426 Description of an efficacious Temporary Rudder. 
chine acted with great effect, the ship carrying royals and all 
studding-sails night and day, and for several hours together going 
10 and 103 knots; during which time she required less wheel 
than with the eommon rudder, and at no time did the temporary 
rudder require to make an angle of more than 10 degrees, either 
in the act of wearing or tacking. 
This simple and truly ingenious method of governing a vessel 
in distress, ] recommend earnestly to the notice of all persons 
subject to casualties, that may require an expedient of this kind; 
and although temporary rudders are no new subject, yet the one 
here delineated is unquestionably the best ever held to public 
view. Little more need be said in its praise, than the concur- 
rent opinions of seven professional men (whom | know to possess 
clear judgement) that the rudder was superior to any that could 
be made at this island, and they had no hesitation in recom- 
mending Captain John Peat to proceed on his voyage to Jamaica, 
without any alteration in it whatever; and I can venture to as- 
sert, without hesitation, that the machine in question not only 
supersedes Pakenham’s rudder, which stands in such high repute, 
but every attempt of that nature hitherto made, and reflects the 
highest credit on Captain Peat for his progressive improvement 
upon the rude idea which first presented itself. 
The circumstanees favourable to the machine are, first, its 
being composed of such materials as vessels of any description 
are possessed of; secondly, the simplicity of its composition 
superseding the absolute necessity of a carpenter; thirdly, that 
it may be constructed and put in action, even in a gale of wind, 
in, two, or at most three hours. Its properties are, Ist, that 
it can be shipped at pleasure without delay, and with very little 
trouble; 2d, that it cannot, by any shock or violence, be ren- 
dered unfit or useless ; 3d, that the guy tackle fall, being brought 
to the wheel, requires only the same force to steer as the ecom- 
mon rudder; that the ship is under complete command, as will 
appear by the ship’s log-book, in all the following cases ; 
“ Gale of wind, heavy sea, wind quarterly.” 
«© Light winds, heavy swell.” 
“ Fresh wind, spanker, main-sail and all sail, on a wind, off 
the wind.” 
*¢ Staying and wearing.” 
The sole object of this, my humble labour, being to promote, 
in however small a degree, the good of ‘the nautical world; I 
cannot in justice drop the subject without suggesting what, in 
my opinion, would be, with little additional trouble, a very great 
improvement. The body of dead water occasioned by the flat 
open part x, of the planks at the end of the yard, tends to im- 
pede the ship’s progress, and to force the case upwards, which 
consequently 
