EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 475 



the sides, having the edges grooved and tongued, and secured to each other by f bolts 

 driven through the edges in a diagonal direction at about 1 5 inches apart ; in addition 

 to which, long diagonal iron plates, 4 inches broad by f ths of an inch thick, placed at 

 an angle of 65, and 2 feet 6 inches from each other, were worked each on a 

 Dantzic fir plank ^,\ inches thick and 9 inches broad, the whole secured by a through 

 bolt in each outside strake, having a screw point and nut setting up on the diagonal 

 plate inside the vessel. 



It must be obvious to all persons acquainted with the nature of shipbuilding, that 

 the hull of a vessel so built would offer the greatest advantages to the caulking, 

 requiring but half the usual quantity of oakum, and that stopped from being driven 

 through the seams by a strong oak tongue bedded in white-lead uniting the edges 

 of the planks. The uniform strength of the entire hull has very far exceeded all 

 expectation, and in the opinion of those acquainted with its nature this method is 

 admitted to be superior to any yet practised. 



PLATE XCIX. 



DIAMOND COMPANY'S STEAM PACKET RUBY. 



This plate represents a drawing of the Ruby steamer, which belongs to the 

 "Diamond" Company, plying between London and Gravesend, and is unquestionably 

 the fastest boat on the Thames. We do not make this assertion upon mere hearsay, 

 having had frequent opportunities of satisfying ourselves of the fact. It would be 

 entering too much into detail to give a statement of the progressively improving 

 character of the various steam boats which have plied between London and 

 Gravesend during the last ten years ; it is enough for our present purpose to state 

 that the "Diamond" and "Star" Companies keep up an establishment, upon an 

 average, of a dozen boats, of a very superior description, every thing connected with 

 their appointments being upon a most liberal scale. The vessels belonging to the 

 " Diamond " Company are, the Diamond, Pearl, Gem, Brilliant, Topaz, and Ruby ; 

 and those belonging to the " Star " Company are the Mercury, Star, Comet, Planet, 

 and Vesper, one of the boats, Medway, having been burnt by accident during the 

 summer of 1837. Until the beginning of the year 1837 (at which time the Ruby 

 was placed on the station) the Star was considered to be equal in speed to any of 

 the above ; indeed it may be said that no vessel that navigated the Thames could 



