Report of the House of Commons on Steam-Boats. 131 



that part of the oi'der of the House, which requires your Com- 

 mittee to examine into the conveyance of His Majesty's mails 

 between Holyhead and Howth. 



Your Committee consider the information which has been 

 given by so many distinguished practical engineers and shii>- 

 builders, as extremely valuable; and that every praise is due 

 to them, for the readiness and zeal with which they have con- 

 tributed to render the inquiry of your Committee of general 

 utility. Not only the Post-office, but all private companies 

 engaged in steam-boats, may obtain great assistance from opi- 

 nions derived fi'om such extensive sources of science and ex- 

 periment ; at the same time that the public will be benefited 

 by those various improvements which they suggest, and ^^■hich 

 will be the natural consequences of the persevering efforts of 

 the great talents which distinguish these professions in Great 

 Britain. 



Your Committee, in expressing their opinion in respect to 

 the proper establishment of steam-boats at Holyhead, concur 

 decidedly widi the great majority of the witnesses, who say 

 that not less than four steam-boats ought to be employed on 

 this service. They recommend that the vessels should be 

 built of very strong timbers, put together, filled in, and d'a- 

 gonally fastened, according to Sir Robert Seppings's plan ; 

 and that they should be coppered and copper-fastened through- 

 out. They ajiprove very much of the })lan of a steam-boat as 

 described by Messrs. Maudslay and Field, who say, " A steam- 

 vessel and engine to encounter a gale that would bring a stout 

 frigate under her double-reefed to]")sails, or a good cutter im- 

 der a three-reefed mainsail, should be a vessel of about 200 

 tons ; both vessel and machinery exceedingly strong ; her 

 form, under water, that of the fastest schooner ; the centre of 

 gravity kept as low as possible ; the projecting works on the 

 sides added to die proper body of the vessel : die rigging to 

 strike completely ; the chimney formed to cut the wintl ; v/ith 

 two fifty-horse engines every way ])roportioned to the strength 

 of the vessel." Your Committee conceive the evidence, which 

 lias been given before them, removes all doubts in respect to 

 the practicability of putting engines of diis jiower in a vessel 

 oi" 200 tons. 



Your Committee are of opinion, that every part of an en- 

 gine for a Holyhead steam-boat slioiild be made of wrouglit- 

 iron, except where there is no risk of breaking, and should be 

 (•nectnally i)rovcd before using it, by a i)ro])er proving ma- 

 chine; that the boilers siiould be made of copper; and that 

 the air-jiump, buckets, rods, and valves, shoiikl be made oi 

 copper or brass. 



U '1 Your 



