1826.] English Books of l<^aval Architecture. 407 



are at present mistaken; for by converting the proposition, 

 instead of finding the motions by means of the supposed forces, 

 combined with the known mechanism, we may discover the 

 forces by means of this mechanism, and the observed motions." 

 When it is remembered that Prof. Robison was a midshipman in 

 the navy for seven years, and therefore knew the thing in prac- 

 tice as well as in theory, his observations have additional weight. 

 Mr. Harvey has well expressed similar opinions in the Annals 

 of Philosophy for January last. 



In the introduction, there is but little historical detail of the 

 progress of the science ; and what there is of it consists too 

 much in general reasoning, instead of the production of facts, 

 quotations, and pointed allusions : in writing of such a descrip- 

 tion, less confidence must be generally placed ; and by it les§ 

 advantage accrues to the science. t 



A few of the writers on naval architecture are mentioned, but 

 their particular merits are not noticed. Among other treatises 

 on the subject, Chapman's first work on shipbuilding, published 

 in 1775, and translated into the French in 1779, is named ; and 

 also the English translation of it from the French by Dr. Inman, 

 whose notes are said to " have greatly enhanced the value of the 

 work." That Dr. Inman deserves much praise for his conduct 

 of the school of naval architecture, there can be no doubt ; but 

 thathis translation of Chapman, with the notes,* issuch a work on 

 the theory of ships of war as can satisfy the present claims of 

 naval science, is not to be affirmed, with a proper view to 

 improvement in this country. The notes do not supply all 

 the additional information of the 50 years between the original 

 and the second translation : besides, the original is on merchant 

 shipbuilding, of peculiar and hmited descriptions. If Chapman's 

 large work on ships of the line, published in 1806, at Carlskrona, 

 had been rendered from the Swedish into Enghsh, a very consi- 

 derable difference would then have been made in the relative 

 progress of naval architecture in this country within the last 10 

 years. Every merchant shipbuilder in the kingdom ought, 

 however, to possess Dr. Inman's translation of Chapman, which 

 is a valuable present offered to them by the Professor. 



Chapman is one of the few writers on shipbuilding who 

 adduces facts in support of his observations ; and, therefore, the 

 Professor has wisely chosen him as an author. There is not 

 such a display of mathematical attainments in the Swedish 

 author as in most of the French works ; but there is more useful 

 matter for shipbuilding than is to be met with in them. The 

 French, in many of their works, appear to have kept the actual 

 consideration of the formation of ships out of their books ; con- 

 tinually refining on hydrodynamical and pneumatical principles, 

 they have rather sought the principles of those branches of 



• The mulriplicity of the gentleman's engagements make it astonislung how Ue has 

 effect€tl what has been done. 



