TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 183 
contents of the sectional area of the canal are between 6000 and 7000 square 
feet, and the amount required to supply the evaporation would require a velocity 
in the canal of 40 feet per minute. Now, as I haye said, this water must come 
from the Red Sea, which is depressed by the northerly winds prevailing during 
about nine months out of twelve, and is raised by the southerly winds, the varia- 
tion being at times as much as 7 feet,—ordinarily about 5 feet. The mean level 
of the water in the canal can therefore only be maintained at a level below 
that of the extreme depression of the Red Sea, in addition to the inclination 
necessary for the flow of the water into the Bitter Lakes, to provide for the 
evaporation. 
Tf this Association would endeavour to obtain information in reference to all 
the phenomena which may attend the filling of these great lakes from the Red Sea, 
it would be doing considerable service to science. The enormous evaporation of 
one inch per diem is equal to a rainfall of 365 inches per annum, and it cannot but 
exercise some influence on the atmosphere of the surrounding district. This, [ say, 
ought to be carefully watched, and the most accurate observations ought to be 
constantly mace. 
I have now to approach a question which has excited a great amount of public 
attention and discussion. It is a subject which will come home to eyery man in 
this country. I do not know how far my remarks may come into collision with 
some of the papers which are to be read, but I offer them entirely on my own 
authority. * I allude to the state of our Navy. I may begin by saying that, how- 
ever satisfactory the general condition of our navy may be to the departments, it 
must be admitted that in many essentials its condition is not satisfactory to the 
country at large; and I hope I may be enabled to point out to you in what way 
nae opinion may be beneficially brought to bear upon this important subject. 
feel certain I shall carry you all with me in saying that we in this country have 
but one desire with regard to our navy, and that is, that, whatever may be the cost 
to the nation, we should have the very best ships which the ocean can carry, and 
which machinery can propel. I am speaking in the presence of men of great pro- 
fessional skill and experience, men who have conducted ships through every sea 
throughout the world, and among them I may mention the name of Admiral Sir 
Edward Belcher. I think that he will agree with me in saying that the qualities of 
a vessel in reference to her speed and steadiness ought to be thoroughly ascertained 
before she is built. There is no merchant who builds a steamer for the con- 
veyance of passengers or goods who does not clearly lay down the object which 
the ship is intended to accomplish, and who does not require that this should be 
considered by the builder. I say that the same rule ought to apply in the Royal 
_ Navy, and that before any vessel of war is built her speed should be in the first 
instance determined. And here I may say that when I speak of speed, ido not 
mean speed as talien in the trials at Stokes Bay; I refer to sea-going speed, which 
depends upon many other qualities than those which a trial at Stokes Bay can 
possibly determine. The evolutions of a fleet, to be effective, must be conducted 
with precision and certainty. This cannot be attained unless the speed of all 
the ships of a squadron be nearly the same. Of course, you cannot obtain 
exact uniformity, but you may approach it very nearly. But to have a fleet 
in which some ships will steam at the rate of 14 Imots, some at the rate of 
12 lmots, and others at the rate of only 10 knots, is very much like en- 
deavouring to get up a pack composed of all the dogs in a town, including the 
swiftest greyhounds and the very commonest curs that can be met with, The 
speed of a vessel ought to be the first element of consideration ; for it is useless to 
carry guns which may sweep another vessel out of the water if the ship carrying 
those guns can only steam at the rate of 10 knots an hour, while the vessel she is 
eae is enabled to go 14]mots. The next point is to utilize the speed. 
will not attempt to enter into the question of broadside and turret ships, but 
Imay say that whatever may be the difficulty in broadside ships of getting fine 
lines for the head and stern, this difficulty ought not to exist in turret vessels. 
Having settled the battery, it cught to be subject. to as little disturbance as pos- 
sible; but the question of the relative utility of a gun, whether on a fixed platform or 
on amoyeable one, is too obvious to need further comment, At present, however, itis 
