Letters. on Steam Navigation. 2 oe 
sailless ship do when in mid-ocean her machinery gives way, 
(perhaps the main axis of the wheels of motion,) or should se 
boilers burst, how will she get on then, and what will become of, — 
it may be, two hundred or three hundred people or more, rolling 
about ‘in the sea, when, their steam paddles being idle, they have 
consumed their provisions and do not speak any vessel ee 
Answer. I do not understand Mr. Smith as doing away. with 
the use of masts entirely, but only so arranging them upon a bolt 
axis or otherwise, that they can be unshipped or rigged at pleasure. 
The basis of his argument as I understand it is, that the great re- 
sistance which they meet in adverse winds, counterbalanices the 
use of them, and therefore in doing away with the top hamper, 
they could be easily rigged so_as to lie upon deck, to be used in 
case of need. If so rigged, the case you contemplate of “ break- 
ing the main axis of salute of motion, or bursting of boiler,’ must 
be provided for by resorting to the movable masts. Steamers 
might have two or more engines detached from each other, as is 
the case with the British Queen, so that in the event of the burst- 
ing of one boiler or injury to one engine, the other would remain 
in full operation, and a case would hardly occur when both en- 
gines would be disabled at the same time. 
The next question, ‘‘ How are the great warlike steam navies 
to be supplied with fuel? Even if the countries have wood, that 
will last but a little while, as coal cannot be obtained in every ma- 
ritime country, and~if it could, enough could not be carried for a 
long cruise ?” 
Answer. Here again I understand that the plan of Mr. Smith 
for steam ships of war, is more one of defense than of aggression, 
and his argument seems based upon this position. Ido not think 
he contemplated that steam ships of war would be sent on long 
cruises, but to be relied upon more as a means of defense. 
The British Queen is one of our line of ships, and we have 
some expectation that she will arrive in January, yet she may not 
be here before February. It would afford me great pleasure to 
introduce you to the ship whenever she does arrive, and I shall 
not fail to inform you of it. 
With much respect, dear sir, yours very truly, 
Henry Suiru. 
New York, Dec. 12th, 1838. 
Vou. XXXV.—No. 2. 43 
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