On Massey^s Sounding Machine. 97 



the perpendicular descent of the lead, which in many cases 

 (particularly approaching soundings in the English Chan* 

 nel) would be the greatest consolation of a dark night, 

 when both the delay and danger attending it is often an 

 objection to its being attempted in the present way. I am 

 also of opinion, that in chase, or on a lee-shore, it might 

 be of the greatest use, as no skill is necessary on the part 

 of the person who takes the soundings, nor are the depth of 

 water, the roughness of it, or the ship's going through it;, 

 interruptions to Mr. Massey's method of sounding." 



Capt. Lukin writes : 



" Agreeably to your orders, I have made repeated trials 

 of Mr. Massey's Sounding Machine, and am enabled to 

 say, that it gave the depth of water accurately, as far as our 

 experiments went, up to the rale of six knots. 



" We repeatedly got soundings in sixty fathoms, going 

 at the rate of five knots and a half, without in the least 

 deadening the ship's way, with the same accuracy that 

 could have been done with a lead and line in that depth, 

 had the ship been brought to." 



Capf. Nes'e, after calling it a most excellent invention, 

 proceeds to say : 



" The invention is the more valuable, as the process is 

 the most simple, the whole being understood by seeing it 

 once in use. 



*' I therefore consider it a valuable improvement in navi- 

 gation ; as infrequent and various cases, soundings could 

 not be gained wiihoul if. The advantages are many, such 

 ts in chase, or being chased ; on a lee-shore, or doubtful 

 of it; and to save time in tunning for the desired port." 



These testimonies induced the Navy Board, in February 

 1 807, to order 500 machines for the use of the Royal Navy, 

 and about eighteen months after gave a further order for 

 230 more *. Thus was the machine introduced into the 

 Royal Navy. 



Every thing now appeared to be settled, nor was any ob- 

 jection to the new soniuhng machine ever hinted at, when 

 Captains Hotham and Bedford discovered, that if soundings 

 beyond 90 fathoms were attempted, the air-tubes of the 

 rotators were frequently flattened, and that few of the ro- 

 tators could withstand the pressure of 1 12 fathoms. 



No sooner was this unexpected failure made known to 

 the inventor, than it was instantly remedied by a small hole 



• On the 28d of May, 1811, tlie Navy Board g.ive a further order for 

 JOOO machinci, making a total of 1750, for the illk; of the Royal Navy. 



Vol. 40. No. 172. ^w^//jM812. G made 



