268 



RENNIE'S LAST WORKS- 



VIT. 



have arrived at anything approaching perfection. Much, 

 however, will be learnt by experience ; but unless some 

 risk is run in the early application of the new power, no 

 improvements are likely to be made." For her size, 

 the Comet proved a most efficient vessel the best that 

 had up to that time been constructed. She fully an- 

 swered the purpose for which she was intended ; and 

 the result was so satisfactory, that vessels of increased 

 size and power were from time to time built, until the 

 prejudice amongst naval men against the employment of 

 steam power having been got over, it was at length 

 generally introduced in the Eoyal Navy. 2 



The last of Mr. Rennie's great designs was that of 

 New London Bridge, which, however, he did not live 

 to complete. The old bridge had been gradually falling 

 into decay, and was felt to be an increasing obstacle 

 to the navigation of the river. The starlings which pro- 

 tected the piers had of late years been seriously battered 

 by the passing of hoys, barges, and lighters, on which they 

 had inflicted equal injury in return ; for vessels were con- 

 stantly foundering on them, and many were sunk and 

 their cargoes damaged or destroyed. Emptying stones 

 into the river, to protect the decayed pile-work, had only 



1 Letter to the Admiralty, 22nd 

 May, 1820. 



2 Mr. Rennie Avas engaged for 

 many years in urging the introduc- 

 tion of steam power in the Royal 

 Navy. In 1817 we find him writing 

 to Lord Melville, Sir J. Yorke, Sir 

 D. Milne, and others on the subject. 

 It would appear that Lord Melville 

 had declared that he was determined 

 to employ steam-vessels as tugs, so 

 soon as he could convince the Sea 

 Lords of their advantages ; on which 

 Mr. Rennie compliments Sir D. 

 Milne, saying that he is " glad to 

 find that there is one admiral in the 

 navy favourable to steamboats." In 

 July, 1818, he laments that he can- 

 not convince Sir G. Hope or Mr. 

 Secretary Yorke of their utility, but 



that he is persuaded their adoption 

 must come at last. On the 30th 

 May, 1820, he writes James Watt, 

 of Birmingham, informing him that 

 the Admiralty had at last decided 

 upon having a steamboat, notwith- 

 standing the strong resistance of the 

 Navy Board. " My reasons," he says, 

 " I understand, were satisfactory ; but 

 unless the Admiralty cram it down 

 the throats of the Navy Board, no- 

 thing will be done ; for of all the 

 ignorant, obstinate, and stupid boards 

 under the Crown, the Navy Board is 

 the worst. I am so disgusted with 

 them that, could 1 at the present mo- 

 ment with decency relinquish the 

 works under them which 1 have in 

 hand, I would do so at once." 



