short, I wish to put you in this corner-I wish to ask you this question, whether you would not have a longer lever with a gentler screw, rather than the screw of this extremely short thread with an extremely short lever? You know that you would strain the stern-post much less. You know that, under the stern the concussions from the screw, which are very serious, would be less; and therefore I think it is most desirable just now that we should thoroughly understand how far we dare go in diminishing the lever and in increasing the strength of the screw and how far we should go back in the opposite direction. You will observe in this particular case an extremely short lever is used for the screw to act upon, bearing no comparison at all to the ordinary levers you would have to use. What does that say to you and me ?—that there is at least four, six, or eight times more strain on the application on the rudderhead than there would be if that same screw had been applied to the outside of this long lever. I think these are most important points; and the gentlemen here should, if possible, say yes or no to those questions.

Admiral SELWYN: I may answer Mr. Scott Russell's question by saying that we should naturally prefer the longer levers, as giving us the greatest power applied to the best advantage, if it were not for the fact that they are almost impracticable in modern men-of-war, because we cannot afford the room for the sweep of such a thing as a tiller, though we manage sometimes to give the room necessary for a yoke, which is a double transverse tiller.

Mr. J. ScoTT RUSSELL: You could allow the room if it was over head under deck?

Admiral SELWYN: In some cases; but, even in those cases, we find that the danger of any rigid application of power-and it is not less in this case than in any other-is in throwing the men over the wheel. Men will stick to their wheel in a gale of wind, and they get thrown over and killed. That is not an infrequent accident; and I think if anything better of this kind could be devised-for I look at the employment of machinery as an advance over the old system-by a consideration that the female screw in which the male screw works need not necessarily be rigid, and that an elastic connection between the two-only yielding in certain ways to a certain extent on certain occasions-can be made, that would meet the greater part of the difficulty.

Mr. CHARLES LAMPORT: I have fitted a great many of these screws to my vessels, but I allowed on all occasions no less than 6 inches of play for the lash of the sea upon the rudder, by applying india-rubber to every one of the connections and joints. It was put in and required no care or attention; it was not one of those things which sailors' carelessness could possibly interfere with, but it met the objection of perfect rigidity.

Mr. HENRY LIGGINS: The author of the Paper says that his principle resists the lateral kick of the tiller. Mr. Russell has made some able remarks as to the desirability of that being accomplished. I will give some reasons why I think we should consider well before we adopt a rudder that is too rigid in resisting the lateral kick. I was crossing the Atlantic in the year 1863 with Captain Rivet, the present Commodore of the West India Mail Packet Service, in the very fine steamer the Seine; and either in 1861 or 1862 the Seine, in an outward winter voyage, was caught in a terrific hurricane in the English Channel, and for once in their long career the Royal Mail Company, or rather the Captain of their ship, felt it was his duty to seek a port of safety, and he run up either for Plymouth or Falmouth, I do not at this moment recollect which. When he approached the shore and got into the broken water, he found

himself almost overwhelmed with the sea, and he is of opinion that for a moment he touched the ground from the excessive rise and fall of the sea. At any rate, he told us that two of the forward stanchions that support the spar-deck of that large ship were completely bent by the heavy body of water that came down on the forecastle deck; at the same time the ship plunged very heavily, and was struck in all directions by broken water. The wheel took command of the four men who were at it (it was a double wheel of course, being a large ship), pitched the men overboard, broke the arm of one man, and literally cut off the heads of two of the other men. Now, Gentlemen, I think that was a providential accident, for this reason-I believe if the tiller had not had lateral play, the probability is that the ship would have been lost with all hands; and that was the opinion of Captain Rivet at the time. It was a most pitiable and lamentable accident, but it would have been much more lamentable if the rigid tiller had caused the loss of the rudder-head, because the ship would then have been left without the means of steering. Under such circumstances, I need not point out to any seaman that she would have been in much greater jeopardy than she ever was; therefore, I think we should hesitate very much before we make anything too rigid in connection with steering gear. I will mention another reason why I think play is desirable. There was an occasion on which my daughter was on board a fine schooner yacht running up the channel off Beachy Head, and all of a sudden, when the men were at dinner, to their great surprise there was a cry of "The rudder is gone." It was one of the finest yachts in England, built by a most eminent yacht builder, and no expense had been spared; but from the particular form of the sea it so happened that the rudder-head was wrung off, and they were left on board a fast vessel running before a gale of wind in the most glorious style (and if everything had been all right, no doubt it would have been charming) without a rudder. That is a dangerous position in which to be put; therefore you cannot safely have a rudder too rigid. I could multiply those examples by many which have come in my way. I am sorry Mr. Reed is not here to-day, because I had the good fortune, some years ago, of being in his company on board the large schooner yacht Livonia, which I think had been sailing matches, but at any rate sailing at Barrow, and she had a screw steering apparatus of this kind, but with side lever It was very unsatisfactory in its working, but it principally arose from what I believe to be the defect in most yachts, that of the raking stern-post, which made it impracticable to get the steering gear to work nicely with the wheel in an upright position. Mr. Reed said at the time he could not see his way to improve the steering apparatus in connection with that particular rudder, but practically we found it was always safer and better if we took off this wheel and steering apparatus and steered with the tiller; and, as a rule, we never ventured to sail matches in a heavy press of wind with the Livonia without taking off the wheel and using the tiller; therefore I think anything that is too rigid is attended with risk.

arms.

CONCLUDING PROCEEDINGS.

The PRESIDENT: I am happy to say, Gentlemen, that we have had a very successful Meeting; and I am also glad that the last Paper to which we have just listened has excited so much interest. Nothing now remains for me to say except that this Annual Meeting is closed.

Mr. J. SCOTT RUSSELL, F.R.S.: I must object, my Lord, to your closing the Meeting without hearing a few words more from somebody. Brethren of the Craft-allow me to say, that, in closing this Meeting, we must remember to do all justice to the man who stands at the rudder. I say so because it is now, I think, the sixteenth or seventeenth time that we craftsmen have met in this room and discussed our professional measures, and for very nearly as long as that time we have been presided over by a nobleman who has occupied the highest positions in this country; and yet although he is a great statesman and a great politician, and I may even venture to say belongs to one party in the House rather than to another party in the House, he is above everything a lover of seamen, and sea folk, and sea craft, and he comes here year after year to encourage us and keep us together, and make us go in that path which he thinks will be most useful to the public good. This year, as you knew from his opening speech, his great object was to see how he could help us in efforts jointly to better the naval marine of this country, and how he could make use of us best in our different crafts to advance the science of naval architecture with reference to purposes of war. I say, therefore, that we are infinitely obliged to the man who lays out our course, who lays down the duties of this Institution at these Meetings once a year, who presides over its Councils during our vacation, and who is good enough to come and take the rudder when we all meet together. Allow me to say he did us one other great benefit. I hope you will not forget he mainly moved in getting our profession educated, and laying the foundation of a complete system of education for naval constructors, so that gentlemen who visit us from outside may not be in a condition to say that we do not know our profession. And, lastly, his Lordship does more than that. His Lordship was at one time in such a position that he had to decide what sort of ships should be built for the Navy, and what sort should not be built; and I am happy to be able now to tell you that the ships which he said should be built for the Royal Navy at a critical moment have turned out all of them to be magnificent sea-going and sea-keeping vessels. On those grounds, I say, let us evince our high appreciation of the very great and continued kindness which for so many years our craft and profession have received at the hands of the gentleman who has been good enough to preside over our Meetings

once more.

Mr. C. LAMPORT: Gentlemen, I consider it a high privilege to be allowed to second the Resolution which has been proposed by Mr. Scott Russell. He must be a clever man who following where Mr. Scott Russell has led can gather anything to say upon any subject upon which he brings his intellect to bear. There is, however, one point I may call your attention to, namely, this that, whatever debt of gratitude we owe to his Lordship on this occasion, we must consider we have to add it to that which we owed on previous occasions and that our gratitude should have an accumulating force. At this Meeting, therefore, after so many others, we could not do less than give him, by acclamation, an accumulated vote of thanks. I think, before I sit down, I may call upon you to respond to the proposition made by Mr. Scott Russell in the most hearty manner you possibly can.

[The Resolution was then put to the Meeting, and carried unanimously.]

The PRESIDENT: Mr. Scott Russell, Mr. Lamport, and Gentlemen,-Both my honourable friends who have been so good as to move and second this vote of thanks, have expressed themselves in terms which I fear are very much beyond anything I have deserved. The only merit I can claim in this room is that as Mr. Scott Russell has truly said—almost from the beginning of this Institution I have been its President. In the second year of its existence this Institution did me the honour to elect me to that office, which position I have held ever since; and it has been truly gratifying to me to observe, from year to year, the increasing success, and more than success-the increasing public value and utility—which I think this Institution may fairly claim. So long as I can promote its value and utility, and so long as I have the honour of being your President, I shall be happy to render you any service in my power; and I thank you all most sincerely for the cordial manner in which you have honoured me to-day by this vote. But now, Gentlemen, some words of thanks are really and honestly due to the ability with which the important duties of Secretary of this Institution have been discharged by my friend, Mr. Woolley. We none of us have forgotten the value we attached, and justly and properly attached to the assistance we received from our friend Mr. Merrifield. We all were very sorry when Mr. Merrifield found he was compelled to resign the position so long held by him; but we are happy now to find that we were very fortunate in the choice of a successor; and I am glad to say-and to make this public acknowledgment of my sincere opinion—that in Mr. Woolley we have had the good fortune to find a successor quite worthy to follow in the steps of Mr. Merrifield. Therefore, our thanks are really and fairly due to Mr. Woolley, and I hope he will long continue to fill with equal credit and honour the position of Secretary.

Mr. WARREN: My Lord and Gentlemen, I am called upon to perform a very pleasing duty. It is to propose a vote of thanks to the Vice-Presidents, Members of Council, and the Officers of this Institute. The vote of thanks which the President has so kindly proposed to Mr. Woolley is embraced in my proposition, and I am sure will receive cordial support. Knowing so many of the Officers of this Institution as I have done intimately for so many years, I can speak positively as to the great good that has resulted from the labours of these gentlemen; and esteeming them so highly as I do, I am sure you will not deem it out of place if I offer one or two observations. It is always pleasing to Members of an Institution of this kind to find themselves recognised in any action taken by the Institution. I am sure that everything has been done by the President and Officers of the Institution for the good of the Institution, and with that object solely in view; but I find there is a rule which says that the Members may be called together at any time; now I am not aware of any Meeting having been called during the whole time the Institution has been in existence, except the annual one: on several occasions Papers have been presented to the Board of Trade, or to the Government in various ways, which have emanated from the Council; and I have not the slightest doubt that the very best thing has been sought to be done. But may I ask, with all kindness-I place it before the President and the Members of Council for consideration— whether it would not be just as well occasionally to take the Members of the Institution into their confidence, and when any question is thought of sufficient importance to make communications to Government Departments thereon, to call a Meeting of the Members at which their opinions could be presented. There is also another thing I may mention. The offices of Vice-President and Members of Council are esteemed and honoured, and justly so. Of course it is within the recollection of all of us that many of these are honorarily conferred on men of very eminent ability; but who from their great age, and one thing and another, are practically non-existent so far as the Institution is concerned. I think that of the whole number of Vice-Presidents you will find only six naval architects who take any active part in the Institution,

and of Members of Council you will find about six active Members only. Of course, many of our Officers hold appointments in all parts of the country away from London. I would, therefore, suggest to the Council for them to deal with it as they think proper, whether it would not be advisable to infuse a little more blood into the Council. The Vice-Presidents I do not speak of; that is a thing of less importance. There is also another suggestion-whether it would not be advisable once a year, or at some other time, when anything of particular importance is being brought forward, that the Members as a body should be consulted before any recommendation is made to a Government Department? I am not making it a personal question; I simply want to say we all feel such an interest in the Institution that we as Members would like to take a little more active part in what is done. I beg to propose a vote of thanks to the Vice-President, Members of Council, and Officers of the Institution.

Mr. W. DENNY: I have much pleasure in seconding this Resolution. Although we find that, perhaps, the largest number of the Council do no work, still I think, from the way the Meetings are conducted, that the portion of the Council who do work, work well. We are very happy in having both working and honorary Members of Council. I have much pleasure in seconding the vote of thanks. Perhaps I might add that the suggestion of consulting the Members might be carried out by issuing circulars or special letters, which could easily be done without much trouble.

The PRESIDENT: Gentlemen, it becomes my duty, as I am not myself involved in this motion, to put to the Meeting the Resolution which has been proposed. In doing so, I beg to refer, in one word, to what has fallen from Mr. Warren; and to say, that for myself, during the many years I have had the honour of acting as your President, my object has always been that we should work together as harmoniously as possible to promote the objects we have in view. I think it is due to Mr. Warren I should say, on my own part, that what has fallen from him is well worthy of our consideration.

[The Resolution was then put to the Meeting, and carried unanimously.]

Mr. A. SEDGWICK WOOLLEY (Secretary): My Lord and Gentlemen,-Really the praise which Lord Hampton has given me for the little work I have been able to do has been quite unexpected on my part. I have only worked as well as I could for the sake of the Institution, as I always hope to do. But it would not have been the slightest use my working at all if I had not received a great deal of kindness and assistance from the Members of the Institution; and I hope, in the future, I shall always receive as much kindness from them as I have on the present occasion, and then my task will be really a very light and pleasant one.

Mr. MARTELL: My Lord and Gentlemen,-I beg to propose that the thanks of this Institution be presented to the Society of Arts for their usual kindness in placing this beautiful Hall at our disposal. I have the more pleasure in doing this, because we take it for granted that we can come to this Hall; and unless such a vote is recorded, and brought to our recollection, the great kindness that we receive from the Society of Arts in placing this Hall at our service might pass unrecognised. I scarcely know what we should do without some such place as this in which to hold our Meetings.

Mr. BARNES: I have much pleasure in seconding the Resolution.

The PRESIDENT: Gentlemen, I need not formally put this motion for a vote of thanks to the Society of Arts. We are, of course, all of us very much indebted to them for the kind and liberal manner in which, year after year, they allow us to hold our Meetings here. It only remains for me to express the hope that we may all meet here again next year.