New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-09-04
Endin.Rubber and Gutta-Perohn Life boats.

From The London Patent Journal.
We recently witnessed trial OF aeverai lnola-
rubber boats manufactured after design oy Lieut.
PA. Halbett, Il NJ by MIR. Mathews of Chsring
crcse They POSSESS, in an eminent degree, the
three essential properties OF extreme baoyancy,
nonliabity to upset, and lastly, great portability
The experiments were made opposite the Royal
Humane Soeiety'p receiving house on the 5arpsn,
tine. The prospectus states; t. One OF the charac-
teratics of this kind OF boat its extreme buoy ancy
Is owing to the large size OF the cylinder running
round IT, which, when filed with air, gives 1t its
shape, and makes it capable OF sustaining very
great weight, thus rendering it valuable on board
ship as life boat; for in caseG OF emergency two
orthYee Of these boats brown overheard, each hav-
ing 4 rope passed through the eyelet hoes round
the edge, would be capable OF supporting seventy
or eighty persons. great recommendation for
it's use in this respect is the rapidly with which II
can be got ready for use-it can be inflated by
means OF bellows made for the parpose In leas than
four minutes" The boats are of different aizea and
one called "cloak.boat afforded mu III amuse
mens A gentleman blue cloak, of the Maoin5osh
make was laid on the floor of the shed, the oussde
being next the floor, and on its being spread out
little wicker sort OF mat wea deposited on it which
formed fat bottom, the cloak having an air proof
cylinder, and within minute it " as thoroughly
Inflated, aud the cloak, thus suddenly metamor.
phosed into boat, gded into the water, gentle
mas being seated in it, and rowing at different in.
terSAl6 with couple OF nand paunes VIZ mhf eau
them, being shaped like the looking glasses which
usually form part of the psraphernalia usually at
hibuted to the mermaids of the deep The
weight OF the boat was only eight pounds, aud
when raised it we could not persu sde ourselves
it weighed 40 much. This boat, reminded,
lis extremely serviceable to persons travelling
abroad for the purpose Of crossing rivers or streams
where no other means are at hand Isis instantly
available, and can, in cases Of necessity. be con-
yefted into an excellent bed. The weight OF the
whole, with bellows and paddles, ia about lbs.
An umbrella, 20 act a sail, can aao be furnished
equired. The larger description of boat Is con
structed of the best sail canvas, made air proof Ia
the usual manner by means of ndiArubber, and
when inflated is capable of carrying four persons
with case II is exceedingly steady on the water,
snd ia propelled by means Of a paddle, In similar
way to a canoe, or by oars, SOULS, &c. as may be
required" In one of these boats we, in company
with gallant and distinguished naval officer, were
rowed about for some time by a gentleman who
laA W thnB) very properly preferred the aas OF
sculs to a paddle, as the after unless the party
uaing it be well prsctieed, causes continual zig.
zae movement OF the boas The boat worked very
steadily, ard il was suggested by the naval officer
who accompanied us that such boats would be of
immense use in landing through the terrific surfs
bich abound ON the shores of the tropical climates
Great i'm prov ements have been made m the con-