MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 



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I, 



I am aware of many objeftions that will be fuggefted. 

 In the firft place it will be faid, that pumps of eight inches 

 bore, will be too large to be worked by the ftrength of men, 

 when the wheel cannot be applied. I anfwer, no more 

 force is required to difcharge a gallon of water at a flroke 

 from an eight inch, than from a four inch bore; as the 

 ijiort end of the lever or handle to the eight inch bore,, 

 need not be above a quarter part the length of the four 

 inch, which will give a purchafe to the failor at the long 

 end of the lever, fufficient to raife the pifton or fpear a 

 quarter the heighth of what is required in a four inch bore, 

 for a pifton moving three Inches in an eight inch bore, will 

 deliver juft about the fame quantity of water. It will be 

 further objected, that in ftormy weather, when veflels ge- 

 nerally make the moft water, the wheel could not be put 

 overboard. I own there is fome force in this objedion, but 

 if a remedy is beneficial in fome cafes, though not adequate 

 in ^11, it ought not to be totally receded. Many leaks 

 happen at fea in moderate weather, and even thofe which 

 arc occafioned by damage in a ft;orm, often continue when 

 the waves are abated. Sailors are frequently unhappily 

 walhed overboard, and pofTibly thofe who may have fur- 

 vived the ftorm, are too few, and too weak, to keep the 

 fhip clear of water, and perform the other neceffary duties 

 on board, in fuch cafes, this machine would be evidently 

 ufeful. It may alfo be urged, that the wind at fuch time 



may be fo much ahead, that the £hip cannot make way 

 enough throvigh the water to work the pumps; to which 



i reply, when life is in danger, when grim death ftares 

 the affrighted crew in the face, the port of deftination is 

 not to be confidercd, but the veffel mull: be fteered for that 

 fhore, which bell: fuits the working of the pumps, and 

 keeping her above water. 



1 would therefore propofe, that every veflel fliould not 

 only have pumps of eight inches bore, but be provided 

 with a Ihaft, crank, and proper wheels, which might ea- 

 fily be flowed away in little room, as the paddles of the 



water. 



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