Securities against Fire, fyc. 299 



first arrangement made for steam boats about a century ago; as we 

 know by a pamphlet then published, and by the engraving annexed 

 to it, where was seen a small steam boat, towing an English frigate 

 into harbor. — A second step must follow this ; which is that of re- 

 moving two other articles out of the principal vessel, namely, what- 

 ever is subject to explosion, and whatever is peculiarly liable to 

 produce combustion; or in other words, gunpowder, and quicklime. 

 These articles must be placed in a separate vessel; to be drawn 

 by a towing line.-— Thus, instead of one single vessel for the whole 

 of the steam boat concern in close waters, as at present; we shall 

 have a little flotilla; of which the steam boat properly so called, 

 will form the van, the principal vessel the centre, and the little vessel 

 (with the articles of lading excluded from the principal vessel) the 

 rear. ^ This arrangement is simple, and yet it seems effective ; es- 

 pecially if we add, that the stewards room and the kitchen may be 

 placed respectively, at the opposite sides of the principal vessel, and 

 be protected within by linings from sheets of iron, (such as were 

 mentioned in my letter when speaking of Mr. David Hartley.) And 

 be it here observed, that in case of fire in the principal vessel, the 

 two smaller vessels may be useful in affording an asylum to those 

 whose escape we wish to secure. 



To these greater arrangements, minor ones are yet to be added. 

 For example, both the principal vessel and the vessel in the rear, 

 may have one of Mr. S. V. Merrick's small fire engines on board ; 

 each engine being provided with a suction pipe, to draw water di- 

 rectly out of the river ; and the principal vessel may have holes in 

 different parts of its sides to receive the pipes of these engines, in 

 case of fire. — Bamboo canes (in abundance) may be provided at a 

 most trifling expence to be applied, in the Chinese manner, under 

 the arm pits of those passengers in the principal vessel, who may be 

 obliged to throw themselves into the water without being able to 

 swim ; (for let nothing be thought too small for notice, where life 

 may be saved). — As to lightning rods, I have heard of no accident 

 from the want of one ; and perhaps the construction of the boat and 

 the element on which it swims, make a steam boat, by its very es- 

 sence, a conductor of lightning ; not to mention the security which 

 has sometimes been derived from masts and rigging. 



But a separate question now arises ; namely, whether two steam 

 engines, each on board a vessel of its own ; will not be better than 



Vol. XXVI— No. 2. 39 



