl:emen, 

 Permit me to present my thanks and acknowledgments 

 for the truly polite and distinguished manner in which 

 (though a stranger) you have permitted me to visit your 

 committee ; the society of which the same is formed I hold 

 in the highest estimation, and have deeply to regret the 

 distance that prevents my offering myself a candidate for a 

 seat amongst you. 



The last time I had the honour of attending vour com' 

 mittee, Mr. Wilson's new life-boat became the subject of 

 discussion, the operation of which you did me the honour 

 of requesting me to acquaint you of as soon as an opportu- 

 nity presented itself for a fair trial of her at sea, 



About three o'clock in the afternoon of Friday last, the 

 tide being about quarter flood, and the wind at souh-west, 

 blowing excessively hard, an object was discovered in the 

 offing at about two leagues distance, bearing from the piers 

 of Newhavcn W. S.W. which had the appearance of a 

 vessel water-logged, and with only her foremast standin^i^. 

 This induced Mr. Thomas Tasker, (the person whom I ap- 

 pointed master of the boat, and which I have named the 

 Adeline,) with seven others, to put to sea, with a view of 

 rendering assistance to the supposed distressed vessel ; and 

 although the breakers were tremendous, and the sea with- 

 out them running very high, the boat, under the manatre- 

 ment of the crew before mentioned, ranged as coxswain, 

 six setters, and a bowman, went out of the harbour in a 

 very lively style, and soon came up with the object in pur- 

 suit, which proved to be a beacon, or light-house, of a 

 singular construction, trianguhrly built, and clench-board 

 covered in it? floating case, with a mast ringed out in the 

 centre of one of the sides, and supposed to have broken 



adrift 



