18 FITTING OF STEAM-VESSELS. 



was less strain upon the paddle-boxes, and if 

 the paddles were to be affixed to the engine, it 

 was done without the delay occasioned by having 

 the floats to attach. 



I have been more particular in stating this, 

 as I have known a great deal of money thrown 

 away in sending out steam-vessels to foreign sta- 

 tions with their paddle-boxes built up and their 

 paddles stowed on board. The safest and the 

 simplest plan appears to be, to complete them 

 as steam-vessels in this country, and after they 

 are fairly clear of the land, to disconnect the pad- 

 dles from the engine and allow them free play in 

 their gudgeons. They will stop the vessel's way 

 very little, and there is the advantage of always 

 having the engine to fall back upon in case of 

 being becalmed or getting too near the land. 

 We had, indeed, a striking proof of this on our 

 voyage out. In running down the N. E. trade 

 we found ourselves becalmed under the island of 

 Palma, though it was eight or ten miles distant 

 from us : there was a fine breeze about two miles 

 a-head. The steam was got up, the paddles 

 were connected, and in ten minutes after the en- 

 gine was at work we had as much wind as the 

 vessel would stand. The steam was then let 



