On Chain Cables or Mo'orings. 297 



its favour, the iron cable, from its superior gravity and the con- 

 sequent weight of its curve, (an advantage justly aj^prctiated by 

 Captain Brown,) possesses more capa,bility of giving (/. e. of 

 lengtiieniug the distance between the points of resistance) by 

 the first effect of every strain, namely, an effort to straighten the 

 chain, tlian any cable can by stretching. The elasticity, there- 

 fore, which Captain Browiiagives to his chain, presents no one 

 benefit to compensate in the slightest degree for the injury done 

 to the iron, by giving it a form unfavourable to the resistance of 

 violence. 



The defect, and it is a most serious one, which attaches to 

 the construction of Captain Brown's chain, has been most hap- 

 pily obviated in another mode of construction, for which the 

 inventor, Mr. Thomas Brunton, of the Commercial Road, has 

 likewise obtained a patent. In Mr. Brunton's chain cable, that 

 arrangement which can most effectually resist every solicitation 

 to change the form of any of the links — or, in other words, that 

 form of link which shall present the substance of the iron in the 

 best possible position for bringing the whole mass into equail 

 action when assailed by an external force, has been most suc- 

 cessfullv adopted. Nor do we hesitate to state our firm con- 

 viction, that if two chains made of iron of the same size and 

 <|ualitv, one on Capt. Brown's construction, and one on Mr. 

 Brunton's, were tried against each other, the latter would tear 

 the former asunder, while itself would remain uninjured. In a 

 word, such are the science and skill displayed in the construction 

 of Mr. Brunton's link, that we thiidi it by no means possible to 

 improve it, the whole strength and substance of e\ery link be- 

 ing brought into equal action on every application of a strain. 



Mr. Brunton's specification of his invention is at once so ex- 

 plicit, and at the same time drawn up in such a popular form, as 

 to preclude the possibility of his principle being misunderstood. 

 We shall give his description in his own words. 



Spectficalion of Mr. Brunton's Improvements in the Construc- 

 tion of Chain Cables or Moorings. 



" To convey correct ideas respecting my improvements in the 

 construction of chain cables or moorings, it is necessary that I 

 should point out and illustrate the principles which should guide 

 the workman in his operations. These, when thoroughly un- 

 derstood, will not oidy enable him to avail himself of my im- 

 ])rovements after the expiration of the said term ; but will qua- 

 lify iiiin to detect, and consequently to avoid, those errors and 

 mistakes in form and construction which prevail, more or less, 

 in all the chains that have hitherto been employed for cables or 

 moorings, The object to be gained is the greatest possible 



strength 



