the Committee, at their early meeting, to avail themselves of the use of his room in Buckingham Street.

On behalf of the Committee,

Office of the Committee, 19 Salisbury Street, Adelphi.

C. R. MOORSOм, Vice-Admiral, Chairman.

APPENDIX.

I.

Committee on Steam-ship Performance.

Adelphi, London, W.C., Feb. 23, 1859.

Sir, I am requested by the Committee to submit for your consideration the following Circular, together with the enclosed form for return, any of the particulars of which, being authentic, the Committee will be glad to have.

Any further, or more circumstantial details which you may be pleased to give, the Committee will consider very valuable.

The object of the Committee being to lay the particulars thus obtained before the British Association at its next meeting, the Committee will esteem it a favour if you will give the matter your early attention.

I am, Sir, your very obedient Servant,

CIRCULAR.

HENRY WRIGHT, Secretary.

The British Association at its meeting at Leeds appointed a Committee to call the attention of proprietors of steam-vessels to the "great importance of adopting a general and uniform system of recording facts of performance of steam-vessels at sea under all circumstances, and to report to the Association at its next meeting."

The return (see Table 2, Appendix IV.) is intended to contain such particulars of the trials in smooth water at the measured mile as it is usual to obtain for the satisfaction of the designer of the vessel and the builder of the engines and the Committee are aware that such particulars are usually confined to the knowledge alone of those persons.

It is, however, well known that information respecting these trial performances constantly appears in the newspapers, and that, not being authentic, and seldom furnishing all the requisite data, very erroneous conclusions are liable to be drawn from such statements.

The Committee believe that authenticated facts recorded in the form proposed would materially aid the scientific naval architect and the practical shipbuilder, together with the engineer, in determining many elements which are at present held as opinions only, and about which considerable differences prevail.

The object of the Committee is to make public such recorded facts through the medium of the Association, and, being accessible to the public in that manner, to bring the greatest amount of science to the solution of the difficulties now existing to the scientific improvement of the forms of vessels and the qualities of marine engines.

They will especially endeavour to guard against information so furnished to them being used in any other way; and they trust they may look for the co-operation of Members of the Yacht Club having steam yachts, of shipowners, as well as of builders and engineers.

The return of particulars of performance at sea will afford the means of making such comparisons with smooth-water performances as cannot fail to throw light upon qualities of vessels, which as yet are matter of speculation only.

The names of the Members of the Committee are annexed.
Vice-Admiral Moorsom, Chairman.

The Marquis of Stafford, M.P.
The Earl of Caithness.

The Lord Dufferin.

Sir James Graham, Bart., M.P.
William Fairbairn, F.R.S.
John Scott Russell, F.R.S.
James Kitson, C.E.

II.

William Smith, C.E.
James E. M'Connell, C.E.
Charles Atherton, C.E.
Prof. Rankine, LL.D.
James R. Napier, C.E.

Henry Wright, Secretary.

Memorial presented to the First Lord of the Admiralty.

The Memorial of the Committee of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, called "The Committee on Steam-ship Performance." To the Right Honourable Sir John S. Pakington, Bart., First Lord of the Admiralty,

Showeth

That the Committee was appointed at the meeting of the British Association at Leeds in September last ;

That their object is to obtain and make public through the Association authentic facts of the performance of steam-vessels, with the conditions and circumstances connected with such performances;

That they are aware that each steam-vessel of the Royal Navy undergoes a certain trial previous to being put in commission for service;

That a series of such trials from the year 1842 to 1850 was printed and circulated, by which the cause of science was advanced and the public service benefited;

That the Committee have also before them a second series of such trials up to the year 1856, which, though printed, has not, as the Committee believe, been yet made public;

That similar trials of vessels of the Merchant Service have been made since the first introduction of steam power, and are continued to this day;

That such trials being made for the satisfaction of private persons, have not been made public in any authentic form, and are not available for the advancement of science nor for the public benefit;

That the Committee have reason to believe that Steam-ship Companies, Ship-builders, and Engineers will give publicity to the trials of their vessels, through the instrumentality of the Committee, reasonable satisfaction being given that such use shall be made of the information as may conduce to advance science, and to the public benefit;

That it would tend to the advancement of science, the improvement of both vessels and engines, and to the great advantage of Her Majesty's Service, if the trials of the Queen's ships were conducted on a more comprehensive plan, directed to definite objects of practical utility on a scientific basis, recorded in a uniform manner;

That the Committee believe that exact experiments and scientific records of performance, such as they are now contemplating, would lay the foundation of improvements in Naval Architecture, so that for the future it would be practicable to build ships, whether for the Royal Navy or Merchant Service, possessing high speed, great capacity, small draught of water, economy of power, and all the qualities which constitute a good sea-going ship, with much greater certainty than heretofore, and the Committee are prepared to advise and, if desired, to conduct such experiments;

That the Committee solicit an interview with the First Lord of the Admi1859.

T

ralty, at as early a day as may be convenient, for the furtherance of the objects herein stated. On behalf of the Committee,

February 17, 1859.

(Signed)

III.

C. R. MOORSOM, Vice-Admiral,

Chairman.

Statement handed in to the First Lord of the Admiralty by the Deputation, particularizing the nature of the experiments which the Committee considered desirable should be made :

1. Experiments showing the resistance, by dynamometer, to being towed through the water under the three following conditions::

The hull when launched.

The hull with machinery on board.

The hull when ready for sea.

2. Experiments to determine the actual measure of stability under the above conditions.

3. Experiments showing the resistance when propelled by steam under similar circumstances, both by indicator and dynamometer.

These experiments to be accompanied by the following particulars :— 1. The lines, dimensions, and ordinary elements of construction of the ship, such as displacement, dimensions, and tonnage, area of midship section, area at load water line, area of wet surface, &c., calculated measure of stability, and other elements of form.

2. Dimensions and number of boilers, grate surface, fire surface, tube surface, number, length, and diameter of tubes, and how disposed, number and dimensions of furnaces, &c., other elements of construction, regulation pressure, working pressure, &c.

3. Plan of engines, dimensions of cylinders, condenser, and air-pumps, description of valves, indicator diagrams, speed of piston, &c.

4. Propeller-nature and dimensions, condition of draught and immersion when working, measure of slip, propelling force by dynamometer, propelling power by indicator, &c.

IV. (See Tables 1 and 2 opposite.)

V.

Explanatory Statement to accompany the Returns relating to the Chester and Holyhead Company's Steam-vessels. (See Report, p. 268, and Tables 1 to 15 inclusive, Appendix V.)

For a full understanding of the Returns numbered 1 to 6, it is necessary to give such explanation as may enable any one to compare the purpose they were designed to serve with its fulfilment.

The heading under which each Return is noted in the schedule in some degree affords this explanation, but not altogether, and the following remarks will supply the deficiency.

When the four passenger vessels, Anglia,' 'Cambria,' Hibernia,' and 'Scotia' were first employed in August 1848, the commanders were authorized to drive them as hard as they could, subject only to the injunction not to incur danger*.

After some months' trial the qualities of each vessel and her engines were ascertained, and a system was brought into operation which continues to the present time. (Tables 3 to 15.)

The Returns No. 2 and No. 6 show the results of the hard driving, and of the commencement of the system periods. The column indicating "time," "pressure," and "expansion," is the key to the columns "average time of

* See Evidence before Select Committee of House of Commons, 1850 and 1853.

to join in this retur -such as the press of the waves, will be estimated according to experience. The force and dirthe performance. The Commander and the Engineer are therefore invited remain nearly the snately. It is to be understood that whatever can be tested instrumentally, what circumstanceshe conditions as to course of ship, wind, weather, sea, current, &c., may NOTE. The objit must be left to the judgment of the Commander and the Engineer under

Company's Steam-vessels, under trial for a standard test.

Under Steam.

Mean Draught ex Keel.

ft. in.

API of Commons.

See Blue Book on Dublin and Holyhead Mail ats under regulated conditions of Time, Pressure, and Expansion,

Orders under which each Vessel was directed to use the Elements of
Time, Pressure, and Expansion.

An

ม

3 Time a minimum, pressure maximum, expansion a minimum.
Time a constant, pressure a constant, expansion according to tide, wind,
[and weather.

Time a constant, pressure expansion according to tide, wind, and weather.
Time a minimum, pressure a constant, expansion a constant.
Time a constant.

Ca

Pressure expansion according to wind, tide, and weather.
Time a constant, pressure a constant, expansion a constant.

Unable to accomplish the conditions imposed as to time except under very favourable circumstances.

Hil

Sc

Time a minimum, pressure expansion according to tide, wind, and weather.
Time a constant, pressure expansion according to tide, wind, and weather.

Time a constant, pressure expansion according to tide, wind, and weather.

Nɗambria, 14 and 12 lbs.; Hibernia, 15 and 11 lbs.; Scotia, 19 and 103 lbs.

at the time corresponding with passages shown was :-Anglia, 8 ft. 6 in.; Scotia, 8 ft. 5 in.; Caml