268 report — 1859. 



Report of the Committee on Steam-ship Performance. 



At the last Meeting of the British Association, held at Leeds, September 

 1858, this Committee was appointed, on the recommendation of the Me- 

 chanical Section, and the following Resolution was passed, defining the nature 

 of the objects submitted to their investigation : — 



"That the attention of Proprietors of Steam-vessels be called to the great 

 importance of adopting a general and uniform system of recording facts of 

 performances of vessels at sea under all circumstances, and that the following 

 Noblemen and Gentlemen be requested to act as a Committee to carry this 

 object into effect, with £15 at their disposal for the purpose, and to report 

 to the Association at its next meeting:" — 



Vice-Admiral Moorsom. J. Kitson, C.E. 



The Marquis of Stafford, M.P. W. Smith, C.E. 



The Earl of Caithness. J. E. M'Connell, C.E. 



Lord Dufferin. Charles Atherton, C.E. 



Sir James Graham, Bart., M.P. Professor Rankine, LL.D. 



W. Fairbairn, F.R.S. J. R. Napier, C.E. 



J. S. Russell, F.R.S. Henry Wright, Secretary. 



Your Committee, having elected Vice- Admiral Moorsom to be their Chair- 

 man, beg leave to present the following Report: — 



They have held regular monthly meetings. Intermediate meetings of a 

 Sub-committee, presided over by the Chairman, for the purpose of carrying 

 out matters of detail submitted to them by resolutions passed at the general 

 meetings, have also been held. 



Your Committee deemed it advisable, at an early stage of the inquiry, to 

 call to their aid the following noblemen and gentlemen, owners of steam- 

 yachts, and others, who have rendered valuable assistance : — 



C. R. M. Talbot, Esq., M.P. Lord John Hay, M.P. 



G. Bentinck, Esq., M.P. The Hon. Capt. Egerton, R.N. 



Lord Hill. Admiral Paris, of the Imperial 



Lord Clarence Paget, M.P. Navy of France. 



The Hon. A. Ellis, M.P. 

 Not being Members of the British Association, however, they lent their 

 assistance as corresponding members of the Committee. 



The first object your Committee had in view was to obtain exact experi- 

 mental data of such a nature as should appear likely to promote improvement 

 in the construction and performances of steam-vessels. 



With this view they furnished to members of Yacht Clubs, to Ship-owners, 

 to Ship-builders, and Engineers, and to some of the large Steam-ship Com- 

 panies, a Circular and Form of Return to be filled up with the particulars of 

 the trial performances of their vessels. 



The Return was intended to contain such particulars of the trials in smooth 

 water at the measured mile, as it is usual to obtain for the satisfaction of the 

 designer of the vessel and the builder of the engines. The Committee believe 

 that authenticated facts recorded in this form would materially aid the scien- 

 tific naval architect and the practical ship-builder, together with the engineer, 

 in determining many elements which are at present held as opinions only, and 

 about which considerable differences prevail. By obtaining the particulars of 

 the sea performances of the same vessels, means would be thus afforded of 

 making such comparisons with the smooth-water performances as could not 

 fail to throw light upon qualities of vessels which, as yet, are matter of spe- 

 culation only. 



Your Committee, conceiving it very desirable, if possible, to obtain the co- 

 operation of the Admiralty, presented a memorial to the First Lord, setting' 



