264 Col. Beaufoy on the Construction of Vessels. [Oct. 



Article IX. 



Remarks on the Construction of Vessels. By Col. Beaufoy, FRS. 

 (To the Editors of the Annals of Philosophy.) 



DEAR SIRS, Buthey Heath, Stanmore, Sept. 13, 1824. 



The readers of the Annals of Philosophy will be gratified to 

 learn, that the Admiralty, in addition to the improvements 

 already introduced into the navy, have given orders for building 

 three vessels (the Orestes, Champion, and Pylades) upon differ- 

 ent principles, suggested, I believe, by Prof. Inman, Capt. 

 Hayes, R. N. and Sir Robert Seppings. As these ships have 

 nearly equal length, breadth, and tonnage ;* and as great theo- 

 retical knowledge and ability will be exercised in giving to 

 every vessel that form which each individual considers the most 

 advantageous ; much valuable information for the future 

 advancement of naval architecture may be expected from the 

 above collision of intellect. 



When these ships proceed to sea for the purpose of comparing 

 their respective qualities, it is possible considerable difference 

 will be found in their sailing. This inequality may proceed from 

 dissimilarity in the length of the masts and yards, and conse- 

 quently in the size of the sails. The bow of one may be better 

 adapted than the others for dividing the water, or the after part 

 may possess a more efficacious shape. The stowing of the bal- 

 last, the smoothness of the bottoms, or superiority of seaman- 

 ship, will also severally produce a disagreement in their rates of 

 sailing. The latter point can, however, be detected, by chang- 

 ing the officers from ship to ship. An alteration in the distribu- 

 tion of the ballast will produce a correspondent fluctuation in the 

 merits of each vessel; the best sailor becoming worse, and the 

 dull better ; but with respect to the fore and after bodies, how 

 far the particular form of each contributes to the fast sailing, it 

 will be impossible to judge from want of sufficient knowledge of 

 the resistance of non-elastic fluids. This branch of mechanical 

 science being very imperfectly understood, it cannot be expected 



Orestes. Champion. Pylades. 



Feet In. Feet In. Feet In. 



* Length on deck 109 11 109 6 110 1 



Breadth extreme SO 6 30 6£ 30 £ 



Pepthinhold 7 G 7 «£ 8 2 



Builder's tonnage .... 460 456 433 



Light draft of water. 



