The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-23 00:00:00

PORTABLE LIFE-BOATS.

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On Saturday last experiments to test the serviceable-
ness and efficacy of the new life-boat, recently invented
by M. Monaani, were made in the basin of Wool‘:ich
Dockyard, in presence of a great many, nautical and
scientific persons, amongst whom were Sir Francis Col-
lier, Sir Edward Parry, Mr. Willock, Chairman of the
East India Company ; Mr. Wightman, Sir J. Franklin,
Captain Crosier, R.N., Mr. Laing, Capt. Shea of the
India Service ; Lieutenant Fitton, R.N., Mr. Cow, the
boat-builder of the royal dockyard, and others. The
boat employed on this occasion had been sent •to the
dockyard in the early part of the week, by command of
his Royal Highness Prince Albert, who has tak n a
great interest in the invention, and who had intended to
have been present at the experiments which were to have
been tried during the week, had not the weather pre-
vented him. The boat weighs only 2161 b. with all her
tackle and apparatus, and would hold about 24 pers ins.
She is constructed of waterproof cloth, something like
sailcloth, stretched on a frame of wood ; when not
wanted she may be stowed or placed on the deck or
other convenient part of any vessel where she will be
fiat, not taking up more than three inches in depth, the
breadth of the frame or hoop which forms her gunwale.
The experiments made on Saturday by command of the
Admiralty were very satisfactory, and it was the gen val
opinion expressed by those most competent to ja lge,
that she was an admirable boaatpfoonrtaololnt,haend pumrpanyses for
which she was intended—the saving of life at sea,o the
landing troops, the acting as
pur-
poses in which more cumbrous and bulky boats are aow
employed. Her powers were severely tested ; she was
thrown from the Alecto steamer, at a height of 25 feet
from the water, into the basin; she took the water saely'
not shipping above a quart of the element ; eight men
then descended by ropes and boarded her in a minute;
they pulled her across the basin and performed a variety
of evolutions, to the satisfaction of the spectators. She
is understood to have all the advantages of what is called
the Mussoolah boat, without the objections to it ; being
flat •bottomed she draws little water, and will ride over a
heavy surf where a common ship's boat could scarcely
live.
i She is portable and light, yet sufficiently strong.
and requires no tackle to be hoisted over the side of a
ship. For steamers, and for all vessels where space is a
nwtter of importance, and where the number of h Inds
or passengers is considerable, these boats should be t dim
to sea. It is notorious that at present vessels at eso
badly furnished with boats, that where accidents oct ur it
is almost miraculous if those on board do not perish. By
means of this very simple, yet very perfect, invention
half the perils of the ocean can be avoided, and Leaman
life preserved.

A disagreement, we regret to learn, is said to oxist
between the directors and the principal students of the
Government School of Design, at Somerset House. All the
students taking part in the affair are, we believe, suspended
during its consideration by the Council, to whom the matter
in dispute has been referred, and by whom there-is no doubt
justice will be done—to the students, if they .cnnsplein with
reason, and to the directors if the eincote should, on the other
hand, prove to be only a cabal of discontented Young men.
The fact that the proposal for the annual grant of money for
the purposes of this school now lies on the table. oft the
House of Commons lends a more serious aspect to these.
—Herald.
We understand that a deputation, consisting of tho
Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir David Brewster, the Rev.
James Taylor, James Crawford, Esq., Advocate, and James
Crawford, Esq., M.P., has arrived in town for the purpose of
waiting on her Majesty's Ministers to endeavour to obtain,
the repeal of the Scottish University testa,