“MONTHLY MAGAZINE, 
[6 of Vox. 28. 
No. 193.] JANUARY 1, 1810. - 
J 
6© As long as thofe who write are ambitious of making Converts, and of giving their Opinions a Maximum of 
“¢ Influence and Celebrity, the moft extenfively circulated Mifcellany will repay with the greateft Effect the 
*s Curjofity of thofe who read either for Amufement or Infruction.”.——-JOHNSON, 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICAT 
IONS. 
oa LS PL 
for the Monthly Magazine. 
The Ice LIFE-BoaT, 
N Ice life-boat would, on many 
occasions, be more effectual than 
any thing now in use, for preventing the 
loss of lives by-the breakfitg of the ice : 
it is therefore to bé ‘vished, that its con- 
struction and management should be uni- 
versally known to all Humane Societies, 
as well as to individuals, who may chuse 
to adopt it for the good of mankind. 
A boat for this sole purpose may be 
made like a common boat, but lighter. 
Any light boat may be easily fitted up as 
an Ice-life-boat, by placing it upon two 
additional parallel keels, about one and 
a half inch thick, faced with plates of 
smooth iron, projecting from the bottom 
of the boat, a little more than the com- 
mon central keel; so that the boat may 
rest upon these two additional keels, 
upon which it will slide with great velo-= 
city, when pushed by only one man pres- _ 
sing upon the rail fixed for this purpose 
to the sides of the boat, about three or 
four feet from the stern. 
Such a boat has this peculiar advan- 
tage, that it may be safely pushed by one 
man, even when the ice is not strong 
enough to bear the man without the 
Monruty Mac. No. 193. 
RSS I RS TATE RIS OTITIS LEAN PE GE IIA APNE TCA SE 
boat ; because a considerable part of the 
Seine Te ube = 
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AEN SE I RTE LL BMDP 
LoTR: *KBOEDIAKE 
man’s weight will bear upon the boat, 
through the medium of the rail; and the 
boat and man will press upon a surface 
of ice, more than sufficiently extensive to 
support both. 
The boat-man ought to be light, and 
have on his feet, list, or any other sub- 
stance, that will prevent him from slip- 
ping. He must be provided with a long 
pole, having at its end an iron spike, to 
. strike into the ice occasionally; and an 
iron hook to lay hold of the person in 
the water. When the boat is near the 
broken ice, the boat-man steps into the 
boat, and pushes, or pulls it, with the 
pole, into the water, where he may ex- 
peditiously, and safely, extricate the 
person in danger. 
Should the ice unexpectedly break 
under the boat-man, he may easily raise 
himself into the boat, whieh cannot be 
upset by bis weight hanging at the stern: 
and should the ice give way under the” 
boat itself, the boatman may’ still break 
a passage through the ice to the person 
in danger. 
Your's, &e. 
Old Hall Green, Ware, Ti, 
October 23, 1809. i) 
48 . To 
