A NEW METHOD OF LESSENING THE DRIPT OF SHIPS AT SEA, AND BETTER PROTECTING THEM IN GALES OF WIND
Year: 1825

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SHELTON BURNETT, of London Street, in the City of London, Merchant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eleventh day of January, in the fifth year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Shelton Burnett, His especial licence that I, the said William
Shelton Burnett, my exors, adñors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Shelton Burnett, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, and also in all His said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad
my Invention of "A NEW METHOD OF LESSENING THE DRIPT OF SHIPS AT SEA,
AND BETTER PROTECTING THEM IN GALES OF WIND;" in which said Letters.
Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said William Shelton

page_text: Burnett, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly
to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in His
said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by
the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Shelton Burnett, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
to consist in a resisting float or floated lee board, so arranged that when a
ship or other vessel is fastened to it at sea it will offer a resistance to her lee-
way, if under sail, and will serve in some measure for an anchor to diminish
her drift way, if merely riding by it in a storm, and in a great measure prevent
her falling off from the wind; and in further compliance with the said proviso
I, the said William Shelton Burnett, do hereby describe the manner in which
I perform my said Invention by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the Drawing annexed and the figures marked thereon, that is

page_text: that is to say, Fig. 2, the upper side of the float; Fig. 3, the side of ditto
(both sides are alike); Fig. 4, the under side of the float; Fig. 5, section of
the float with the drag. The drag A, Fig. 5, is formed of rods of metal, con-
nected at the bottom by rings, and at the top is secured to the float by bolts
passing through it at B, B. It is covered with canvass or other material.
The canvass is sewed on to the top and bottom rods, and attached to the side
rods by hooks, which are sewed on to the canvass. Near the top of the
upright rods are affixed two rings, and from the ring C to the ring D is
attached a chain about eleven feet long, and from the rod on the opposite side
is attached a similar chain, and these two chains are connected together by a
loose ring E, which is to be connected with the vessel by a rope, cable, or
hawser. Two other ropes are attached to the float by the rings F, F,
Figs. 2, 3, and 4, for the purpose of keeping the apparatus in a proper
direction with the vessel. There are rings also on the opposite side of the
float G, G, Figs. 2 and 4, for the purpose of connecting two or more of these
machines together when necessary. Fig. 2, a, is a ring let into the float on
the upper side. Figs. 2, 3, and 4, b, b, two hooks to confine the float together
when folded up, and which fasten on to the pins c, c; d, d, hinges; f, f, the
bolts, which pass through the drag to connect it to the float. Fig. 4, 9, I, I, I,
four cylindrical pieces of iron, fitting on to the bolts f, f, to keep the drag
in the centre of the float. Fig. 4, h, plan of the upper rod of the drag, and
shewing the manner in which the upper and side rods are secured together
by the bolts, Fig. 3. i, i, the sliding bolts, to keep the float extended when
open.
Now, whereas such an apparatus as is herein-before described for the
purpose of checking the lee way or drift way of ships or other vessels, is, to
the best of my knowledge and belief, entirely new, and has never before been
practised in that part of His said Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland called England, His said Majesty's Dominion of Wales, and
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, nor in any of His said Majesty's Colonies or
Plantations abroad, I do therefore hereby declare this to be my Specification
of the same, and that I do verily believe this my said Specification doth
comply in all respects, fully and without reserve or disguise, with the proviso
in the said in part recited Letters Patent contained; wherefore I hereby claim
to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Shelton Burnett, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.
WM S. (L.s.) BURNETT.

page_text: '
AND BE IT REMEMBERED; that on, the Eleventh day of July, in the
year of our Lord 1825, the aforesaid William Shelton Burnett came before
our said Lord the King-in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, and specified, in form
above written. And also the. Specification. aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made. for that purpose.
Inrolled the Eleventh day of July; in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and twenty-five..
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