Description of a Life-Boat. 409 



of which, as given by Dr. M., is purity in proportion as iron 

 is absent. To those who with myself know of no manufac- 

 tured product of cast iron that contains more than 5 per cent, 

 of carbon, such a circumstance as that now detailed must 

 " give us pause," till further information is given upon the 

 subject. 



In a paper so interesting in its details, it is a matter of re- 

 gret that Dr. M. had not ascertained, by analysis or other ex- 

 periments, the precise nature of the new product ; whether it- 

 was by its combustibility a true plumbago, or whether it may 

 not have been a peculiar modification of metallic iron, which 

 upon being made thoroughly dry, pounded, and thrown upon 

 flame, would deflagrate like the filings of iron. 



The subject is interesting, and deserves, by further investi- 

 gation, that attention which Dr. MacCuUoch is so well quali- 

 fied to bestow upon it. 



I am, gentlemen, yours, &c. 

 Coleford, Gloucestershire, Nov. 12, 1822. David Mushet. 



LXXXIII. Description of a Life-Boat, built hy Subscription 

 at Ipsvoich, and stationed at Landg'uard Fort ; from a Design 

 executed hxi Mr. Richard Hall Gower, Author of several 

 Works on Seamanship aiid Marine Affairs*. 



i HIS life-boat is of very light structure, being clencher-built, 

 with half-inch oak plank, and timbered with young ash wood, 

 three-fourths of an inch square, bent to the curvature of the 

 boat. The form of the boat is alike at each end, with a long 

 flat floor, and with a flaring out and unusually projecting 

 head and stern, to meet and lift over the sea. She is decked 

 to 45 feet from each end, which is covered with stout canvass, 

 and she is steered by a long oar over the stern ; the com- 

 manding })ower of wjiich, when properly used, will oblige the 

 bow to face the head-sea, or keep the stern to the following 

 sea ; an end-on position witli the running sea being essentially 

 necessary to the preservation of the boat, particularly on the 

 occasion of passing her ofl' from and returning through a 

 heavy surf to the shore. These are times of absolute dan- 

 ger; and in case of being filled with water by the staving-inof 

 the bottom, or from the sea licaving too heavily on board her, 

 she is preserved from sinking by the floating capacity of four*- 

 teen light cases, which are shaped to meet their several places 

 in the boat beneath the rowing thwarts; viz. a tier amidships, 

 and a tier on each side. These cases are covered with light 



* Comiminicated l\v Mr. Gowcr. 

 VoLGO, No. 29G. /Jrf. I8'22. ' 3 F sheet 



