108 On the Means most proper to he resorted to 



parts 7ipu'ards ; there will then be the least waste of labour, 

 and consequently the greater chance of success : for when 

 a contrary mode is followed (which is always more or less 

 the case with water thrown on by an engine) the parts ex- 

 tinguished are again rekindled by the flames ascending from 

 the lower parts, and which therefore ought first to be sub- 

 dued. 



Clay or sand is recommended to be applied with the water 

 employed in mopping, that a kind of incrustation may lie 

 formed icherevcr the mops are applied ; but in attending to 

 this, the uniform continuity of the bed of sand, distributed 

 and still distributing on the deck, must be carefully main- 

 tained ; for this is the chief ultimate security that the men 

 have for saving the hull of the vessel, and consequently their 

 own lives. 



The red-hot balls employed by the garrison of Gibraltar 

 to destroy the Spanish floating batteries, were carried from 

 the furnaces to the bastions in jvooden barroivs ivith only a 

 layer of sand interposed ; and this ii'as found sufficient to 

 prevent the balls, though in a high state of incandescence, 

 from setting fire to the ivood. A fact so notorious renders 

 it perfectly unnecessary to insist further on the efficacy of 

 sand on the upper deck to prevent thq descent of the fire 

 from above. 



As to the rigging, there appears but little hope of any 

 means being ever devised to secure it effectually from the 

 effects of a fire above decks, and perhaps the least evil will 

 result from clearing it away in such a case, and getting it 

 overboard as fast as possible. T shall, however, venture to 

 hint at one improvement. The hull is sheathed with copper 

 as a guard against the worm. — Would there be any thing 

 absurd in sheathing the masts with copper to preserve thern 

 from fire? I think not: and the expense would be no ob- 

 ject*. In that case an iron or copper chain (composed of 

 very long links to make it require the less weight of metal) 

 should accompany each main-stay, to secure the masts in 

 any case when the other rigiiing might be destroyed by fire. 

 The chains, of course, would require to be less tight than 

 the stays, that they might only act in case of the other being 

 destroyed. 



All the upper works ought to be covered with sheet cop-< 

 per to secure the side timbers from being set on fire by any 



• This could be done without increrising the weight of the masts; for 

 the copper would add so considerably to their strength, that they might 

 be made much smaller than at present-. 



accident 



