60 ROYAL COMMENDATION. 



attention, could not get out of order, and, above all, which 

 would be perfectly water-tight, and able to be kept in opera- 

 tion in all conditions of weather, was no easy task. Yet 

 without these essentials his experience told him no system of 

 ventilation intended for ships could be permanently successful 

 or capable of universal adoption. He ultimately succeeded 

 in devising a scheme to his satisfaction, and submitted it to 

 the Company at their exhibition held at the Fishmongers' 

 Hall, May, 1882. There were ten competitors in all, com- 

 prising the leading ventilating engineers in this country and 

 America, the competition being international. After most 

 carefully considering and examining into the merits of 

 the different systems, the judges awarded the prize to Mr. 

 Boyle. The award was taken exception to by one of 

 the American competitors, and out of courtesy, we presume, 

 to a stranger, the judges agreed to reconsider their decision, 

 with the result, according to their report, of becoming more 

 fully convinced of the superiority of Mr. Boyle's system, and 

 of the justness of the decision they had arrived at. 



His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, who is a 

 member of the Company, on the occasion of his visit to the 

 exhibition evinced considerable interest in the system, and 

 warmly expressed his approval of it, particularly commending 

 its extreme simplicity. It also received the approval of 

 many distinguished experts and authorities on naval matters, 





