Portland and Vernon.*-The Portland was matched against the Vernon, unfairly in many respects,† particularly with regard to their armaments; these were as 22.8 in the Portland to 26.0 in the Vernon, instead of being as 14 to 20, the ratio of their tonnage, or as 15 to 24 the ratio of stability which their respective dimensions might have given. In addition, the Portland carried 34 tons greater total weight, though she is 593 tons smaller. The Vernon generally beat the Portland; but in a sea, (even in the Mediterranean !) the Portland was superior. The Portland throws as heavy a broadside, within 32 lbs. as the Vernon, and is 350 tons of wood and iron less. I doubt not but that if the Portland's lines were enlarged to the dimensions of the Newcastle or of the old Leander (about 1640 tons) we should have a faster, and in every respect a much more efficient, as well as a far less expensive vessel than the Vernon. Portland and Pique.-The most extraordinary case is that of the Portland. This ship with 120 tons less measurement than the Pique, carries 44 tons more armament and throws a weight of broadside as 50 to 36 of the Pique. She also carries a total weight of provisions, armament and stores of 389 tons more than the Pique, and yet, judging from her character, and that of her sister ships, she would beat the Pique in any weather, and certainly, without the slightest doubt, in bad weather; and this, let it be observed, is obtained with 150 tons less timber! It may then be fairly asked, to what useful purpose is so much timber expended in building such vessels as the Pique, Cambrian, and others of the same class? * See Lecture III. + Amongst others the Portland's copper was quite old and loose. F Raleigh and Constance.—There is a clear confession of the advantages of greater size in the alteration of the dimensions of this ship to compete with the Raleigh. In all reason the Vernon was too large for 50 guns,*and was 146 tons larger than the Raleigh, but like the rest of her kind, the Constance would not bear even an approach to a fair competition, so it was necessary to enlarge the Vernon's dimensions in her. If she beat the Raleigh under these circumstances, there will be no merit in it. It has been said that undue fault has been found with the peg-top form for not carrying their weights, and that they already carried enough: possibly so, but that is not the question. When models are being tested the quantities carried by each, whether great or small, (only that these be pre-arranged,) should be the same,-in fact, they should be alike on all points except in form. If desirable to try them with less or more provisions afterwards well and good, but it is quite unfair to direct a ship to be built of a certain displacement, and then allow another builder to give his vessel less displacement under greater dimensions; thus for instance: it were easy to reduce the displacement of the Scout in a new draught, by which her stability and speed would be improved, and yet she should carry as large an armament and as great weights as the Rover, a larger ship. It Mr. Fincham admits that the Raleigh is too large for fifty guns, but it were unfair to make her carry a heavier armament than a larger ship. + The advantage derived from greater size is so great that I shall say the Cressy is a failure if she does not beat the Canopus upon every point, yet she is only the size of the Superb or Vanguard. But I have no doubt about her, and rather feel that she will prove to be the finest ship that ever bore the British flag. ‡ We had no difficulty in the Scout in beating the Pylades, though requires but little talent to design fast ships when a builder is allowed to keep his ship larger, his sail greater, and his weights less than his opponent, yet this has been called competition. we carried greater weights"; both of these vessels were designed by Sir Robert Seppings, but the Scout was about forty tons larger than the Pylades. LECTURE III. A good form not the only requisite.-Again, science may be exhausted in designing the immersed portion of the body, and yet, from the bad arrangement of the disposable weights, or from the introduction of unnecessary weight into the construction, or from an ill-judged leaving out of that which, to some, may appear useless or injurious, though a main part of the design, the whole may fail of a successful result. I have no doubt but that under the guidance of such men as Phineas Pett, the Bernouillis, Euler and others, the ornamented sterns, and low heads were made main parts of the design, and the more surely will any one come into this idea, if he but enter into a few calculations to ascertain the degree of balance which obtains in ships where these have been altered, or thrown aside as useless, and no arrangement made to substitute their effects. Thus, for instance, there was the Caledonia, characterised as having every good quality, and yet she must be altered in the St. Vincent, but certainly not improved. The square forecastle was taken away, and a round one given her; the head was raised, and filled in; the head knee was raised and increased in weight, and the lines below, both forward and aft, were filled out. So that if the weights in the Caledonia's hull were balanced, (as we may presume they were by her character,) the St. Vincent's could not possibly be, for the increased amount of weight forward would be about 40 tons, 100 = = feet before the centre of gravity, in effect to 40 x 1002 400,000, tending to increase her pitching, so that we have no right but to expect that she would pitch the amount shewn in her log, viz. 10°, while she only scended 1°. But this increase of weight would also be higher, about 20 feet above the centre of gravity, the effect of which would be 202 × 40 16000, tending to make her crank, so that we need not be surprised that a vessel nearly of the Caledonia's model should not be possessed of her good qualities, particularly as in addition to these weights in the fore-extremity of the St. Vincent over that of the Caledonia, there are, chain gangers, iron hawse plates, chain gammoning, and chain instead of hempen cables. These have all been aggravated in the Trafalgar, which vessel having had a round stern given her, has had the moments of inertia aft reduced, which would make those forward more in excess. The disposition of weights in Ships not understood.This province of Naval Architecture has been much neglected and much misunderstood, for though many have said (when spoken to on the subject) that they quite understood the principle which should guide the arrangements of these weights, and have acted upon it either in the construction of vessels or in their stowage, yet when asked for an explanation of what they understood, they explained the principle of the common balance or lever; profiting by this experience I would invite the reader to a more attentive consideration of the subject as a most important and fundamental one. Apparent contradictions.-At the threshold of an inquiry into the practice of stowage we are met with the most opposite statements, officers of equal judgment stating what they call facts, yet seemingly irrecon |