100 [Assembly 



strongest, without reference to her shape. A m n tr )sity of 

 the largest calibre in mechanical science, a greater* error in 

 the mechanical world could not well be proclaimed. The world 

 assumes that because a ship is built in a certain locality, or at a 

 particular place, shs must be all right, or that because she will 

 secure an insurance of the highest gia; e that she must be what 

 she is insured to be. A most egregious error. The world absurd- 

 ly lu easure the safety of human life in ocean travel by the 

 number of boats on board of the vessel, and are more anxious to 

 secure an act of Congress to compel the use of a certain kind of 

 boat than they are to secure the use of the best constructed ship. 

 They are content to allow the ship, with all her treasure, to foun- 

 der at sea so they can but save the boats and passengers. They 

 legislate for the boat unmindful that the same appliances would 

 save the ship. If a life boat is an improvement, would not a life 

 ship be a greater one ? We propel the ship by steam, but seem 

 to forget that the same power is equally efficient in w^orking the 

 ship and protecting her against disaster by lire, flood or collision. 

 We seem to forget that every vessel lost by shipwreck is the an- 

 nihilation of wealth to the amount of her value, and too often 

 attended with the loss of human life, the value of which num- 

 bers fail to express. 



The ocean is the world's highway, upon which all may travel; 

 hence there should be a community of interest in adding to the 

 means of safety of those who travel upon it ; and all information 

 in reference to smoothing its rugged pavement, should be hailed 

 with pleasure as a universal blessing, and the Maury who shall 

 map out its acclivities, will ever be regarded as the world's bene- 

 factor. But what shall we say of the ship, which has been re- 

 garded as the model of perfected art. Alas ! the philanthropist 

 may weep and wonder at the long list of disasters which mar the 

 page of its history ; he may pause in amazement at the selfish 

 design that would, uiidtT the garb of philanthropy, seek an ap- 

 propriation from the government to forward an interest in the 

 protection of property, at the expense of human life. We 

 jeopardize nothing in announcing that, which we believe in the 

 light of science, is a self-evident truth, viz, that occa7i travel may^ 



