The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-11-01 00:00:00

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corn siIEATHING OF SHIPS' BOTTO.IIS.
In laying before the public the following observations,
which have been forwarded to us on the misstatements in
the Alarming Chronicle and l'imes itewapapers, respecting
Sir 11. I)avy s method of protecting the Copper Sheathing
of Ships' bottoms, we arc influenced by the great stake
which the shipping interest of Great Britain have as con-
nected with this su, jcct, and net by the slightest necessity
of vindication the reputation of Sir Ilumpliry Davv, which
the public opinion has long since placed beyond the reach
Vaspersion.
In my eroiwer to sa attack on the originality of Sir Ilumphry
they-> plan fee .lefer.ding the copper sheathing of ships, tAnnais
of Philosophy, vol. O. pane I It) I have said that the defended me-
tal is "AMC liable to In tam foul from the adhesion or weeds, bents-
cles, &e. than the undefended. Such &statement first appeared in a
provincial paper siln .0 Joist or July Lust, and was copied into some
of the hoedon laity prints, but I catinot now recollect the names of
either the one or the otlisr, a circumstance, however, of no conse-
quence to my present purpose. 'The fact was stated in positive
tennaord I waa Informed, by what I believed to be good authority,
that it was correct. I was the lent antioua to inquire more particu.
lady into It, became, even if true to the full extent, I felt convinced
that Sir Humphry Davy would find no difficulty in obviating the
;nil, by redecute the envy of the defensive action; and my con.
victim on that heel remains eashaken. Had my inquiries, how-
ever, been mote minute, I should have been more guarded in ad •
'flitting the fact as • general result; for I have since leaned thet
rite assertion requires much qualification to make it consistent with
molt
I Po rot know whether or not the passage in question has given
rise to several mooted. statements Which stave lately appeared in
Anne cf the London patient; but the subject having been revived,
and as it appears tome in no very laudable spirit, I am anxious at
least to do away any false impressions that I may have uninten-
tionally occasioned, by putting your readers in possession of such
facts r have recently core to any knowledge, and on the 114;••
curacy of which they may rely.
But first a word cc two as to the newspaper assertions. In the
Aiernint Chrenick of Ontober In, an extract is given from a
weekly publication, called. 7'he Chemist, which, after deny.
ing to Sir If umphry the merit of originality, concludes, "There
is, however, a more seriaue objection to the method. proposed.
It has been tried, and it has failed." This is a short way of settlir.g
an question at all events, and when we are indifferent whether
the decision be just car ttot, is, perhaps, as good at any
other. Pretty much to the same purpose, and perfectly in the
nine spirit, is rn article in the Times newspaper, October 16,
nn the same aubje.t. After string 3lr. iluscheti s experiments,
it speaks thus of Sir Humidity's :—The experiment eo far suc-
ceeded., as to protect the topper team decay ; but it was soon
round out, that vessels covered on this plan have returned, after
short voyages, perfectly foul; their buttons covered with sea-
weeds, barnacles, and other worms. The remedy, therefore, is
worse than the disease." A little further, we hare another there-
fire. The learned President's experimeata may therefore.
be regarded as a failure, so far at advantage to navigation is
concerned, however useful they may be to chemical science, and
however pleasant they may have been to himself, in procuring
a simmer excursion at the public expense to the North Sea and
tie Baltic."
Whether these and similar attempts to prejadice the public
in:ad against an invention, which, there is every reason to believe,
well afford an effectual term* for a serious national evil, are to be
...tribunal to sheer qmorance, or a lee venial origin, I know not ;
tut whatever bears the impress of superior intelligence, is sure to
provoke the epleen of invidious arinlism. It was so with another
important discovery of Sir II umphry Davy's, for even the precious
been: of safety. to thousands could not protect his lamp from the
wets of certain petty caviller ! Posterity will be more just.
But to the facts, and by their evidence let oar readers judge of the
seraracy and justice of the newspaper statements, and the bold as-
article, that the experiments have failed.
The two harbour boats which gave rise to the original exagge.
rased account. were purposely over defended by a surface of zinc,
in the proportion of about 11.2lith of that of copper, the object of
them preliminary eapetimems being solely to ascertain the efficacy
of the plan as a preservative of the copper,, without reference to
any ulterior effects. 'These boats were stationed in Portsmouth
Harbour, and the copper remained bright for nearly three menthe,
when it became coated with carbonate of lime, to the rough surface
shich, the colliery:in always floating in the summer months in
Por.sniouth flat boor, adhered, and these soon caught other weeds;
bet they were all loose, and there were neither barnacles, nor any
a her nor any wood.destroying worms, attiongat them ;
and it is more than probable, that the same weeds would have ad.
lend even to carbonate of copper.
Except in harbour, there is every reason to think that carbo-
nate of lime could not adhere to the copper, even with excess of
protection, and the conferee must have been watitiell oft in a ship
st sea. Unprotected copper, until it is worn in holes, cormiles so
not that no pemtanent surface remains to which weeds can adhere
but when If: re are inequalities in the surface, they adhere readily
enough even to the poisamous oxide of copper. Ido not be-
lieve that any if the pmtectors placed upon ships are in such
mess as to occasion any deposit. arid if they are a little posi-
tive, or nearly-in equilibria. the whole surface remains smooth,
and the adhesion of weed and sliell.fiah is prevented. As fares the
enperiauents hitherto made by Sir 11. Davy enable one to judge,
do requisite proportion of protecting surface to that of the topper,
is watewhere between 1.120 and 1.2.10, but even 1.300 will save
asses than half the-cower of the navy.
In reply to the asairtlon that protected ships have returned after
abort voyages pct./eerie foul, and the delicate insinuation that Sir
Ilumphry Davy has been atnaming himaelf by a voyage to the Bal-
tic at the public expanse, I subjoin the following einem the Swe-
aty to the Admiralty, and his answer.
British 3luaeuns, Oct. 22, 1824.
Illy Dear Sir—You have seen, 110 doubt, a paragraph in the
Toots newspaper of the With instant, stating " that et:sects cop-
gold en Sir Llumphry Davy's plan with protectors, have returned
after sheet voyages perfectly foul." In the saute paragraph it is
aminsinnated, that Sir H. Davy's late voyage to the Baltic win
sole at the public expense. Pray allow me to ask you if these
statements, or either of them, be correct or otherwise ?
I am, my dear Sir, your faithful Servant,
J. O. CHILDREN.
Jobs Barrow, Esq., he. &c., Admiralty.
Admiralty, Oct. 22.
peedPM Sir—in answer to your inquiries respecting vessels cop.
on Sir Hunaphry Davy's plan with protectors having re-
turned after short voyages perfectly foul; and whether Sir Hum.
ploy Davy made a voyage to the Baltic at the public expense, I
here to state, that with regard to the former, no report whatever has
been received at this office front nny one vessel supplied with pro-
tectors, nor am las that any one of them has returned into port.
And with regard to the second point, I can safely say.
_that Sir
liumphry's pasaage to the Naze of Norway (not to the Baltic) was
not attended with any expense either to this or any other depart-
ment ot government. The fact is simply this:—The Comet steam-
vessel having been ordered to proceed to Heligoland at the express
nquestof the King of Denmark, for the purpose of fixing with pre.
men, by means oh numerous chronometers, the don :etude of that
Wand, in order to connect the Danish with the British survey ; and
the Board of Longitude having recommended that the voyage
slioalif he extended as far as the Naze of Norway. for the purpose
et ascertaining the longitude of that important point, Sir Huniphry
Davy volunteered to proceed in her at his own expense, to enable
Lim to attend in person to certain experiments which he was desir-
ous of staking on the action of sea water on the copper of a vessel
passing rapidly through that medium.
If soy illiberal ennatruction should have been conveyed to the
puhlin as your note would seem to imply, you are at liberty to
make use of this reply in any way you may deem fit.
I am, my dear Sir, very sincerely yours,
1. 0. Children, Esq. JOHN BARROW.
l'erbum non arnplias addam.
J. G. C.

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