passage," ," "weight on safety-valves," and "proportion of steam in cylinder," and as a sequence also to the consumption of coal. "Time a minimum" shows the hard driving. "Time a constant" shows the system. The relations of "pressure" and "expansion" show how, under hard driving, the highest pressure and the full cylinder produced the highest speed the wind and tide admitted; or how, the time being a constant, those two elements were varied at the discretion of the commander, within prescribed limits, to meet the conditions of wind and tide.

The result of the system on the coal is a decreasing consumption.

The Return No. 1 shows the results of certain trials under favourable conditions, but in the performance of the daily passage, by four of the vessels, which results are used as the standard tests with which the results of each quarter's returns are compared.

For example, the 'Scotia' at 15'9 statute miles an hour, consumes 6840 lbs. of coal as a standard. (See Table 4.)

In the Return No. 3, at the speed of 12.96 miles, she consumed 5226 lbs., the first at the rate of 430 lbs. per mile (see Table 5), and the second at about 403.

Again, in the succeeding quarter the 'Scotia' consumed 7528 lbs. at 14·65 miles an hour, or more than 513 lbs. per mile.

Here was a case for inquiry and explanation. It will be observed that in Return No. 1 the consumption of the 'Scotia' at ordinary work at sea is 5820 lbs. per hour; and it is only when the consumption exceeds 6840 lbs. that it becomes a subject of question, the difference between those figures being allowed for contingencies.

No. 4 (see Tables 12 and 13) is a Return which shows the difference between the issues of coal each half year, and the aggregate of the returns of consumption, the object of which needs no elucidation.

No. 5 (see Table 14) shows the duration of the boilers, with particulars of the work done. The saving in money under the return system as compared with hard driving was of course very considerable, and the latter was only justifiable as a necessary means of learning the qualities of each vessel, to be afterwards redeemed by the economy of the system.

The 'Hibernia,' it will be seen, was unequal to the service; and I may here observe, that experience has shown me that in machinery, as in animal power, it is essential that it should be considerably above its ordinary work. The want of this extra power was a defect of the early locomotive engines, whose cost of working per mile was very considerably higher than that of the engines now in use.

This defect, which is that of boiler power, prevails largely in steam-vessels, and especially in the Queen's ships.

It would be easy to show how system must tend to economy; and the saving of coal is apparent from the returns, and of course all the engine

stores are commensurate.

But the repairs, the wear and tear, involve a much more important element of economy than even a reduced consumption of coal.

Now it must be obvious that neither this nor any other attempt to bring an establishment like that at Holyhead under the supervision of a central authority at a distance, could be effectual without a perfect confidence and understanding between the parties.

This has happily subsisted for some years, and the Superintendent, Captain Hirste, must have the credit of having cordially entered into and faithfully carried out bis instructions, for many of which he has furnished suggestions. March 8, 1859. C. R. MOORSOM.