458 On saving the Lives of Mariners. 
the cover may be of great service, provided the necessary 
precaution is adopted of removing it at the time of firing. 
“ 4th—-The next experiment consisted of ¢ the readiest 
method of giving assistance, by the rope being laid and 
conveyed to the spot in a basket; and another certain 
method of firing the piece.’ . ; 
** The committee are of opinion, the application of the 
basket must he attended with considerable advantage, from 
its portability, and saving much time that would be re- 
quired for coiling the rope on the ground, 
** 5th—A rope ladder was exhibited, ¢ intended to be 
projected or conveyed to a crew wrecked under a cluff 
or inaccessible cliff.’ 
“¢ This ladder consists of a single rope, with loops spliced 
to it at convenient distances, for the support of the feet and 
hands when climbing. The ladder of this construction 
was attaclied to a 24-pounder shot, and fired from a 524 inch 
mortar at 19° elevation with 12 ounces of powder. Though 
this experiment failed, by the ladder breaking, which Captain 
Manby attributes to the hardness of the rope, the commit- 
tee see no reason why it may not be of the greatest utility 
when formed of proper materials; and they have to add, 
that on the following day Captain Manby repeated the same 
experiment with perfect success, projecting the ladder to 
the distance of 194 yards with the before-mentioned charge 
and elevation. 
** 6th—In order to show £a method of affording certain 
relief to vessels stranded in the darkest night, with an 
improved mode of rendering the life-rope more di- 
stinguishable ;? 
* Light balls were, thrown into the air from a mortar, at 
80° elevation, with three ounces and two ounces of powder ; 
and the 54 inch mortar, charged with eight ounces of 
powder, projected a deep-sea-line, attached to a shell with 
four fuzes, to the distance of 159 yards. Though this trial 
was not attended with the desired effect, there can he no 
difficulty in rendering light balls efficacious in Captain 
Manby’s service, as has already been stated in my Report 
of the 3d May, 1809, when they succeeded perfectly ; and 
at which time the committee also expressed their entire ap- 
probation of his method of illuminating the life-rope, as 
above described. 
‘*7th—* The distance a deep-sea-line can be projected 
from the shortest constructed 8-inch mortar, as a 
deep-sea-line is of sufficient strength to send a hawser 
to 
