272 REPORT — 1859. 



the Committee, at their early meeting, to avail themselves of the use of his 

 room in Buckingham Street. 



On behalf of the Committee, 



C. R. Moorsom, Vice-Admiral, Chairman. 

 Office of the Committee, 

 19 Salisbury Street, Adelphi. 



APPENDIX. 

 I. 



Committee on Steam-ship Performance. 



Adelphi, London, W.C., Feb. 23, 1859. 

 Sir, — I am requested by the Committee to submit for your consideration the 

 following Circular, together with the enclosed form for return, any of the 

 particulars of which, being authentic, the Committee will be glad to have. 



Any further, or more circumstantial details which you may be pleased to 

 give, the Committee will consider very valuable. 



The object of the Committee being to lay the particulars thus obtained 

 before the British Association at its next meeting, the Committee will esteem 

 it a favour if you will give the matter your early attention. 



I am, Sir, your very obedient Servant, 



Henry Wright, Secretary. 



Circular. 



The British Association at its meeting at Leeds appointed a Committee to 

 call the attention of proprietors of steam-vessels to the "great importance of 

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

 steam-vessels at sea under all circumstances, and to report to the Association 

 at its next meeting." 



The return (see Table 2, Appendix IV.) is intended to contain such par- 

 ticulars 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 : and the Committee are aware that such particulars are usually con- 

 fined to the knowledge alone of those persons. 



It is, however, well known that information respecting these trial perform- 

 ances constantly appears in the newspapers, and that, not being authentic, 

 and seldom furnishing all the requisite data, very erroneous conclusions are 

 liable to be drawn from such statements. 



The Committee believe that authenticated facts recorded in the form pro- 

 posed would materially aid the scientific 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. 



The object of the Committee is to make public such recorded facts through 

 the medium of the Association, and, being accessible to the public in that 

 manner, to bring the greatest amount of science to the solution of the diffi- 

 culties now existing to the scientific improvement of the forms of vessels and 

 the qualities of marine engines. 



They will especially endeavour to guard against information so furnished 

 to them being used in any other way ; and they trust they may look for the 

 co-operation of Members of the Yacht Club having steam yachts, of ship- 

 owners, as well as of builders and engineers. 



The return of particulars of performance at sea will afford the means of 

 making such comparisons with smooth-water performances as cannot fail to 

 throw light upon qualities of vessels, which as yet are matter of speculation 

 only. 



