The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-10-25 00:00:00

MODEL AND DESCRIPTION OF A SPARE RUDDER.

The CHAIRMAN then produced a model of a spare rudder,
invented and made by Mr. R. Talbot, shipbuilder, of this
port, and explained its peculiar formation, the mode of
readily attaching it to the stern part of a ship that had lost
her regular rudder—an accident of frequent and dangerous
occurrence—and its peculiar adaptation for efficient service
under the roost trying and perilous circumstances. The model
was scarcely shown ere its simplicity and utility were ac-
knowledged and highly approved by every nautical gentleman
present, as supplying, in every respect, an admirable substi-
tute for the usual ruder, when the ship has the misfortune to
lose it and to become unmanageable without some such ap-
pliance to keep her in such a position as to resist the action
of the waves in a storm, and afterwards to guide her in her
destined course. Many attempts have been made, and much
labour and ingenuity expended to arrive at this desideratum,
but we do not remember having seen any plan so prompt and
easy of application, and promising when once shipped (which
it can be, even in a gale, in two hours) so efficiently to sup-
ply the place of the ordinary rudder.
The CHAIRMAN prefaratory to explaining it, alluded to
several previous plans of temporary rudders, one of the first
of which was, he believed, the invention of Mr. Heron,
about 60 years ago. A seventy-four, on board of which that
gentleman was, lost her rudder at the " stormy Cape," but
was by his contrivance brought home in safety. The stock
of the rudder was formed of a spare topmast, to which other
spare spars and planks were bolted so as to attain the re-
quired width of helm. When put together, this was drawn
up to the ship's stern post, the heel of the topmast (now
forming the top of rudder) sent. up through the rudder-case,
and the whole secured below by guys or ropes attached to the
fore or topmast part, and passed forward in diagonal lines,
so as at once to confine it to the stern post, and to 'act as
hinges or rudder irons. The square hole for the fid in the
topmast readily suggested itself for the insertion of the tiller;
and the vessel, when all was secured, could be steered with
tolerable precision, at least in moderate weather. A long
time was, however, necessarily occupied in preparing such a
rudder, and there was also much time required, as well as
much difficulty in shipping it--during which the ship might
be lost by getting into the trough of the sea, a position in
which, during a heavy gale, a vessel, unless unusually
strong, could not long withstand the terrific waves breaking
broadside over her. The present rudder bad an evident ad-
vantage in this respect, as it was not only portable and ready
at all times, but was much more easily shipped. lie then
described the rudder, of which the following is a brief ac-
count:—

It is made of leather, sowed together so as to be double,
and of the same size and form as the main rudder, with
blocks or bars of ,wood running across it inside the
leather, in the wake of each rudder iron, and to which the
bands are fastened by bolts running through and firmly rivet-
ted. There are braces the same as on the stern-post, shipped
on, and fastened to the rudder irons. At the ends of each
of these braces there is a short length of chain, with a rope
attached. These chains and continuous ropes lead forward
on both sides of the ship, and brace the rudder close to the
stern-post. The lower bands or braces have a hinge on each
arm, made fast to a small check-line ; so that when the
rudder is hauled forward by the ropes, the check-lines snap,
and the lower braces fit and accommodate themselves in a
flat position on each side of the stern-post. The after-part
or back of the rudder has guy-ropes fasted to rings or bolts
in the manner of the usual rudder ropes, and these leading on
deck on each side become the steering ropes,—acting in place
of a tiller. The mode of shipping this rudder is very easy.
It is lowered over the tafrail, and the neck or top of it is
hauled up the rudder-case. The chains and ropes of the
braces on each side are passed forward, tightened and secured ;
as also the guy-ropes from the back of the rudder. The
weight of the bands or braces sinks the rudder immediately,
so that it may be readily secured in its place. The guy-
ropes from the back of the rudder, lead by blocks to the
capstan which becomes the wheel.

This rudder, adapted for a ship of 300 tons, can, from its
flexible nature, be packed into a chest five feet long by three
feet wide, and two-and-a-half deep,—with all its apparatus.
It is ready for shipping at any moment, and may be con-
sidered an integral part of the ship. The cost may be about
£25. Such a rudder may be made of strong canvas, or other
cloth material, in place of leather; but the latter would,
doubtless, be found to be more durable both in use and for
preservation in case of emergency.
In reply to questions put by several of the members, Mr.
TALBOT furnished satisfactory explanations of the construc-
tion and mode of fixing of this rudder; and the invention
was admitted on all hands to be most important, from its
simplicity and apparent efficiency, as well as its portability
and ease of application.

The thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr. Talbot; and
the business of the evening being concluded, the members of
the committee and their friends retired to partake, as usual,
of tea and coffee.

COURT OF PASSAGE.-MONDAY.

(Before CHARLES CROMPTON, Esq., Assessor.)
The Court of Passage, for the trial of causes in the borough
of Liverpool, commenced yesterday morning. The number
of causes to be tried was 95—of which two were demurrers,
ninety issues, and three writs of trial. The increase !n the
number of cases, which is from an average of 60 to 95, is
attributable to the operation of the new act.

MACKAY V. BAKER.
This was an action to recover damages for an assault and
battery. The plaintiff is a son of Mr. Mackay, tailor and dra-
per, in Tarleton-street, and the defendant Mr. Baker, a co-
median, late of the Theatre Royal in this town. The facts
of the case were these :—Mr. Basil Baker had sent a waist-
coat to the shop of the plaintiff's father to be altered or re-
paired, and by some means it happened that the waistcoat in
question had been mislaid. The defendant called to inquire
after
Y, and saw the plaintiff, Mackay, jun., who
proposed
replace the waistcoat—a fancy one ; hut the hi his property, pert
de-
fendant not being satisfied with the price at which the sub-
stituted garment was to be charged, an altercation ensued,
and it was attempted to be proved that Mr. Baker struck him
severely in the face.

The brother of the plaintiff, recently appointed a landing-
waiter, was the first witness called to prove the assault, and he
stated that he was not certain whether it occurred in August
or September. It was, however, in one of those months,
between the hours of twelve and one in the day. This wit-
ness swore that the defendant took hold of his brother by the
collar with the left hand, and gave him a violent blow in the
face with the other, upon which his brother jumped over the
counter, and ordered Mr. Baker out of the short.
In cross-examination by Mr. James, it appeared that the
counter was four feet wale.'
Mr. George Iladcock, who was present with defendant on
the occasion, was called for the defence. The evidence of
this witness went to show that the preceding witness, Mackay,
jun., was not present during the altercation and alleged as-
sault; and that it occurred in the month of August, between
four and five o'clock in the afternoon, and not between twelve
and one • that the defendant struck at the plaintiff, but did
not hit him, and only struck at him on being called a liar.
Mr. D. Ratcliffe deposed that he saw the plaintiff a few
days after the occurrence, and could see no marks of the pun-
ishment alleged to have been inflicted.
The Assessor summed up, and explained the difference be-
tween assault and battery ; and the jury, after a short delibe-
ration, retired. On returning into Court, they gave, for the
plaintiff, damages, one farthing.

PROCTOR V. HAMER.

An action to recover the value of 201 tons of slack coal,
at is. per ton.

- -
Mr.. Venubles appeared for the plaintiff; Mr. James for
the defendant.

The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff—damages
£7 4s.

SCHLESINGER V. FAULKNER.
This was an action brought by Mr. Caspar Schlesinger, a
commission agent, against Mr. E. D. Faulkner, the owner
of considerable land in the neighbourhood of Edge-lane, to
recover the sum of £6 10s., the amount of the commission
on the sale of land value £250.
The principal question at issue was, whether the plaintiff
was actually the agent of the defendant in the sale. The
plaintiff, it appeared, had introduced Mr. David Ross, who
wished to buy a large parcel of the land, to the defendant;
this negotiation, however, went off, but at a subsequent
period the sale of a small portion was effected for the sum
named.

Mr. T. A. Dale, estate agent, was called on the part of
the plaintiff, and he proved that under the circumstances the
commission would be due to the agent.
Mr. FORSYTH (who appeared with Mr. Blackburne for the
defendant) contended that the first transaction was altoge-
ther at an end ' • and that the second sale, which was of a
different piece of land, and at a different price, was effected
without the intervention of the plaintiff. The plaintiff,
therefore, had done no work and labour.
The jury immediately returned a verdict for the defendant.
SKIDMORE V. MASON.
_

In this action the plaintiff claimed £l9 from the defendant
as rent for the use and occupation of a house belonging to
him in Elizabeth-street. The defendant is a landing waiter,
and paid the first quarter's rent, which was due in January
last, to Mr. Byford, auctioneer, for the plaintiff, in the
March following, since which period he had paid nothing.
In answer to an application from the attorney, in Sep-
tember, the defendant stated, that owing to unforeseen
circumstances, he had become involved in difficulties ; and
that if proceedings were taten against him, he must defend
them in order to gain time. Some difficulty occurred in
proving the duration of the tenancy, which being overcome,
the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for the amount
claimed, £l9.
'Several undefended causes were afterwards tried; and the
court adjourned about four o'clock till 9 o'clock to-tnorrow
(this day.)