334 Observations on the present State 
servation have indeed been improved ; but the general system of 
nautical practice has continued the same; the instruments have 
been applied to no new purpose; not one common merchantman 
in twenty is furnished even with a Nautical Almanac. 
Amidst all this inattention, those ship-owners who have the dis- 
cernment to employ such men only in navigating their vessels as 
are perfectly masters of their profession, would do well to reflect, 
that in connecting themselves with an ordinary ensurance clubs 
they are not ensured upon equitable principles. If their ships are 
better navigated than those of other persons ensured in the same 
club, they contribute to ensure those persons against a greater 
risk than they require to be ensured against themselves. Such 
gentlemen can surely require no argument to convince them, that 
any measure tending to elevate the general average of nautical 
information is worthy of attentive consideration. Aud one would 
imagine that the immense sums which are annually paid as en- 
surance for losses of which the causes cannot be satisfactorily as- 
certained, would excite even less intelligent persons to inquire 
whether so serious an evil might not in any way be remedied. 
No expedient that ean be devised, will impart entire security 
to property exposed to the dangers of the ocean; but the risks 
of loss would undoubtedly be diminished, if greater attention were 
paid to the qualifications of those to whose charge the business 
of navigation is committed. 
To effect this desirable object, nothing more seems necessary, 
than that, on the return of any ship from a foreign voyage, a 
complete copy of such parts of the log as relate to the naviga- 
tion, should be delivered to the club or society in which she may 
have been ensured. Masters would then be stimulated to exert | 
themselves, so that the exhibition of their skill on such oecasions 
might do them no discredit ; and even those in whom the habit 
of blundering and confusion had become most ro>ted, might be 
expected to make some efforts to preserve their professional cre- 
dit with the gentlemen who would thus have the means of esti- 
mating it correctly. 
But to render this measure completely effectual, persons com- 
petent to the task should be deputed to examine the log of every 
ship; and to report on the manner in which the navigation had 
been conducted. It ought to be the object of particular in- 
quiry, whether from want of skill in nautical science the mariner 
had ever been uncertain respecting the situation of the ship, to an 
extent which materially affected the risk of the voyage; and 
whether, at any rate, higher professional attainments than he ap- 
peared to have made, would not have enabled him to discharge . 
his duty in a manner still more satisfactory. 
Besides observing whether the common reckoning from the 
log 
3 
