S//? WILL/AM SfAfEA'S, F.fcS. 343 



ln> (akrii at less than one-half, and reduces the factor of 



of the engine to jth. 

 It follows from these considerations that the gas or caloric 

 I'liirini- ((iinliincs tin- conditions most favourable to the attainment 

 of maximum results, and it may reasonably be supposed that the 

 difficulties still in the way of their application on a large scale 

 will gradually be removed. Before many years have elapsed we 

 shall find in our factories and on board our ships engines with a 

 fuel consumption not exceeding 1 pound of coal per effective 

 horse power per hour, in which the gas producer takes the place 

 of the somewhat complex and dangerous steam boiler. The 

 advent of such an engine and of the dynamo-machine must mark 

 a new era of material progress at least equal to that produced by 

 the introduction of steam power in the early part of our century. 

 Let us consider what would be the probable effect of such an 

 engine upon that most important interest of this country the 

 merchant navy. 



According to returns kindly furnished me by the Board of 

 Trade and " Lloyd's Register of Shipping," the total value of the 

 merchant shipping of the United Kingdom may be estimated at 

 126,000,000?., of which 90,000,000/. represent steamers having a 

 net tonnage of 3,003,988 tons ; and 36,000,0002. sailing vessels, 

 of 3,688,008 tons. The safety of this vast amount of shipping, 

 carrying about five-sevenths of our total imports and exports, or 

 500,000,000?. of goods in the year, and of the more precious lives 

 connected with it, is a question of paramount importance. It 

 involves considerations of the most varied kind : comprising the 

 construction of the vessel itself, and the material employed in 

 building it ; its furniture of engines, pumps, sails, tackle, compass, 

 sextant, and sounding apparatus, the preparation of reliable charts 

 for the guidance of the navigator, and the construction of harbours 

 of refuge, lighthouses, beacons, bells, and buoys, for channel 

 navigation. Yet notwithstanding the combined efforts of science, 

 inventive skill, and practical experience the accumulation of 

 centuries we are startled with statements to the effect that 

 during last year as many as 1,007 British-owned ships were lost, 

 of which fully two-thirds were wrecked upon our shores, repre- 

 senting a total value of nearly 10,000,0007. Of these ships 870 



