1805.] 
the tail-part of another regulating wire to 
rife fo high, and to ftop the other thread- 
wire from going round, and conlequently 
the thread that pafles through it, and 
prevents the bobbin from taking it up. 
This 1s one method defcribed by the pa- 
“tentee, but he has another in his {pecif- 
cation, made upon a fimilar principle, 
but with a varied form. 
—e 
MR. JOHN SLATER’S, (HUDDERSFIELD) 
for manufaéuring Cables, Shrouds, 
Stays, azd other Articles, for the rig- 
ging of Ships of Materials never ufed 
Jor the Purpofe. 
‘* My invention (fays Mr. Slater) con- 
fits inthe fubftitution of metals in lieu of 
hemp in the fabrication of cables, fhrouds, 
ftays, and other articles for the rigging of 
fhips, which is to be applied in the form 
of chain work, and waich every work- 
man in chain work knows how to apply 
without farther inftructions.’? He then 
adds, that he claims no difcovery 1 in the 
conftruétion of chains, but in the applica- 
tion of them to the rigging of hips, of 
whatever form, metal, or metallic fub- 
ftance, they may be conftructed. 
Obfervaiions.—This invention is in- 
tended chiefly for ft.nding-rigging ; and 
the links of the chains are made of a 
fhort oval form, thick in proportion to 
their fize, and every two nearly touching 
in the centre of the third, tn which they 
are inferted. The weight of the different 
articles to be the fame as that of the 
cordarge now in ufe. The maft-heads are 
to be furrounded with a plate of rolled 
iron or copper to keep the fhrouds from 
chafing. One leg of a pair of fhrouds is 
to be received through a large link in the 
ether, jut at the place where the prefent 
kind are feized ; and they are to be fet up 
with dead-eyes and lanniards, as in the 
prefent manner. The fore-ftays are to 
be hooked where they are now {ftized, and 
the back-ftays fitted in the fame manner 
as the fhrouds. 
The advantages are, 1. Ihe dura- 
bility of one fuit of rigging would exceed 
that of any fhip made of the beit mate- 
rals. 2. As there would be no fenfible 
itretching, it wou'd obviate a lerious in- 
convenience, by which many a fhip has 
Joft her malts, and uitimately both cargo 
and buli; as it is often impoffible to fet 
the flirouds up ina heavy gale, or even 
New Patents lately enrolled, 527 
fecure them in any manner that will pre- 
ferve the mafts. 3. This fubftitute for 
cordage will never require any mechanical 
ftretching, and will be always pliant and 
ealy to handle. 4. In time of action 
this kind of rigging will be much lefs 
liable to be cut with fhot from its greater 
cohefion, elafticity, and flipperine/s; and, 
in cale of its being cut, may be much 
more eafily repaired with ftring, which 
will laft during the action, and after. 
wards by a new link or links. 5. This 
kind of rigging has a much lighter and 
more beautiful appearance to the eye; and, 
when blacked with lamp-black and pitch, 
is effect ually preferved from ruft. The 
firft colt is not much greater than of that 
now in ufe, and, when worn out, it can 
be fe permisnacuunadts ; of courfe, the faving 
to this country will be immenfe, if it 
were adopted in the Britith navy. 
Such are the advantages which the Pa- 
tentee defcribes as refuliing from the ap- 
plication of chain-work to ‘the rigging of 
fhips. He is, however, aware it may be 
objected that the metal of which the 
chains are compofed wiil have a tendency 
to attract the eleétric fluid. In anfwering 
this objection, he obferves, and jutly, 
that when the fluid does ftrike the metal, 
it will follow every turn it makes till it 
reaches the furface of the earth or water, 
which is a ttrong reafon for the adoption 
of metallic rigging, as in the cafe of a 
fhip being ftruck with lightning, the 
fhrouds having {mall appendages tS Jet 
down, it would be eafily conducted inte 
the water without injury tothe crew, fhip, 
Or cargo, except a mam happened to be 
on the fhrouds where, or leading from 
where, it fell. And it is prefumed, that 
accidents of this kind would more feldom 
happen than they even do at prefent, as 
the men upcn deck, in the tops, and on 
the yards, would be almoit entirely fe- 
cure; and in ciim2tes where the furround- 
ing atmofphere is pregnant with the elec- 
tric fluid, no accumulation could take 
place, as rhe rigging would be continually 
conducting it harmlefs to the furface, 
qnathé laine tanner, asa chain fufpended 
from the conduétor of an eleétrical ma- 
chine, and retting on the eround, would 
prevent a perfon teuching it from receiving 
a fhock. : 
The chaia-svork may be made of iroa 
ol coppei. 
LIST 
