Prospectus of a new System of Beaconing. 445 
troduced into nautical science, that the beacon should have re- 
mained, for so many centuries, in ‘a state so defective, secing as 
one does (vide Lioyd’s List) that more casualties and ship- 
wrecks are occasioned by getting aground, (which beacons are 
intended as, and perhaps are, the cnly means of preventing,) than 
from any or all other causes united.—Hence, it is a duty im- 
cumbent on mankind generally, to endeavour to render this 
system perfect, or as nearly so as can be attained by human in- 
vention, by human assiduity, and by an accordance of sentiment 
in all the maritime nations of the world; and, seeing that the 
benefit to the human race and the advantages of such a union 
would be reciprocal, it caunot fail, soon or late, of being carried 
into effect. 
The part of the beacon represented out of water, is a pillar, 
of three or four equal sides, on each of which is painted the same 
number, whether it be one or one thousand, in such a manner 
that, when the units are exceeded, the figures must be writtea 
9 
i 1 9 
dawnwards: 10 thus, 0:—15 thus, 5 :—999 thus, 9:—and, 
from the form of the pillar, it is difficult to take any position in 
which the figures will not on one side be seen and distin- 
guished at a considerable distance; and ships beyand reading 
distance, if they want information, will approach nearer to ob- 
tain u. 
A Beacon Book, or Forniula of References, is to be printed in 
various languages, wherein will be laid down, by means of cor- 
responding numbers, all the particulars relating to every beacon, 
and which book, when-referred to by the bewildered mariner 
meeting with a beacon, will, of course, instantly acquaint him 
with his situation, the dangers and difficulties by which he is 
surrounded, &c. &c.* 
A writer in the American Philosophical Transactions truly re- 
marks, that “the duties of a buoy (meaning a beacon) are 
most imperious; to the performance, however, of which, it is 
lamentable to reflect, from their construction and appointment, 
they are wholly incompetent; for, in fact, all they tell is— 
‘ Hereabouts is.danger ;’ but on what side, or to what extent, 
the bewildered stranger is left to guess and find out.’ And, ia 
truth, it would be difficult for the imagination to conceive an 
idea of any thing so rude, shapeless, ill-chosen, and unmeaning, 
as the caun-buoy, the present beacon, as it is called. 
* To say any thing wespecting the mode of distributivg such books, would 
at present be premature. Those with whom it must lie, to give eflicacy to 
the system, will be at no loss to give them circulation by means of the 
Custom-houses whence vessels are cleared out for sca me 3 
wi 
