318 Captain Hallos Remarks on the Utility of Chain-Cables. 
having the links formed in one plane, in contradistinction to 
being twisted, with the important addition of a stay-pin across 
the link, not sharp pointed, but broad at the ends. These are 
the description of links now universally manufactured by Messrs 
Brunton and Company, as well as by Captain Brown and others ; 
nor does it appear that there is left any thing further to desire 
on this branch of the subject. 
The originality of this very great improvement is claimed for 
Captain Brown, by Mr Knowles of the Navy Office, in his pub- 
lished work, 66 An Inquiry into the means which have been 
taken to preserve the British Navy.” This statement led, in 
1821, to an angry controversy between Mr Knowles and the 
Patentees alluded to. This controversy does not leave the 
question very well determined, though it might certainly have 
been settled with a tenth part of the writing, by an appeal to 
facts, which must be on record somewhere. At all events, 
whichever party be right in this particular, the great honour 
due to the original discoverer belongs indisputably to Captaia 
Brown. 
The following list shews the size of the chain-cables supplied 
to his Majesty’s ships. 
Diameter of Iron forming the 
Size of Hempen-Cable. 
25 to 2 3 Inches. 
links of the Chain-Cable, 
sidered equivalent to, 
supplied instead of, Her 
- 2i Inches. 
22 
21 
- 
- 
2 
20 
18* - 
- 
- 
n 
18 
17* 
- 
-■ 
it 
17 
l6f 
- 
- 
it 
16 
15 
- 
- 
if 
Uh 
14 
- 
- 
if 
I SJ 
13 
- 
- 
n 
12* 
11 
- 
- 
if 
10> 
10 
- 
- 
i 
9f 
9 
- 
- 
r 
8 
8* 
7* 
- 
- 
3 
Z 
7 
6h - 
- 
- 
H 
6 
5 
- 
- 
5 
8 
150 fathoms, or 1| cable, are allowed to all ships of the line; 
200 fathoms, or 2 cables, to frigates, sloops and brigs; but 
