$04 Mr. Atwood's Disquisition on 
through so great a space as 2.19 feet; and the increase of 
stability which would ensue from it, may perhaps not be ne- 
cessary. If it should be required that the stability of the ves- 
sel, when the weight is diminished 751 tons, shall be just equal 
to that of the Cuffnells, this will be effected by adjusting the 
centre of gravity lower than its original position, by only .97 
parts of a foot. 
These determinations relate to the vessel's stability in respect 
to the longer axis. But the position of the shorter axis, round 
which the ship revolves in pitching, and of the vertical axis, 
round which it is caused to turn by any horizontal force not 
passing through the vertical axis, will also experience some 
change in consequence of diminishing the vessel's weight. For 
the centre of gravity of the volume displaced, being necessarily 
in the same vertical line with the vessel's centre of gravity 
when it floats quiescent, fixes the position of the latter point, in 
respect to the ship's length, when floating on an even keel. 
And since the alteration of the water-section, of 4 feet in 
height, causes the centre of gravity of the displaced volume to 
approach nearer to the head of the vessel by about a foot, 
both the shorter horizontal axis and vertical axis of the vessel 
must experience the same change of position : the former al- 
teration affects the motion of the vessel in pitching, and the 
latter somewhat increases the action of the rudder in turning 
the ship, and also affects the motion of the vessel, in turning to 
and from the wind, by causes independent of the rudder.* 
These observations point out the alterations of stability, in 
* By altering the distance of the centre of gravity from the points of application, in 
the longer axis, at which the water’s resistance and force of the wind, when not exactly 
balanced, act on the vessel. 
