305 
employment of Oblique Riders, 
different nature is produced : but in ships of war, this tendency 
appears to be universal. It is however very different in degree 
in the differenf parts of a ship; and of course, still more dif- 
ferent according to the different modes of distribution of the 
ballast and stores, which may occur in different ships : but in 
ordinary cases, it wall probably be found nearly such as is 
represented in the calculations subjoined in the note,* de- 
* In a modern 74 gun ship, fitted for sea, the length being 176 feet, the breadth 
471', the forces are thus distributed. 
Aftermost 49 f. 
Weight 699 
Pressure 627 
Difference 72 tons, 
Next 20 
297 
405 
— 108 
50 
1216 
1098 
118 
20 
290 
409 
-119 
37 
498 
461 
37 
176 
3000 
3000 
00 
Now the laws of equilibrium will not allow us to suppose these forces concentrated 
in the middle of the respective portions, or equally distributed through them j and it 
becomes necessary, that one of the weights should be situated further forwards; which 
must be that of the foremost portion, containing the bowsprit and its rigging. It is 
also natural to suppose the excesses of weight and pressure distributed with as few 
abrupt changes as possible, so as to neutralise each other at the common termination 
of the adjoining portions, and to become more unequal in parts more remote from 
these neutral points. Thus the excess of weight in the first 49 feet being 72 tons, it 
may be supposed to begin at the rate of — tons per foot, and to diminish gradually 
and equably, so that its centre of action will be at the distance ~ from the end : the 
excess of pressure must increase in the next place, until at the distance 0159 feet from 
the stern, it becomes — per foot, and must then diminish until it vanishes at 69, 
1 1 8 
where the excess of weight must begin to prevail, becoming, at 94, — per foot, and 
vanishing at 119. The excess of pressure might then be supposed to increase 
gradually through the next portion, in order to avoid an abrupt change at its extre- 
mity ; but this supposition would still be insufficient, and it becomes necessary to 
imagine that for 6.6 feet the forces remain neutralised, and the pressure then prevails, 
® 119 r 
so that its excess becomes at last — :r 17.7 per foot : it must then decrease for 17.5 
