106 On the Means most proper to he resorted to 



To determine when the air is sufficiently renewed to ad- 

 mit of this, a lantern with a burning candle should pre- 

 viously be let down at the end of a string. If, after being 

 allowed to remain below for some time, it come up unex- 

 tincuished, tlie people may venture down, — and so from 

 deck to deck till they have got every part completely ven- 

 tilated. 



Tn the preceding observations I have confined myself to 

 fires which may happen below or between decks ; but as 

 accidents (though this is perhaps less to be apprehended) 

 may also take place above decks, or below the quarter-deck, 

 &c., where the same means cannot be employed for extin- 

 guishing them as in the former case, it may not be thought 

 superfluous to offer a few hints for subduing them when 

 thev occur. 



It is obvious that the means adapted to accidents below 

 are inapplicable to such as n)ay happen above decks ; but 

 it is equally obvious, that, whatever method may be resorted 

 to, it must ao-ree in principle with the former. A nail of 

 separation must he interposed between the burning materials 

 and the atmosphere, or the Jlames cannot be extinguished. 



Water, we have already seen, can but seldom be applied 

 Avith eflcct for this purpose ; and the experience of ages has 

 only served to furnish evidence that it ought not to be trusted 

 to. By its great volatility and its extreme liquidity (even 

 if it could not be decomposed, and so add to the conflagra- 

 tion, as it has already been proved to do,) it is but little 

 fitted to remaiii on the places where its presence might be 

 serviceable. 



Some other matters, therefore, ought to be provided, that 

 may, when employed, be able to serve as an effectual co- 

 vering to the huriiing materials, or to the suhjacent parts of 

 the vessel, to prevent the fire from penetrating downwards. 

 They ought to be such as can be met with in every port, " 

 and at the cheapest rate : such are sand, or mould, or claij. 



The first is perhaps the best, because it can be moistened 

 with water in a moment ; though the last, if means could be 

 insured fo: speedily converting it into a kind of soft pap or 

 puddle, would answer better for throwing upon such burn- 

 mg parts as mav be vertical or over head. 



Every ship carries some ballast, or might carry as much 



as would be necessary for the end in view. A part of tin 



ballast ought to be sand or clay, in bags or in small casks, 



and these ought to be so disposed in the hold, that, in the 



4 case 



