92 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



Among these may be mentioned, as of especial interest, 8 models which 

 show the evolution of the American pilot-boat from 1845 down to 

 October, 1884. In no department of naval architecture have our ship- 

 builders shown more originality than in the construction of pilot-boats, 

 and perhaps nowhere else, either in this or other countries, has there 

 been a higher combination of speed and general sea- going qualities than 

 has been characteristic of the vessels of this class employed on our 

 Atlantic coast. In this collection, perhaps, more than in any other that 

 might be gathered, are illustrated the ideas which have influenced the 

 minds of designers of small, swift, sea-going sailing vessels during the 

 past forty years. Passing through various changes of greater or less 

 importance, the writer is of the opinion that, in the model of the pilot- 

 boat Hesper, of Boston, very high results have been attained, so far 

 as a combination of speed, symmetry, and sea- worthiness is concerned. 



Another model in the collection obtained from Mr. Lawlor.is that of 

 the steamship Meteor, which has a very interesting history. She was 

 built by subscription from merchants of Boston, New York, and elsewhere 

 " for the purpose of offering her to our Government for the pursuit of the 

 Alabama and other blockade runners, then preying upon our commerce 

 and carrying stores to the enemy, in defiance of our more heavily armed 

 ships of war."* The design for this ship was offered in competition, the 

 competitors being Henry and William H. Webb, of New York, and D. J. 

 Lawlor, of Chelsea, Mass. One hundred dollars bonus was offered as a 

 prize to him whose design was accepted. The model made by Mr. Lawlor, 

 and which he has presented to the Museum, is the one which was accepted, 

 and from this the ship was built at Portsmouth, N. H., and launched on 

 May 21, 1864. " She was designed to carry one heavy pivot amidships on 

 gun deck, or two 10 inch or other guns at the same point, namely, just 

 before the mainmast; forward of this are four ports (two on each side) 

 where 8 or 9-inch Dahlgrens would have been mounted had she been 

 taken by the United States Navy Department, and abreast of the engine 

 hatch aft there are two ports on each side where she could* have mounted 

 short 32's or 24-pound howitzers, and on the upper deck are beds for 

 two 30-pound Parrotts, making one pivot 11 inch, or two 10 inch ; four 

 broadside, 8 or 9 inch ; four 32 or 24-pouud howitzers, on gun deck ; 

 two light chase guns on upper deck. She has two 62J by 36-inch cylin- 

 ders; four tubular boilers; propeller of brass, 13J feet diameter and 23 

 feet j>itch. The motive power, boilers, &c, were imported from Scot- 

 land at a very large cost." t 



" The Meteor was a steamer of 1,440 tons register, old measurement, 

 being about 400 tons larger than the Alabama; and when tested by the 



* Report of the case of the steamship Meteor, Vol. 1. Edited by F. V. Balch, Boston, 

 1869. 



t Extract from letter of R. B. Forbes to Frederick C. Schmidt, esq., New York, 

 dated Boston, September 13, 18C5. 



