on Steam-Boats. 51 
the enactments respecting party-walls in building, the qualifica~ 
tion of physicians, pilots, &c. the regulations respecting stage- 
coaches, &c. seem all to be grounded upon it. And your Com- 
mittee are of opinion, that its operation may, with at least equal 
propriety, be extended to the present case, on account of the 
disastrous consequences likely to ensue from the explosion of the 
boiler of a steam-engine in a passage-vessel, and that the causes 
by which such accidents have generally been produced, have 
neither been discoverable by the skill nor controllable by the 
power of the passengers, even where they have been open to ob- 
servation. 
Your Committee find it to be the universal opinion of all per- 
sons conversant in such subjects, that steam-engines of some 
construction may be applied with perfect security, even to pas- 
sage-vessels; and they generally agree, though with some ex- 
ceptions, that those called High Pressure Engines may be safely 
used with the precaution of well constructed boilers, and pro- 
perly adapted safety-valves; and further, a great majority of 
opinions lean to boilers of wrought iron or metal, in_ preference 
to cast iron, 
Your Committee therefore, in consequence, have come to the 
following Resolutions ; which they propose to the consideration 
of the House: 
1. Resolved, That it appears to this Committee, from the 
evidence of several experienced engineers, examined before them, 
that the explosion in the steam- packet at Norwich, was caused 
not only by the improper construction and materials of the boiler, 
but the safety-valve connected. with it having been overloaded 5 
by which the expansive force of the steam was raised to a degree of 
pressure, beyond that which the boiler was calculated to sustain. 
~ 9. Resolved, That it appears to this Committee, that in the 
instances of similar explosions, in steam-packets, manufactories, 
and other works where steam-engines were employed, these ac- 
cidents were attributable to one or other of the causes above al- 
luded to. 
3. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that, 
for the prevention of such accidents in future, the means are 
simple and easy, and not likely to be attended with any incon- 
venictices to the proprietors of steam-packets, nor with ‘any such 
additional expense as can either be injurious to the owners, or 
tend to prevent the increase of such establishments. The means 
which your Committee would recommend are comprised in the 
following regulations: 
That all steam-packets carrying passengers for hire, should 
be registered at the port nearest to the place from or to 
-which they proceed: 
: D2 That 
