NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. 27 



every step with care and caution, and yet produce a thing totally 

 unlike it, except in its general shape ; sailing nothing like it, and 

 requiring a very different management. It is a pity that valuable 

 information on this subject, should either die with the possessor, 

 or be taught only by oral instruction. 



There is much that might be recorded, which would be of great 

 use to many. Every one knows something that another does not. 

 There is much to be told, that, although well known in one place t 

 may not be in another. Some may have had experience in one 

 kind of timber, — can tell when it should be cut and how managed, 

 — its comparative durability, and in what places and for what pur- 

 poses it will do best. Others may know the same of another kind. 

 Some may have one mode of fastening, in particular cases, others, 

 another. Some may lay down rules to obviate difficulties, which 

 another knows not how to remedy. These are few and simple 

 items of what may be told. It is evident, that this art like all 

 others of a mechanical kind, depends on certain fixed, phvsical, or 

 natural principles, — (whether they are known or not ;) and it is to 

 be regretted, that these principles have not been investigated and 

 established with scientific accuracy. 



It is a grand, a noble art. There is something extremely ma- 

 jestic in a stately ship. 



" She walks upon the water, like a thing of life ;" 

 And as she proudly careers through ihe waves, seems to proclaim 

 the triumph of mind over the elements. 



It has been customary for us to look, with humble deference, to 

 England for instruction in the arts, as well as in the sciences, and 

 whatever was found in an English book, considered the best au- 

 thority. But in Ship-building, this can no longer be. The Ameri- 

 cans have left the ship-wrights of the mother country far in the 

 rear. The London Quarterly Journal of Science for September 

 last, contains remarks upon this subject, in which the palm is yield- 

 ed to our Naval Architects, in a spirit of candor and ingenuousness, 

 quite unexpected. It displays a mind in the writer, elevated far 

 above the idle malice, which seems to inspire some in that coun- 

 try, when they have aught to say of America. The following is 

 extracted from the article alluded to. It contains hints which may 

 be of use to us, as well as those for whom thoy were especially 

 writtei). 



