1803. ] 
the fhip by a line cf fuch convenient 
Jensth, as, due regard being paid to the 
velocity of the fhip and roughnefs of the 
fea, it is kept clear of the fhip’s wake, 
and alwaysunder water. It is very port- 
able (weighing about three pounds,) and 
durable ; not liable to be difordered ; 
eafily underftood, and regular and accu- 
rate in its performance. It is perpetual 
in its motion, and need only be taken in 
for infpeétion at the commencement of 
each new courfe. Jt exhibits, at one 
view, any diftance from one-tenth part of 
a mile to one thoufand miles, by means 
of four indices, or hands, which move 
round graduated circles, and fhew the 
diflance as'a clock does time. 
The conitruétion of it is as follows :— 
A brafs cylinder is prepared, three inches 
in diameter, and ten inches in length. This 
cylinder is guarded at the fore end, to pre- 
vent the entrance of fea-weed,and other im- 
proper fubiiances, by a net-work of brafs 
wire, terminating in a common centre, af 
which is placed the ring through which the 
rope or tow-line is paffled. The interftices 
of the net- work are fufiiciently wide to ad- 
mit the free entrance of the current of 
water through the cylinder. In the cen- 
tre of the cylinder is fufpended a wheel, 
conftructed of brafs, with three or more 
vanes, fo as to revolve about its axis 
reely, and is aéted upon by the water on 
the fame principle as wind aéts on the fails 
of a windmill. The column of water 
which paffes through this cylinder is al- 
ways in exact proportion to the velocity 
of the fhip. The angle with which the 
wheel prefents itlelf to the courfe of the 
water may be increafed or diniinifhed at 
pleafure ; which furnifhes means to regu- 
Jate the inftrument to the true diftance 
with great eafe. This wheel, being re- 
gulated fo as to revolve about its axis 
twice in each rood, communicates motion 
to fix {mall ftrong brafs wheels, the four 
laft of which move indices reund gradual 
circles, and at all times give the fhip’s 
diftance by infpeétion. The machine is 
preferved in a horizontal pofition by a 
{mall brafs plate, adjufted to the hind part 
by {crews for that purpofe. The firft 
wheel next to the forty has ninety fix 
teeth, the fecond has thirty-fix, the four 
others have fix teeth each. The pinions 
have ail fix jeaves, except the firlt, which 
has eight. 
The expence attending this new inven- 
tion (from tie very high price of work- 
manfhip, and particularly in the mathe- 
maticsi branch, in the United Srates)-is 
the reafon why, although it has been tried 
Failure of Subftitute for Oil Paint, 
518 — 
on board feveral fhips, and the utility of 
it generally acknowiedged, it has not yet 
been brought into univerfal ufe. The 
price of an inftrument is there fifty dol- 
lars, although from the fimplicity of the 
works, there 1s no doubt but one of fu- 
perior workmanfhip may be afforded in Bri- 
tain for about two guineas. The invention 
is certainly liable to great improvements ; 
and, as this nation {pares no expence in 
maritime affairs, it may be worthy the 
attention of men of {cience in that branch. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
THINK there can be no doubt, that 
_ the verb AcAvilas, in Homer’s Iliad, 
lib 2. v. 135, alluded to by your Corre- 
{pondent, Mr. Singleton, is plural. The 
rule by which neuter fubftantives of the 
plural number govern verbs in the fingu- 
lar, though pretty general, is by no means 
univerlal. Dr. Huntingford, the prefent 
Bifhop of Gloucefter, in his ‘* Introduc- 
tion to the Writing of Greek,’ fays, 
‘* Nouns plural, of the neuter gender, are 
often found with verbs fingular 5” and it 
would not, I apprehend, be difficult to 
felect paflages from Grecian authors, in 
which a different conftruction is given. 
Allow me to requeft {ome of your Cor~ 
refpondents to intorm me, through the 
medium of the Monthly Magazine, what 
are the titles of. Cragius’s and Greevius’s 
Compilations on the Antiquities of 
Greece, and which are the beft editions 
of thofe works ?—I have for fome time 
endeavoured to procure them, but my 
labour has hitherto proved fruitlefS, and 
without effect. Iam, Sir, your's, &c. 
Joun Roxwinson. 
Ravenftonedale, Fune 1, 1803. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, | 
N the Monthly Maeazine for April 
1802, page 262, mention is made of 
a Memoir by Citizen Darcet, Member of 
the Lyceum ef Arts at Paris, upon the 
making of paints fit for all the purpofes to 
which oil-paint is applied, and without 
any of its inconveniencies. 
Having experienced many of the un- 
pleafant confequences of ufng oil-paint, 
I was much pleated upon reading this No- 
tice, and ap»lied to M. de Boffe to pro- 
cure the Mcnoir from Paris. His Cor- 
refponcent in anfwer tntormed him, that 
he had teen M. Darcet, and- enquired of 
him refpeéting the Memoir. M. Darcet 
affured M. de Beffe’s Coirefpondent, that 
it 
