3°S 
the Stability of Ships. 
consequence of diminishing the tonnage of the vessel, without 
entering into any consideration how far such changes are, on 
the whole, beneficial or otherwise. 
It is here necessary to observe, that the force of stability 
and the measure of it, the subject of investigation in the pre- 
ceding pages, is wholly independent of the waters resistance, 
which co-operates with the vessels stability only while it 
is inclining, and wholly ceases as soon as the vessel has at- 
tained to the greatest inclination, at which it is supposed 
permanently to remain in a state of equilibrium ; the inclining 
force being exactly balanced by the force of stability. This 
observation will obviate any difficulty that might possibly 
occur from the principle stated in page 213; which is, that 
if the shape of the zone WHFC, (fig. 1 and 2.) comprehend- 
ing that portion of the sides of a vessel which may be im- 
mersed under, and may emerge above, the water s surface, 
should be the same in two vessels, the stability will be the same 
at all equal angles from the upright, whatever shape be given 
to the form of the volume immersed, which is situated beneath 
the said zone, provided the vessels be in other respects similarly 
constructed and adjusted : if, for instance, the keel of one ves- 
sel should be very deep under the body of the vessel, the keel 
of the other being of the ordinary dimensions, the deeper keel 
will oppose an increased resistance to the inclination of the ves- 
sel only while it is inclining, so as make it heel slower; but 
will not alter the angle of permanent inclination caused by a 
given force of the wind, or other uniform power ; which incli- 
nation depends entirely on the stability, which has been deter- 
mined in the preceding pages, and has no relation to the resist- 
mdccxcviii. R r 
