1824.] Stability of Floating Bodies. 85 



method adopted in these experiments of finding the meta centre 

 by first suspending the model on pivots, and then inclining it 

 in water by weight, the preferable mode of proceeding ? I have 

 reason to believe that with proper attention, and provided the 

 pivots turn on friction rollers, the centre of gravity could be 

 ascertained within the hundredth part of an inch. 



A most essential point in ship building is the framing and 

 putting together of the materials. This is now so well performed 

 through the eminent skill and superior abilities of Sir Robert 

 Seppings, as to render it doubtful whether this branch of naval 

 mechanism admits of further extension. These observations, 

 however, will not apply to another subject of naval science. 

 Indeed it seems scarcely credible that in the first maritime 

 nation in the world, one whose very existence depends upon its 

 shipping, and upon the building of whose men of war millions 

 and hundreds of millions have been expended from the time of 

 Henry VIII. to the present day, no series of experiments on the 

 resistance of fluids should have been undertaken by authority. 

 Should this unaccountable neglect be palliated by the trite 

 remark, that that which is found to answer in smooth water is 

 inapplicable to rough, it may be answered, that Emerson in his 

 octavo book of Mechanics, p. 113, speaking of a watch keeping- 

 time at sea, declares that " to suppose any regular motion can 

 subsist among ten thousand irregular motions, and in ten thou- 

 sand different directions, is a most glaring absurdity," yet not- 

 withstanding the prediction of this celebrated writer, chronome- 

 ters are found to be of most essential use, and as such taken on 

 board most ships of value. Vessels propelled by steam how 

 cross from Falmouth to Spain and back, yet not many years 

 have elapsed since this mode of navigation was declared utterly 

 impracticable. 



The expence of making a complete set of experiments proba- 

 bly would not exceed the value of the main mast of a single line 

 of battle ship ; and a more convenient and eligible situation for 

 conducting such experiments cannot be found than the King's 

 Dock Yard at Woolwich. Such an undertaking is absolutely 

 necessarv for discovering the solid of the least resistance, and 

 for the improvement of the hulls of vessels ; and when the 

 immense importance is considered of so easy and indispensable 

 an elucidation of this interesting but ill understood branch of 

 physics, it is hoped that the naval administration of my Lord 

 Melville, which has already done so much for the promotion of 

 science, will not consider the resistance of fluids as unworthy of 

 notice. Every member of the community must participate in a 

 wish that his Lordship may be pleased to issue directions for 

 prosecuting an inquiry, of which the success cannot be doubted, 

 if the investigation be committed to the skill, science, and .teal, 

 wltich at present distinguish the Navy Office. 



