1824.] Mr. Harvey on Naval Architecture. 443 



Article VIII. 



Observations on Naval Architecture. By G. Harvey, Esq. FRSE. 



(To the Editors of the Amials of Philosophy.) 



GENTLEMEN, Plymouth, itfro, 6, 1824. 



In the Annals of Philosophy for October, Col. Beaufoy, with 

 his usual zeal for advancing the naval interests of his country, 

 has favoured us with a paper on the experiniental ships lately 

 built according to the plans of Sir Robert Seppings, Professor 

 Inman, and Capt. Hays ; and has expressed a hope, that this 

 attempt to increase the stock of our information respecting naval 

 architecture, by facts drawn from accurate and unquestionable 

 experiments, may be productive of all the benefits to this import- 

 ant branch of knowledge which the most sanguine of its culti- 

 vators may desire. In this hope I most cordially and heartily 

 join; and so doubtless must every well-wisher of his country. 



In the same paper, the learned gentleman has also referred to 

 the important subject of the resistance of fluids, and to the 

 advantages likely to result to naval architecture, by the institu- 

 tion of a judicious course of experiments ; and it is to this part 

 of his communication that I wish more particularly to refer on 

 the present occasion. 



The practical information we possess respecting the resistance 

 of fluids, is unfortunately very limited and confined ; and consi- 

 dering the immense importance of the subject, and the intimate 

 connexion it bears to ship building, it is most singular, that 

 during a period distinguished for uncommon experimental acti- 

 vity, scarcely an effort should have been made to place it on a 

 level with those interesting departments of science to which it is 

 so intimately allied, both from its interesting practical applica- 

 tions, and the fine analytical investigations to which it is likely 

 to give birth. 



Had the subject been one which individual industry and 

 talent could have successfully prosecuted, there can be no doubt 

 but its complete solution would have been long ago achieved, 

 or at least some large and important steps made towards its 

 completion. But unfortunately, for the sake of science, and, I 

 may add, unfortunately for the naval service of the country also, 

 this is not the case. The problem is one, in the point of view 

 in which Col. B. is probably desirous of contemplating it, 

 involving too many difficulties for an individual to contend with, 

 unlesa that individual possessed talents of the highest order, 

 uninterrupted leisure, and the necessary command of money ; — 

 three elements, I believe, not often united in the same person ; 

 and as the past has not afforded a fortunate example of the 



