Round Sterns. 288 



time, which softens differences, and with a gentle hand moulds 

 even prejudice itself into the form of truth, has in this case ob- 

 tained another victory ; and a figure which our gallant seamen 

 had connected with the glorious recollections of Trafalgar and the 

 Nile, is now, — with wisdom which cannot be too highly prais- 

 ed, — nearly if not altogether abandoned. The square stern, with 

 all its massy and cumbrous forms, has indeed given way to an- 

 other, more in unison with the great march of improvement now 

 going on. 



But while the principle of what is commonly called the 

 round stern has with few exceptions been admitted in all its ful- 

 ness, its best possible form has not been determined ; and it 

 would seem as if fancy, rather than the sound discretion which 

 geometry imparts, had presided over the designs hitherto submit- 

 ted to the world. 



Amongthe infinite variety of forms which may be denominated 

 " round" there must be one which shall unite in a higher degree 

 than any other, all the best conditions of strength, convenience 

 and defence ; — which shall secure to the brave sailor the great- 

 est degree of comfort, add a new arm to his power in the day of 

 battle, and secure to that portion of the frame-work of the ves- 

 sel, the same admirable strength as distinguishes its other parts. 

 It is this choice of forms, which the French minister of ma- 

 rine now invites the naval architect, the sailor, and the man of 

 science to contemplate ; and wc hail the call as a revival of the 

 days when the great men of the Academy of Sciences, clad in the 

 armour of the transcendental geometry, descended from the lofty 

 elevation of the system of the world, to contend for the condi- 

 tions of the metacentre, the great principles of stowage, the pro- 

 blems of masting, of pitching and of rolling, and all the other 

 complicated but interesting inquiries, which the general question 

 of ship-building involves. 



Our Journal, read alike by geometricians, the naval architects 

 and the sailor, can hardly be better employed than in recording 

 the conditions which the French minister has proposed for this 

 great problem. 



" To furnish the best plans for the circular steins for lin. 

 of battle ships and frigates, with ;ill the exterior and interim 

 fittings, tlic manner of disposing the timbering so as to combine 

 the necessary conditions for defence, with strength, lightnei 



