hauling Vessds out of the water to be repaired, 127 
her. The carriage is again put together, and another vessel 
can be hauled up a-stern of the former. 
When a vessel is to be launched, the cross-pieces, with their 
blocks, are put under her, and she is instantly let into the water; 
— or, to launch and haul up vessels the same tide, temporary 
blocks are put under the bottom of the vessel to be launched, 
upon the cross-pieces, instead of the sliding-blocks, which are 
prepared as before to suit the vessel’s bottom to be taken up ; 
the vessel is launched ; when she, and the temporary blocks 
which steadied her, float from the carriage, and the other vessel 
is taken on, and hauled up as formerly described. 
One of the great advantages of Mr Morton’s slip is, that it 
can be constructed in situations where it is impossible to have 
a dry dock ; and that it can be removed from one place to 
another, and may even be carried on board a ship. Being 
above ground, the air has a free circulation ; the men work with 
more comfort, and, in winter, they have the light much longer 
than within the walls of a dry dock. Time is even saved in 
carrying the materials for repairing the ship ; and such is the fa- 
cility of the whole operation, that ships can be hauled up, in- 
spected, and even get a trifling repair, and be launched again 
the same tide. As the mechanical power is attached solely to 
the carriage, the vessel is exposed to no strain, and the process 
of repairing one vessel is never interrupted by hauling on another, 
as in dry docks. 
A slip for a vessel of 300 tons can be constructed for about 
L. 500 or L. 600 ; and the expence of taking up a vessel will 
not exceed from twenty-five to thirty shillings. 
The following Estimate, for Slips of a large size, has been com- 
municated to us by Mr Morton : 
Estimate of the Expence of a Slip capable (f containing two 
Vessels^ one ^400 tons^ and another of\B0 tcyns. 
Middle and side ways of the inclined plane of American 
red pine, with cast-iron railways complete, 300 feet long, 
at 20s. - - - L. 300 0 0 
2d, Carriage or moveable frame, the keel and side- 
beams of which are American white oak, all the 
cross-beams of English oak, free of sap, with 
