ADDRESS. 23 



construction, it is difficult to conceive how sucli a vessel could perish by 

 collision either with another vessel or with a sunken rock. The spaces 

 between the two bottoms are not lost, because they form convenient 

 chambers for water ballast, but powerful pumps should in all cases be 

 added to meet emergencies. 



The following statement of the number and tonnage of vessels building 

 and preparing to be built in the United Kingdom on the 30th of June last, 

 which has been kindly furnished me by Lloyds', is of interest as showing 

 that wooden ships are fast becoming obsolete, and that even iron is 

 beginning to yield its place, both as regards steamers and sailing ships, to 

 the new material mild steel ; it also shows that by far the greater number 

 of vessels now building are ships of large dimensions propelled by engine 

 power : — 



If, to the improvements already achieved, could be added an engine 

 of half the weight of the present steam engine and boilers, and working 

 with only half the present expenditure of fuel, a further addition of 30 

 per cent, could be made to the cargo of an Atlantic propeller vessel — no 

 longer to be called a steamer — and the balance of advantages in favour 

 of such vessels would be sufficient to restrict the use of sailing craft 

 chiefly to the regattas of this and neighbouring ports. 



The admirable work on the ' British Navy,' lately published by Sir 

 Thomas Brassey, the Civil Chief Lord of the Admiralty, shows that the 

 naval department of this country is fully alive to all improvements having 

 regard to the safety as well as to the fighting qualities of Her Majesty's 

 ships of war, and recent experience goes far to prove that although high 

 speed and manoeuvring qualities are of the utmost value, the armour 

 plate, which appeared to be fast sinking in public favour, is not without its 

 value in actual warfare. 



The progressive views perceptible in the construction of the navy are 

 further evidenced in a remarkable degree in the hydrographic department. 

 Captain Sir Frederick Evans, the hydrographer, gave us at York last year 

 a very interesting account of the progress made in that department, which, 

 while dealing chiefly with the preparation of charts showing the depth of 

 water, the direction and force of currents, and the rise of tides near our 

 shores, contains also valuable statistical information regarding the more 

 general questions of the physical conditions of the sea, its temperature at 

 various depths, its flora and fauna, as also the rainfall and the nature and 

 force of prevailing winds. In connection with this subject the American 

 Naval Department has taken an important part, under the guidance of 

 Captain Maury and the Agassiz, father and son, whilst in this country the 



