308 ENGINEERS^ ENGINES^ AND BOILERS. 



days^ steaming per months a duty which^ con- 

 sidering the calm state of that sea and the con- 

 sequent shght wear and tear^ cannot be consi- 

 dered too great, and admits of ample time to 

 keep the machinery in order, take in coals, and 

 make such repairs as may be necesssary. 



Engineer Department. 

 There is, perhaps, more importance to be 

 attached to this department than to any other 

 comprehended in the arrangements, and the 

 success of the enterprise will be influenced in a 

 great measure on the selection of the engineers, 

 who must be sober, experienced men. To 

 secure their services, they must be liberally 

 paid ; and it may be prudent to exact bonds 

 for the faithful performance of their contracts, 

 and to retain in hand a large moiety of their 

 wages, as a guarantee for their good conduct. 

 The firemen should also, in the first instance, 

 be procured in England : in a short time, how- 

 ever, the natives may be made perfectly efficient 

 for this duty. A forge on board would also 

 be necessary. 



Engines and Boilers. 



Each steamer should be provided with two 

 low-pressure engines, in preference to one, as in 

 case of accident to one, the other would enable 



