520 Correspondence on Magnetism of Ships, [Nov. 30, 



subject thus brought under their notice, and will apprize the Board of 

 Trade Authorities of the result of their inquiries. 



" I am, &c., 



(Signed) GEO. B. SEYFANG, 



" T. H. Fairer, Esq., " Secretary." 



Secretary, Board of Trade, London. 7 ' 



General Sabine to Mr. Farrer. 



" Llandovery, S. Wales, Aug. 28th, 1865. 



" SIB, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (3027W) of the 

 12th inst., enclosing copy of a letter received from the Secretary to 

 Lloyd's Register. They shall be duly laid before the Council of the Royal 

 Society, together with your previous letter, at the first Meeting after the 



" From inquiries which I have made I have reason to believe that 

 when the proper time shall come a Manual, such as you have referred to, 

 for the instruction and guidance of the builders, fitters, and navigators of 

 the iron ships employed in conveying passengers and merchandize, might 

 be supplied by persons whose sound and practical knowledge qualify them 

 eminently for rendering such a public sen-ice ; but a work which should 

 satisfy all the requirements referred to in your letter cannot be prepared 

 until the system to be adopted in the Mercantile Marine shall have been, 

 to some extent at least, determined, and then not without the concurrence 

 of the person or persons who should be charged with bringing the system 

 into practical operation. 



" The success which has attended the steps taken by the Board of Admi- 

 ralty to remedy the evils resulting from the disturbance of the compass in 

 Her Majesty's Ships at a time when the science was in a comparatively 

 rudimentary state, is owing to the combination of a proper code of instruc- 

 tions with arrangements for their enforcement under official and competent 

 superintendence, and may be advantageously referred to as a precedent 

 should the Board be disposed to adopt a similar proceeding. 

 " I have the honour to be, Sir, 



" Your obedient Servant, 

 " T. H. Farrer, Esq.'' " EDWAUD SABISTE." 



Mr. Farrer to General Sabine. 



" Board of Trade, Whitehall, 23rd October, 1865. 



" SIR, I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt 

 of your letter of the 28th August relative to the preparation of a Manual 

 for the guidance and instruction of persons employed in the construction 

 and navigation of iron ships. 



" In reply, I am to thank you for your communication, and to observe 

 that the object of this Board, in proposing a Manual of this kind, was, in 



