known, I here subjoin a few extracts from the work of C. W. Williams, Esq., of Liverpool, on iron water-tight bulk-heads, as quoted in the Times of 4th of October, 1839.---" A desire to lessen or prevent those accidents to which ships are liable at sea, has long engaged the labours and attention of humane and scientific men; and when we consider the fragile nature of a ship, as compared with the tremendous force of the sea, and that a single plank is all that is interposed between that element and those on board, we are tempted to express our astonishment, not that so few vessels are lost, but that so many escape."

After considering the efficiency of a subdivision of the vessel into three or four bulk-heads, the learned writer proceeds,—

"We come next to the division of the vessel into five sections, by means of four bulk-heads. This arrangement I consider wholly unexceptionable. Besides, this division fell so well in with the business of the several parts of the vessel as to give it

at once precedence. The centre section would then be occupied by the engine, boiler and coal-bunkers; thus detaching them entirely from all other parts of the vessel. The sections Nos. 2 and 4 would be the fore and after holds, or in case of passengers' vessels, the fore and after cabins; and the two remaining sections, at the bow and stern, need not be as high as the main deck, as the water never could rise within several feet of the same.

Here, then, we provide an effectual remedy against the casualties attending on a vessel coming into collision with another. It may safely be said, that unless the water break into the vessel in all its sections at the same time, (and which may be considered impossible,) there can be no danger of submersion; and experience has proved, that a very small addition of buoyancy would prevent a vessel from sinking after it had been so immersed that the deck was on a level with the surface of the sea. Now this improvement in the construction of

steamers, is not brought forward as an ingenious theory, or a matter of unascertained efficiency; I merely submit, for general information, what in practice is adopted by the Dublin company at this moment in all their lately constructed steam vessels, to give security to the public, and protect their own property fr: casualty or loss.

For testing the efficiency of these bulkheads, and that I might assure the members of the British association, when in Liverpool, of their having stood the necessary proof, and being practically as efficient, as they were satisfactory in theory, I caused the plan to be experimentally tested in the new vessel, the Royal Adelaide, for the inspection of the members of the association. I first caused this vessel to be bored, and the water to flow freely into section 1, at the bow end. When so filled that the water remained at the same level outside and inside the section, it depressed the vessel six inches at the bow, raising the stern about two inches. Having the water

pumped out, I then had the next bow section filled, (No. 2.) This depressed the bow twelve inches, without perceptibly raising the stern end. The vessel was then in the situation of one in which collision had taken place. For accuracy sake, I here state, that the bow and stern sections are each sixteen feet long; the two next thirty-five feet long each; and the centre, or engine section fifty-eight feet, making in the whole an hundred and sixty feet."

The invention is admirable, and its adoption is a boon to mankind; therefore I hope that in such a matter, there will be eventually some legislative enactment, to render compulsory the adoption of so practicable a medium of preventing loss of human life and property. I thought it rather singular that the very vessel in which I made my voyage, was thus protected, and had been thus tested to demonstrate the theory. Mr. Williams observes that a very small addition of buoyancy would prevent a vessel from sinking, after it had been so

iminersed that the deck was on a level with the surface of the sea." In support of this, I would quote the case of a wreck, which occurred at Falmouth, on the morning of Wednesday, the 25th of September, when I was there. An outward bound schooner, laden with flour, pickled beef, pork, &c., ran on the Manacles, and her bows were stove in,---all the crew were saved; and though the ship was laden, and with the exception of her top-masts, entirely submerged, yet she was towed into Falmouth harbour, by three small cutters, ropes being fastened to her topmasts. I myself witnessed the latter part of this scene, between eleven and twelve in the forenoon of that day, as I paced the battlements of

Pendennis castle.

As we were making the North Foreland, the night came upon us. It was pleasing to look towards Thanet, and see across the dark waters, the bright illumination arising from the distant lamps of Ramsgate; by which you could trace the principal build