1809.] 
Greatest height of the thermometer, 
during this period, 85 degrees May 25th, 
1807. Least do. 5 degrees January 8, 
1804. 
Greatest height of the barometer 50,86 
Feb, 2: Sth, 1808. Least do. 28,20 Janu- 
ary 10th, 4 
pene range of the barometer 2,66 
inches. 
The thermometer is situated near, but 
not in contact with, a wall facing the N. 
E. where there is at all times a free cir- 
culation of air; the sun never shines on 
it, and it is perfectly free from the influ- 
ence of reflected heat during the times of 
revistering, This place is about seven 
teen yards above the level of the sea. 
The rain-gauge has an elevation of 
three yards from the eround, 
Yours; &c. Wa Pitt. 
Carlisle, January 3, 1809. 
=e 
To the Editor of the Monthly Mugazine. 
SIR, 
T seems now so generally understood 
and allowed that the wealth, prospe- 
rity, and independence of Beiain must 
depend in no inconsiderable degree, upon. 
the state of its nautical exertions and 
marine defence; that the lives of its na- 
val officers and seamen, though always 
valuable, have in the present times be- 
come of the greatest importance to the 
public welfare. The number of these 
valuable men that are every year lost to 
their families and to the state by accidents 
now EASILY PREVENTED, 1S much larger 
than is apprehended by those who are not 
in the habit of particularly noticing the 
frequent losses sustained by the upset- 
ung of ships’ boats passing to and from the 
shore. 
To ascertain the truth of this melan- 
choly fact, as far asrelates to the loss of 
lives, so afflictive to individuals and so in- 
jurious to the state, it is only necessary to, 
refer to the public papers or to the knuw- 
ledge of the inhabitants of the sea ports, 
And-the fullest assurance that the greater 
part of these accidents might be PREVEN-= 
®ED, may now be obtayned by a refer- 
ence to the committee of the Humane 
Society, at Lowestoff, in Sutfolk, and the 
pilots and boatmen of that part of our 
coast, who can: now supply the most sa- 
tisfactory evidence of the utility of an 
unimmergible boat, builtand launched at 
that place in Navember, 1807, by order 
ef the gentlemen of that county, who 
bad previously raised a subscription for 
that particular purpose, under the direc- 
Descripiion of an unimmergible Life- Boat. 
i! 
tion of Mr. Lukin*® of London, who was 
a casual resident: at Lowestoff during the 
autumn of that year. 
As upwards of twelve menths experi- 
ence bas demonstrated. to the gentlemen 
of Lowestoif (what Mr. Lukin’s pamphe 
let on the subject states from his former 
experience) that boats constructed upon 
this principle cannot be overset or sunk 
by any powerof wind and water, the fol- 
lowing particulars and description of the 
construction are made public, with the 
hope of rendering more generally known, 
the EASY MEANS OF SAVING MANY VALU- 
ABLE Lives: which might certainly be 
done, if one ortwo of these boats were 
built at edeh of our ports, and every ship 
furnished with one (at least) in proportion 
to her size. 
Descriptions and Dimensions of the Low~ 
esloff Life-Bout. 
Feet In. 
Length aloft 40 0 
Keel 37. 0 : 
Breadth amidships 10.0 
Depth 3 6 exclusive of 
a movable wash sede is 
of 0 8 
The form the same as the yawns of — 
that coast; the stern post nearly up- 
right. ° 
External gunwales hollow, forming an 
oblique section ofa parabola with the side 
of the boat, and projecting nine inches 
from it on each side: these gunwales are 
reduced a little in their projection to- 
wards their’ ends, and are first formed 
by brackets and thin boards, covered 
at top and bottom with one thickness of 
good sound cork, and the extremity or aq 
pex of the projection having two thitk- 
nesses of cork, the better to defend it 
from any violent blows it may meet with 
in hard service. Thedepthof these gun-_ 
wales from top to bottom was fifteen, 
mches, and the whole covered with 
very strong canvas, laid on with strong 
cement to resist the water, and that will” 
not stick to any thing Jaid upon it. 
A false keel of wrought iron three 
inches deep, made of three bars rivetted 
together, and bolted under the common 
keel, which it greatly strengthens, and: 
makes'a very essential part of Pher ballast : 
being fixed so much below the floor, it ‘iA 
nearly double the power the same weight: 
would have if laid on the floor, and there= 
* Mr. Lukin was the inventor of the firft 
lifé bodt ever built in England, and obfaineda 
patent for it in the year 1785. 
fore 
