450 On the Theory of a new species of Locomotive Vessel. 



so as to arrive at H in one second, according to the experi- 

 ments quoted, the resistance will be ten pounds. 



If it move in the direction AE, as before, and AH be one- 

 tenth part of radius, the resistance to the section AH will 

 be one-tenth of that of AB in its motion towards H ; and if 



(4 \ 2 

 — ) - of 

 10/ 5 



what it was against AH, viz. 1 x - = -. 



If AB be moved with the velocity AE=10AH, the resist- 

 ance will be 



2 200 

 10 x 10 x -'== — - = 40; 

 5 5 



and therefore the power to move AB with the velocity AE 

 will be 40 x 10 = 400; that is, forty times the power required 

 to move AB to H. Q. E. D. 



It is not intended in the present communication to enter 

 upon the various methods that have occurred for carrying out 

 this principle of evading the direct resistance of water, by 

 making the whole displacement of it perpendicular, or nearly 

 so, to the line of the vessel's path ; but to render the idea more 

 palpable and distinct, conceive a succession of hollow floats 

 connected together by hinges into an endless chain passing 

 round drums at each end of a frame (see fig. 2), and the lower 

 line floating on the water, and kept, by the nature of the joints, 

 from bending upwards between the drums, aided, if necessary, 

 by intermediate ones. If the drums are made to revolve by 

 steam power or otherwise, new floats are laid down in front, and 

 others are taken up behind in continued succession; and the 

 act is like that of a continuate railway over boats. Each float 

 is placed in the water and taken out again without changing 

 its position horizontally ; and this, not immediately under each 

 drum, but with the moderate velocity due to an inclined plane ; 

 being kept above the water at each end like the prow and 

 stern of a gondola. To gain sufficient buoyancy, a much 

 longer line of floats, depressed by an intermediate succession 

 of drums, may be required; but such considerations form no 

 part of the present essay. It is necessary, however, to observe 

 that the floats have hitherto been only considered as respects 

 the resistance of their lower surface against the water as a 

 plane of certain dimensions moving with a given velocity : 

 these floats will, however, require considerable force to de- 

 press them and displace their bulk of water ; but being de- 

 pressed and withdrawn by a slow action, very nearly all the 

 force absorbed by the immersion will be restored by their own 

 buoyant action in emerging; so that this small loss of power 



