The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-06-07 00:00:00

from
of. And with

iearly so rapid and insiduous as the decay in
y-rot and other causes, and will probably ere
y averted by chemical appliances, and atten-
ig the plates with which they are, as it were,

riter of this notice having frequently been at sea,
Lt.ly before the introduction of iron in the building of
, vessels, could not for a long time divest himself of

rch of the wood, for such

led him to an oppos

ever much t

ion of his conviction

)me points quite equal, and in many superior
___nber for ship-building, may subject him to that
larity which frequently and unhappily attaches itself
Ivocates of bold innovation, he hesitates not to make
assurance that when the subject is fairly
yet stubborn in withholding their faith
its adaptation, will be induced to relinquish their erroneous
inions, and yield to the evidence which experience is rend-
n7 every day more and more incontrovertable. If we feel

1, other

le reluctance to abandon even false impressions, because
mind has habitually accommodated ilself to them as true,
re is at least a redeeming grace and satisfaction in candid-
weeding to the truth, where it irresistably bursts upon us,
nd truth must in the end prevail with the sensible portion
d. With reference to the present subject, the ac-
went is matter of congratulation rather than of re-
have for many years back witnessed the scarcity
price of good timber, for the requirements of our
for our more extensive mercantile marine, and the
both services has rendered an adequate sup-

crease of

y of suitable materials, a subject of deep and serious con-
rnment, not only to individuals. but to the nation at large.
cannot, therefore, but be gratifying to every patriotic
id, to find that the deficient supply of timber from our
ests, may be amply and readily compensated for by an ad-
rable and even more durable material, from the mines of our
n country, without impelling us to the necessity of appro-
ating to the extensive growth of oak large breadths of
ipecially required, with our growing population, for
tire of the edible productions of the soil.
these impressions, we hail the appearance of the first
1.1 treatise on iron ship-building that has fallen under
and the first which, in a regular and tangible
is challenged the scientific and nautical world to a
nquiry into the important questions at issue,
a a great diversity of opinion is entertained,
most part on mistaken assumptions. The
tive, and fearless manner in which the au-

s subject, is not only honourable to him as a
.esolute adventurer on this yet scarcely trodden

what perilous ground; but the testimony he ad•
►d the deductions he so clearly draws from it will
tend to enlighten the public on a topic too long en.
in the mists of prejudice and error ; and, assinnim

conclusion.

.ch we have no

will hasten the advent of
itions era in the history of navigation al

in an especial it

antler,

is own emu-Aryl-11er

1 engineer, is an active partner in
:stablishment in this town ; and ha

isldel able experience (over a period of eighteen
principal vocation as an iron ship-builder. In
uthorship, when the mass of the productions of
too generally, fanciful, ephemeral, questionably
'ten pernicious, we welcome with no little pride
work from the pen of a townsman, which,
mall and altogether unassuming, will
some agitation of the important sub-
a, and eventually lead, both in this
to a great and profitable extension of
xhieb are, after all, the chief pioneers
ocean is the grand high-

and every

ement we

s, constitutes a pe

:ts of humanity

D Thomas

ands, Esq., chairman

Uuck Co❑

tee, of this town, and is founded on a

author some we,

go, before a sci-

ratified audience, and winch he has en-
guments, derived from
talented individuals in

arts of the kingdom, as well as from his own exp.
hirrl.?xlese or some introductory remarks he thus

- 'Ave ventured upon such a topic had my
.essions
iiira„iate4aot been strengthened, and my humble
on who%e mbjr the favourable opinion of several
ad. even with theeseeeture judgment I can implicitly
1 imaydvantages, I must, in consider-
of the difficulties
weiiihesild to encounter, and of the
intervals of leisure
mrav arduous occupations
rd, solicit the indulgengcreoo.fn
uY___Vlow members in be-
V of an essay which has
.everywhere for
did not at first anticipate. I have sought to an extent which
en.s of a practical nature relating o timber and iron
°curt) ,„
hiPs-- - mel
so thing that 1 could take a the foundation of an
argument--some
historical view of thee
subject which I could
out and enlarge. Excepting, however, work
either
carry or some few detached s relating
solely to timber vessels,
of iron vessels—and scarcely and vary hy,
perfect sketches
subject, of a
Wished documents. I therefore determined
or• no
assistance from pu
course, and to trust more to jnri,',l,led
to take an independentinformation derived from those ' own
observations, and to
we
in collecting it, than to waste my
would kindly assist in all probability, a fruitless search.
efforts in a further and,
thank several friends, to whom i
And here permit me to.
for the uniform readiness with
have applied for information,
my
inquiries, and to state that
which they have replied to al
ceiving further additions to
I shall have much pleasure in re
_rum
any one who will
the facts I have already collected, 1
favour me by supplying them.'
an ri i teresting digest
Our author sets out with furnishing
of the early history of iron vessels, swine of which were built
forty years ago, and are supposed to be still in existence.
They were first, it appears, introduced on Our canals, where
they are yet found to be superior to wooden vessels in the
most trying work, as well as in durability. The
Aaron Man-
by, now in France the first iron steamer that ever put to sea ;
on
the iron steamers the Shannon, originally introduced
.DY
the author's father, now deceased • and the more general in-
troduction of iron vessels afterwards as sea-goers, from this
port, Glasgow, Bce,, are then adverted to. He next furnishes
an interesting outline of the most approved modes of con-
structing iron vessels in essential :points, from the keel up-
wards, the whole of which. is amply illustrated by accurate
dlawings. He also suggests the substitution of iron for wood
in the decks and other Parts of iron vessels, where the latter
material is still retained. The reader is then introduced to
the question, considered commercially, and the superiority of
iron vessels is shown—in strength, combined with lightness—
great capacity for stowage--safety—speed—darability—eco.