40 TEAK-BOOK OP FACTS. 



cessful, a model would be at hand for the fleet which will lie needed 

 to cope with that which is so rapidly progressing in the dockyards of 

 France. No time ought to be lost in completing the Warrior and 

 Blade Prince, which, from their superior size, are likely enough to 

 prove more serviceable vessels than the Gloirc and the Norm 

 The really difficult problem is not to construct a target which shall 

 repel nine shots out of ten, but to build a ship capable of carrying 

 the formidable load of sheathing, and of working her guns with effect 

 in a heavy sea. Already, without crediting the Gloirc with all the 

 success which is claimed for her, there are data enough to suggest 

 that it may be possible to build a ship which shall satisfy all the re- 

 quired conditions. How to do this is much more a question of naval 

 architecture than of the power of artillery or the strength of iron. 

 It is not necessary to discuss minutely the effect of every round shot 

 or flat- headed bolt which has been fired against an iron- cased target. 

 We know that no plate of four-and-a-half inches thick has yet been 

 penetrated at a greater range than four hundred yards, and that 

 nothing short of a smooth-bore 68-pounder, or an Armstrong or 

 Whitworth 80-pounder, has been able to injure armour of this de- 

 scription, even at point-blank ranges. More than this, the obvious 

 device of setting the plate so as to receive the blow obliquely, as pro- 

 posed by Mr. Jones, has been so successful, that a much lighter 

 sheathing has borne repeated shots from the most powerful artillery 

 ■without sull'ering any serious damage." 



"the ichthton new STEA^r-SHir. 



A new Experimental Model Steam-ship, upon a novel system of 

 construction and propulsion, has been invented and patented by- 

 Captain Beadon, K.N., of Creechbarrow, Taunton, Somerset. This 

 system consists in forming the under part of a ship of two or more 

 tubular vessels, which are incorporated with, and united by, a super- 

 structure or hull above the surface of the water, somewhat resembling 

 the double war-canoes of Polynesia. 



The foremost end of each tubular vessel, and, in some cases, each 

 end, is fitted with a strong fixed axle projecting from its centre. 

 Upon each axle is placed a revolving conical stem, with spiral blades 

 thereon, extending from the base to the apex of the cone, and when 

 turned round by steam or other power, producing the effect of pec- 

 toral fins; but the mechanical action is to bore through the water, 

 by which operation the fluid is not raised in front, nor is resistance 

 accumulated before tin- resst 1 in motion, bowen r groat the 

 may be. The displacement of this experimental vessel consists only 

 Of two tabular bottoms of 2 feet in diameter, and IS feet long; her 

 large upper hull deceives as to her real size. Two such tubular 

 bottoms of 20 feet diameter would displace upwards of 6850 tons, 

 which would carry a magnificent upper hull of one, two, or three 

 decks, 00 feet broad, 860 f( el long, containing two Bali 

 long by 30 feet broad, and upwards of lso private cabins, 

 square by 8 feet IultIi upon each deck. For example, a tube of 

 20 feet diameter contains above 311 square h-ri, which, multiplied by 



