the fish to be cut is placed upon an inclined board descending to the cutter. Salt fish may be employed for bait if fresh cannot be conveniently obtained, but it is not considered to be so desirable.

[Inrolled January, 1824.] .

To MONCRIEFFE WILLOUGHBY, of Fair Street, Horsleydown, in the County of Surry, Gentleman, for certain Improvements in the construction of Vessels, so as to enable them to sail with greater velocity.

[Sealed 26th June, 1823.]

THE object of this invention is to adapt deep iron keels to ships and other vessels by way of ballast, to render these keels moveable, for the purpose of enabling the vessel to navigate in shallow water. The use of the keel is to form a lateral resistance in the water, to balance the vessel, and prevent its falling over; consequently the deeper the keel, the greater will be the lateral resistance, and vessels with deep keels are enabled to carry a greater surface of canvas without the danger of being upset. There is however an inconvenience in deep keels, for the vessels are thereby prevented from riding in shallow water. To retain the advantages of a deep keel, and yet obviate this inconvenience, moveable false keels have been adopted, which have been made to slide over the fixed keel.

The present invention consists in applying to the under side of the vessel, the whole or any part of the weight intended as ballast, by means of an iron keel, which is contrived to move up and down by suspending rods passing through watertight grooves, which are made perpendicularly through the middle of the hull of a flat-bottomed vessel. There are many ways of adapting this contrivance, but one of the most sim

ple is that shewn in (Plate XI. at fig. 4.); a a, is the hull; b b, a cast or wrought iron keel suspended by the piece c. This keel may be suspended by several pieces extending from the bottom of the vessel, and the shapes of these suspenders may be varied; this must be of strong materials, wrought iron is to be preferred, and should be thin, and knife-edged in front in order to cut the water. They are proposed to be made broad, as shown in the figure, so as to answer the purpose of lee-boards.

The improved ballast keel b, b, is made to fit the bottom of the vessel from stem to stern, so that in case of meeting with sand-banks or shallows, the vessel might be enabled to slide over them, or rest until the keel could be drawn up by means of the rack and pinion, as shewn in fig. 5, at d, in the section. These ballast keels may, if necessary, be strengthened by several lateral braces e, e, or four iron guys, running diagonally from the keel on both sides, and made fast to the chains. These guys must be constructed with joints so as to fit the sides of the vessel, as well as for the purpose of enabling them to yield when the keel is drawn up; and lee boards might be placed upon these guys, similar to those used by the Dutch.

Vessels which are to be built upon this plan are recommended to have these ballast keels after the mode shewn in the figure, but those which are already constructed with sharp bottoms, must be formed to suit their present keel, and may be suspended by rods in place of the pieces c.

The patentee says, "I conceive that the adoption of my invention will produce the following among other important advantages, (viz.) when the ballast keels are lowered down into the water, by acting upon the principle of a lever, a less quantity of ballast,—a third part, or perhaps a quarter of the usual quantity may be sufficient to keep a vessel in an erect position, and her hull being sunk to a less depth in the water,

PUBLICLIBRARY

AFTER, LENOX AND "LREN FOURCATIONS.

there will of course be less resistance to her motion through it. When her keel is thus lowered upon the principle of the lever, a vessel may be enabled to carry two or three times the usual quantity of canvas; and as she will also have as before said less resistance to overcome, so her velocity may be accelerated in a two-fold degree.

"When the ballast keel is drawn up close to the bull, and the vessel is constructed with a flat bottom, the vessel will draw but little water, and will be enabled to pass over most of the shoals and bars at the mouths of rivers, and also to ascend them at their lowest ebb, provided they afford water enough for the least navigation.

"A vessel carrying no ballast in her hull, will be enabled to stow a greater cargo, and this combined with the possibility of making quicker voyages, will, in many cases, be a benefit of the first importance, and particularly in the conveyance of perishable articles, as fruit, &c. In the case of steam packets, it is obvious that the adoption of the system must be highly advantageous, as it would at once enable them to sail with safety and rapidity, upon the boisterous ocean; where it is universally allowed they are at present so very crank. To Packet service, to the Revenue Cutters, and to small ships of war, the benefit to be derived from its adoption must be immeasurable, and invaluable." [Inrolled December, 1823.1

To THOMAS TIMOTHY BENINGFIELD, of High Street, Whitechapel, in the County of Middlesex, Tobacco Manufacturer, and JOSHUA TAYLOR BEAL, of Christian Street, St. George's in the East, Cabinet Maker, for certain Improvements in Steam-Engines.

[Sealed 27th September, 1822.]

THE improvements herein proposed, apply to that description of Steam-Engine, called Rotatory.-Plate XI.