ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF 
EFFICIENT LIFE-BOATS. 32/ 
On the Construction and general Use of Efficient. IJfe-Boats. 
By Major-General Chesney, R.A., D.C.L., B.lt.b. tyc. 
Compared with ocean steam-navigation, the subject now to be considered 
mav seem to claim but an inferior place. Rut when I mention that it em¬ 
braces the fate of “all who go down to the sea in shin, and who occupy 
their business in great waters," I am persuaded that it will not only have the 
deepest interest for all who have favoured the Mechanical Section with their 
presence, hut it will also, as I hope, be the means of moving a very powerful 
lever in support of tbe subject I am about to advocate; for 1 feel assure , 
that, on the double grounds of scientific construction and the cause ot 
humanity, ship as well as coast life-boats may fully claim the influential sup¬ 
port of the British Association ; which may thus be the meaus of inducing 
Parliament to provide the funds which are requisite to carry out this grea 
national object. , 
At the meeting of the Association in Hull last year, I endcavoure o 
show the lamentable deficiency oflife-boats, and the necessity of an improve 
construction, as well as of a more extensive organization of these boats. 
A committee was uamed in consequence, consisting of Mr. George ennie, 
Mr. Blundell, the late Mayor of Hull, Mr. Oldham of that place, Mr. Roberts 
«*f Manchester, Mr, Thomson of Belfast, with myself as president, to make 
a report on this subject, which I now beg leave to submit to the earnest con¬ 
sideration of the meeting. I should premise, however, that the present commu¬ 
nication can scarcely be called a Report upon Life-boats. 1 have not had the 
means of making one ; for, owing to the unwillingness of the various lile- 
h'*at and shipwreck societies to accept Mr. Richardson s challenge, an es 
,he qualities of their life-boaLs against his tubular boat, I have had but little 
opportunity of judging of the practical advantages of their boats. y 
quirios have however shown how insufficient many of these are. Mj ie 
' miBt ,ilus be confined to bringing before the Association the ''“P er ^ 
access,ty of establishing such a number of scientifically-constructed I'fe-boa s 
; s nm y be sufficient to keep pace with our greatly-increased cominerct.. 
* ma |* l ^t, that however zeuious the existing Societies may be, nei y 
or the Admiralty possess the necessary funds for this purpose, 
" > , b ? ^equa.oly provided by Parli.me,,.. But in °' d . er “ JT, 
J*ct judiciously and economically, it appears to me most desirabl * » 
JPrehmlnary stepi the British Association should recommendi the Gove - 
to institute such experiments as will enable tbe public to lo ™ a , S ® 
I 10 "/ subject which is beset with difficulties. This necessity will be 
!? t,y8hown by a brief enumeration of a few of the appalling fact- cob 
„ , ?** by we since our last meeting at Hull; first glancing at the present state 
e coasts of Great Britain and Ireland. . . , . the 
lion nfTy ears a well-organized system of life-boats has exis 
lated f# lVer P°°l» the annual cost of about £2000; and the ca e J 
liSwl!? contained in the paper in my hand, show that since 1840 the hv 
and l belonging to the port of Liverpool have saved 13 
giv e ah 6 ^ Unn 8 ibe same period assisted 312 vessels, which wou p Y 
Xl** **°00 tons; and this, at the low estimate ol £10 ' per ton, 
mean, n Do less than a sum of £600,000 rescued from the wares by 
an euVn ( f? U,uin 8 tl,at similar advantages would be the result elsewhere, 
Hw, i m d System of »'fe-boats along our coasts, as well as for vessels at 
goes JJ?7 m P oi,lt of expense, be in fact a trifling insurance on tbe c 
Tiu, n ' c 1 ^ ou ld be saved in consequence. , . -„i fl . 
pract, cal and successful efforts made at Liverpool to lessen the cala 
