TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 259 



have been established on the Bengal and Scinde rivers, with the results attained by 

 each, together with his proposal lor a better S3'stem than has yet been adopted, and 

 its extension to India and China. His plans, modifications, and improvements are 

 applicable to all the vessels in use, and consist of an embodiment of the best 

 features of each type derived from thirty years' practical experience and close 

 obsei-vation of the navigation of the coasts and rivers of India and China, and 

 other parts of the world. • . , 



7. The papers presented by the author on this occasion were the result of consider- 

 able labour, and were in continuation of foimer reports made to the Association, viz. 

 "Report on the statistics of life-boats and iishing-boats," published in the Asso- 

 ciation's Report, vol. 1857 ; also as a member and contributor to the " Report of a 

 Committee, consisting of the Right Hon. Earl of Hardwicke, chairman, Mr. John 

 Scott Russell, Mr. James Robert Napier, JNli-. Charles Atherton, Rev. Dr. WooUey, 

 Admiral Moorsom, Professor Bennett Woodcroft, and others, ' appointed to inquire 

 into the defects of the present methods of measuring and registering the? tonnage 

 of shipping, as also of marine-engine power, and to frame more perfect rides in order 

 that a correct and unifonn principle may be adopted to estimate the actual caiTying 

 capabilities and working power of steam-ships.' " 



8. Early in 1858 the author brought before the Indian government a review of 

 steam navigation in the Bengal rivers, together with a plan to construct a fleet of 

 steam tug- and tow-boats, to meet the military requirements of government, and 

 form the nucleus of a system of water-transport service on the Ganges, Biu'ham- 

 pootra, and Irrawaddy. Subsequently he submitted a plan of a Military Nautilus 

 Flotilla of one tug- and three tow-boats, 100 feet long, with engines of 40 horse- 

 power in tug, and auxiliary power in each tow, built at an estimate cost of £6000 

 to £8000 ; — for the smaller boats, 75 feet long and 50 tons, with engines of 20-horse 

 power, £5000 to £6500. At the close of the session of Parliament he proposed to 

 an eminent engineer that, if he would provide the engine, he (the author) would 

 build the hull and fittings of a military- nautilus — a proposition which was declined. 



9. In 1858 the subject was brought before the British Association, and is printed 

 in the Reports of 1858, entitled, " On river steamers, their form, construction, and 

 fittings, with reference to the necessity for improving the present means of shallow- 

 water navigation on the rivers of British India." Copies of the report have been 

 circulated among the members previous to the discussion of the several subjects 

 contained in the two papers — that on the system of tug- and tow-boats comprising 

 a record of the experiments I have made with the smallest Nautilus flotilla during 

 the last two years, including the resistance as measiu-ed by dynamometer. 



10. At theMechanics'Institution, Da-s-id Street, the Nautilus Flotilla System 

 was exemplified by models, on half-inch scale, of the smallest class of Nautilus 

 flotilla, of one tug- and two tow-boats, 85 feet long each, and 50 sailing and cargo 

 boats, built for the East Indian Railway Companj', on the author's lines, and 'Assam' 

 type, as iron oulacs and bhurs of the Bengal rivers ; half, or twenty-five iron oulacs, 

 being built on his specification, and mercantile system of contracting, with details of 

 Chinese rig, fitting, and sculls, with his patent balanced mdders in bow and stern. 



11. Also, on a quarter-inch scale, the models of a first-class Nautilus flotilla, of 

 one steam-tug and two aiLxiliary tow- vessels, each 200 feet long, on the author's 

 lines, of the 'Assam ' type, but on the routine or lump-sum system of contracting, for 

 the East Indian Railway Company ; their consulting engineer furnishing the spe- 

 cification and consti'uction — that of the contractors being deficient in sti-ength and 

 propoi-tion. Six of these vessels and three steam-tiigs of 170 horse-power have been 

 built with his patent balanced rudder, bow and stem. 



12. These vessels are all built on the type of the ' Assam,' with engines of 100 

 horse-power by Fawcett and Co., of Liveipool, a model of which was exhibited to 

 the Association, showing the bow and stem rudder as originally fitted, and used 

 for one year on the Burhampootra, when she was transferred to the Ganges, and, 

 from the' prejudice of commanders, fitted vdth the Ganges rudder, where, without 

 alteration in the engines, rovers, or vessel, after twenty years' service, she is now 

 (1861) being lengthened. 



13. The second portion of these papers is a continuation of the " Report of the 

 Committee on Shipping Statistics, presented to the British Association, September 

 1858: — Report of the Committee appointed bv the British Association to inquire 



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