employment of Oblique Riders. 
323 
Authorities. 
From this statement it appears, that unless some very strong 
facts can be produced, to disprove the probability, that the 
relative angular position of the parts constituting a ship may 
always be materially altered, without an absolute failure of 
strength, it cannot be denied that the principle of oblique 
bracing offers a remedy for the tendency to arch, whatever 
doubts there may be of the efficacy of any particular mode of 
applying it. And even if no observations could be produced 
in confirmation of the frequent occurrence of such a change 
of the angular situation of the timbers, the supposition that the 
stiffness could be perfect in this respect, notwithstanding the 
unequal shrinking of the timbers, and other similar circum- 
stances, while the ultimate strength gave W'ay by the failure 
of the fastenings, is in itself so highly improbable, that no 
positive evidence w'ould be required for its complete rejection. 
We shall find accordingly, that Mr. Bouguer takes for granted 
the existence of a partial flexure, as sufficiently admissible 
without direct proof, and recommends the adoption of oblique 
planking as a remedy ; and that other experienced authors 
have been equally favourable to the employment of some 
similar arrangements. In speaking of Mr. Gobert’s mode of 
placing the cieling of a ship obliquely, Mr. Bouguer observes, 
that “ this method cannot tail of producing the most desirable 
effects ; for when the planking b.:.th within and without was 
arranged in the direction of the keel, it happened, in case of 
the ship's arching, that the rectangles formed by the timbers 
and the planking, merely changed their figure a little, so as 
to become rhomboids, two of the angles opening a little, while 
