152 FARMERS^ AND MECHANICS' JOURNAL. 



more secure than a general ceiling in the manner now practised; 

 On each gun-deck a strake, or a small part of one, should be left 

 out, and the openings furnished with shutters, hung by hinges, or 

 metal slides, opposite each aperture between the frames, for the 

 purpose of ventilation ; to be closed in time of action, or during 

 violent weather. On this plan, it is evident ships would be much 

 lighter, contain less timber and other costly materials ; would also 

 be sufliciently strong, and show at the first glance, that they must 

 be more healthj, as there would be scarcely a place in them where 

 foul air could be secreted. 



Of Store. Rooms^ (^'•c. 



" The whole system of bulk-heads and partitions for store rooms 

 might also be changed for a more open and airy arrangement, all 

 tending to remedy the evil complained of, by admitting a free and 

 unobstructed current of air into every department of the ship, alike 

 promotive of the health of the crews, the preservation of the ships, 

 and of the valuable materials in charge of the store-keepers. 

 Stanchions and shelves would answer all the purpose of dividing 

 the different articles, and one general store-keeper, better qualified 

 than those to whom such service has heretofore been assigned^ 

 would suffice to supervise the whole distribution of the stores. 



On the Magazines of Ships, 



" The magazine of every ship should be as distinct from the hull 

 as convenience will permit. It should form a box, supported on all 

 sides by stanchions, and made perfectly tight, so that in case of fire, 

 it might be overtlowed by water, introduced by a pipe passing 

 through the sides of the ship into the box, without connexion with 

 any other part of the ship's hold. An excellent idea has lately been 

 suggested, for guarding against accidents, in conveying powder on 

 board of ships, as well as against the awfully destructive etTects of 

 an explosion in the magazine. The plan is this : to have canisters 

 of copper, with screw tops, made water tight, capable of containing 

 from sixteen to twenty rounds of cartridges. Under such circum- 

 stances, should a fire occur on board, the magazine might be im- 

 mediately filled with water, without detriment to the powder ; and 

 the ship might burn to the water's edge and fill, before an explo- 

 sion would be likely to take place. Another highly important ad- 

 vantage of this plan, is, the increased effect given to the exertions 

 of the crew, by removing all apprehension of her blowing up ; the 

 alarm from which, has on several occasions, proved destructive to 

 that discipline, which otherwise might have been effectual in saving 

 the ship. 



Of the Pumps of Ships, 



" 1 cannot but look back with astonishment at the listlessness 

 that has prevailed in the nautical world, for such a length of time, 

 in allowing so great a quantity of water to remain in a ship, after 

 the pumps have sucked. This water, commonly called bilge-wa- 

 ter, is also a principal cause of a ship's decay, and of the unhealthi- 

 ness of the crews ; notwithstanding which, it is yet the custom to 



