1824.] Mr'. Harvey on Naval Architecture. 445 



the immense variety of external forms, which our harbours 

 and naval arsenals now present, we shall find every ship pos- 

 sessing a figure adapted precisely to her class, and to the pecu- 

 liar purposes for which she was primarily intended.* 



With respect to the proper mode of conducting such experi- 

 ments, supposing the undertaking to be sanctioned by the 

 Admiralty, one of the dock yards would of course be selected 

 from the numerous facilities which such an establishment must 

 afford. But no little consideration would be necessary in the 

 selection of the proper persons to conduct the investigation. 

 Practical knowledge alone would be insufficient; nor would the 

 highest theoretical skill be all that would be required. The two 

 must be united, — cordially and harmoniously united. Practice 

 must not decline the assistance of theory, nor must theori/ disdain 

 to be taught by the lessons of practice ; and even/ result must be 

 deduced jrom as wide and as extended a basis, as the mat ur est con- 

 sideration may deem proper. 



It is truly of importance to improve to the utmost the sailino- 

 qualities of our navy, and the money that may be bestowed on 

 it, cannot be more properly employed. At present few fixed or 

 determinate principles exist on the subject; and various inte- 

 resting problems present themselves for investigation on its first 

 consideration. The best figure of the bow, so as to unite everv 

 necessary and proper quality for dividing the fluid in which it 

 moves with the necessary capacity for stowage, has never been 

 determined; nor has the figure or position of the middle section 

 been discovered ; and it is not too much to say, so far as the 

 practical details of the subject are concerned, that at the present 

 moment all is darkness and uncertainty ; and in darkness and 

 uncertainty the subject must remain until such experiments are 

 undertaken. Some experimental attempts have indeed been 

 made to elucidate the problem, and to give something like a 

 practical aspect to its investigation; but they have been either 

 too limited or confined, or too little attention has been bestowed 

 on some of its most essential conditions. 



Amidst the general efforts for improvement that are now tak- 

 ing place, the improvement of the sailing qualities of our ships 

 of war, and of the vessels of our mercantile marine, is of para- 

 mount importance. By the former, as Colonel Beaufoy has judi- 

 ciously observed, a colony may be conquered, or a valuable 

 settlement saved, by the celerity of the ships employed in the 

 expedition ; and for the latter, it may be added, swiftness of 



* I exempt from this censure the efforts that have been made by .Sir Robert Scppings 

 to improve naval architecture ; since every one conversant with the subject must be 

 aware, that the introduction of the diagonal trusses, the improved bows, and circular 

 sterns, mark the first dawn of scientific improvement in our dock yards. The opposi- 

 tion, however, that the introduction of his plans experienced, proves the truth of the 

 observation in the text ; and nothing but his commanding talent and power enabled him 

 nocetsfoDv to surmount it. 



