246 On Low Steam Power to Vessels, instead of Sails. [Oct. 



The sailing vessel in this case, with a full cargo of coal, is supposed 

 to make her voyage iu 120 days, and as the distance measured on the 

 nearest line is 11,000 miles, this is, at the rate of 92 miles a day, or 3| 

 knots per hour. The steamer is supposed to go 4^ knots in smooth 

 vvater, on an average against the wind 3, and 7 with a good breeze and 

 steam together, averaging on the whole 4f knots, which would make 

 her voyage 96 days. It is to be observed that the steamer is built with 

 a light draft of water, and of great length like other steamers, and not 

 like a sailing vessel, so that light sails would give her much greater speed 

 than the same qr.antity set on an ordinary sailing vessel. Also that she 

 consumes 2-.0 tons in the course of her voyage, so that her cargo taking 

 the average of the voyage is 1 20 tons less than that of the sailing vessel. 

 In fhe conrpe of her passage, she would not encounter a head wind on 

 many days as she would of course choose her route, so as to avoid thera 

 as much as possible ; for instance after crossing the line she would 

 keep so rear the West Coast of Africa as to avoid the steady S. E. trade. 



But if upon estimating such a case as the above, there should be any 

 thing like reason to believe that it might answer, how evident it must 

 be, that for the first claps of passenger ships to India it would certain- 

 ly be in every respect the most eligible plan. Some trials are already 

 making on the use of steam of small power in such vessels, and there 

 cannot be a doubt that it will be a great advantage, but in applying 

 it as at present to assist a full rigged vessel, the main advantages are 

 lost, vfz. safety, convenience and comfort. As long as ships carry 

 masts, they must be exposed to many dangers which they would not 

 otherwise encounter. By getting rid of the standing masts and rigging 

 altogether, the vessel is made almost independent of the weather, she 

 can scarcely ever receive any damage in the open sea, and even on a 

 lee shore, a very moderate power of engine would enable her to keep 

 an offing. She would be built on a steamer model with whi'jh she 

 would require a much more moderate power of engine than the pres-^nt 

 vessels to give her the same speed ; besides which, both from her 

 greater length, and from her upper deck being unencumbered, she 

 would have about tvv'ice as much accommodation for passengers as a 

 sailing vessel of the same tonnage. Further, she would be always 

 nearly upright, and as she would be mostly in those parts of the ocean, 

 where she would find the lightest winds and smoothest water, she 

 would seldom have much motion. When it is thus considered that 

 such a vessel would have such decided advantages over any vessel with 

 standing masts, in safety, comfort, convenience, speed and extent of 

 accommodation, and it has been already shown how near she would 



