Description of an efficacious Temporary Rudder. 421 
Captain Peat devised a plan of making a rudder, with a spare 
fore-top-sail yard fixed over the stern, and by means of blocks 
reefed on each side, it served as a kind of paddle. The first 
trial was not a successful one, for want of a sufficient weight to 
keep the paddle under water; but which was soon remedied, 
for I think that it was on the 10th of January the ship an-— 
swered the -helm, and we proceeded on our voyage, everv day 
discovering some new improvements ; inasmuch that on or about 
the 16th he fixed his helm to the wheel, and we proceeded the 
rest of the voyage without any interruption, unless it was by 
negligence of the man who steered. 
So confident was I of the safety and utility of this new inven- 
tion, that on my arrival at Barbadoes I proceeded in her to 
Jamaica, when I might have gone in other conveyances, a di- 
stance of 1000 miles. 
At Barbadoes, the master-attendant of the king’s yard pro- 
ceeded to séa in the Cornwall, by directions of Admiral Laforey, 
for the purpose of forming an opinion of the new rudder. On 
his return to Carlisle Bay, he declared that he would have no 
hesitation to sail to the Pacific Ocean with the rudder. He took 
a drawing of it, which the Admiral was to send to the Admiralty 
Board. : 
This new discovery J cannot too much praise, as being the 
means of once preserving my life; ‘and the fatigue and labour 
which Captain Peat endured in accomplishing this machine, 
had nearly cost him his, by a severe fit of illness brought on by 
anxiety and exertions. If Captain Peat can derive any benefit 
from the British Government for his discovery, and of which I 
have bore testimony, I will add to his merits, by stating his hu- 
manity in affording comforts to 220 recruits whom he had on 
board, together with their wives, who were in the most deplo- 
rable situation occasioned by the storm, when the ship was un- 
manageable, and it being necessary to throw their beds over- 
board : many were sick, and received nourishment from Captaiw 
Peat’s liberality. 
I have the honour to be, sir, 
Your obedient humble servant, 
Birmingham, Nov. 10, 1812. Joun RICHARDS. 
To C. Taylor, M.D. Sec. 
Sir,—Ir having been represented to us by Captain John Peat, 
late commander of the ship Cornwall of London, in our employ, 
then engaged in the Jamaica trade, that he had submitted, for 
the consideration of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts,. 
Manufactures, &c. &c. &c. an engraving and model of a tem- 
porary rudder, invented and ip by him gn his passage ye 
3 this 
