1826.] On English Books of Naval A rchilecl are. 405 



Article II. 



On English Books of Naval Architecture. By Mr. Major. 



(To the Editors of the Annals of Philosophi/.) 



GENTLEMEN, 

 Hoping that a few remarks I have put together on a work 

 iust pubUshed, entitled, " Papers on Naval Architecture," may 

 not be deemed unacceptable, as tendmg to give a correct know- 

 ledge of the subject, I beg to offer them for msertion m your 

 valuable work. I am. Gentlemen, your humble servant, 



John Major. 



The subject of naval architecture is now beginning to be 

 studied scientifically in this country; and it is allowed by all 

 persons acquainted with it, that its cultivation must be ot mate- 

 rial benefit to us. The fact of our being obliged to copy 

 French and Danish ships of war, and even those of America, 

 while they have, in no instance, copied our bottoms, sufliciently 

 shows our inferiority in the art : our merchant shipbuilders also 

 find among the vessels of our rival brethren the best models for 

 imitation; these truths are certainly sufticient to rouse the 

 energies of our nation,— to make them probe the subject,— to 

 inquire why these things are so? The principal reason of this, 

 no doubt, is, the theoretic pursuit of the subject has not been 

 encoura<yed among us, as is clearly expressed by Mr. J. Know-les, 

 Secretary to the Surveyors of the Navy, in his work on the Dry 

 Rot. His words are, " In proportion that the theoretic con- 

 struction of ships has been neglected in this country the prac- 

 tical part has been encouraged." No patronage has been held 

 out in the navy for this object till within a few years. 1 he small 

 extension of it towards the science has -already done much : the 

 work under consideration is one of the fruits of it. To use terms 

 of political economy, immediately a demand by encouragement 

 has been made, a supply has been afforded. The proportion o£ 

 encouragement given to it will determine its future progress on 

 the same principle. The work before us is, therefore, to be 

 received with the pleasing expectations of its being the blossom 

 of a ripe harvest. It is principally on the elementary principles, 

 in which there is little new matter : it speaks, however, in the 



best terms for itself. , • ., t) <• f 



The work is dedicated to Dr. Inman, who is the Professor of 

 the Naval College and School of Naval Architecture. Nobody 

 can regard this gentleman's situation without being struck with 

 its immense importance, and the extent of its duties ; he is the 

 only professed teacher of nautical scieiice,of eminence, to a vast 

 navy which commands the ocean, that is paid by goveniment, 



