Jh'ipwrech'd near the Cnajl. 34^ 



tlie powder from the weakcft to the (Irougeft, The fpeiSta- 

 tors having judged that this nmnhcr was tully iulucieut tj 

 cftabhfh the truih of the d;fcovcr\;, no more were made. 



I (hall now proceed to other nicau?, which I have devifcd 

 not onlv for faving tlie crews of veflels, but alfo the greater 

 part of the cargoes v.lieii expofed to danger near the coaft. 



ill, It miiO \jc remembered, that. In fuch circumftances, 

 ihe onlv thing necenkry is to get a cord of commimication 

 conveyed to the veliel in danger. It ought to be remeni^ 

 bered alfo, that a veflel is never eaft away or periilies on the 

 coaft, but bccaufe it is driven thither againll the will of the 

 captain, and bv the violence of the waves and the wind, 

 which almolt always blows from the fea towards the fliore, 

 without which there would be no danger to be apprehended: 

 confequently, in thefe circumilances, the wind comes always 

 from the fea, either diredly or obrw^uely, and blows towards 

 the fliore. 



A common paper kite, therefore, launched from the veflel 

 and driven bv the wind to the Ihore, would be futlicient to 

 fave a crew coniiltinggf 15C0 feamen, if fuch were the num- 

 ber of a fhip of war. This kite would convey to the lliore a 

 ftroug packthread, to the end of which might be affixed a 

 cord, to be drawn on board by means of the ftrincr of the 

 kite ; and with this cord a rope, or as many as (liould be ne- 

 cefliiry, might be conveyed to the fliip. — It may be readily 

 conceived that I cannot here enter into any detail concern- 

 ing various circumftances relating to this fiibj;i6l which it 

 might be neceflary to mention. 



2d, A fmall balloon, of fix or fevcn feet in diameter, and 

 raifed by rarified air, would be alfo an excellent means for 

 the like purpofe : being driven by the wind from the velVel 

 to the ftiore, it would carry thither a firing capable of draw- 

 ing a cord with which fevcral ropes might be afterwards 

 conveyed to the vcHel. Had not the difcovery of citizen 

 Montgolfier produced any other benefit, it would be entitled 

 ,cn Lliii a'-coitnt ty be coufidered as of great importance, 



3d, A 



