50 HYDRAULIC PUMP-STATE OF SCIENCE IN OUR DOCKYARDS. SINGLE-BARREL HYDRAULic pump. Description. Fig. 1 represents the pump in full play. Bloody-bones of his maturer years; and the Calculus (oh! poor Calculus!) a phantom dreadful to his imagination. But, amidst all his vituperation of the calcu lus, I would ask, Does he know what he means? Is he aware in what way it may be applied to the study of naval architec ture? and is he aware of the value of this naughty calculus in other sciences? If he be aware-if he do know, I should have expected that he might have been led to indulge the innocent hope, that poor Naval Architecture, too, may be benefited by its almost infinite powers. If he he not aware of these things, it was not quite wise in him to expose himself by this abuse. But I suppose AntiCalculus was very happy before this horrific calculus was ever heard of in a dockyard; and subscribing to the poet's maxim, where ignorance is bliss," &c. he would again be very happy if it should never be heard of more. The question, however, is of too much importance to be discussed merely with a reference to the opinions and tastes of H. C., or of the class (unhappily a very large one) which he represents, viz.all those who wish the good old days were never to pass away-those whose interest it was for them to remain-to EE, the plates in which the cog-wheels gether with those whose yearnings for STATE OF SCIENCE IN OUR DOCK- SIR,-I was much amused by a little ebullition of spleen which appeared in one of your late Papers, under the signature Anti-Calculus;" the writer of which has been at much pains to prove, that because our ships have been good, they ought never to be better, and appears to think it little less than high treason to attempt at improving them. Science and mathematics, in naval architecture, are to him the Raw-head and the benefit of past times are easily transformed by them into fearful anticipations for the future. This matter is of much higher interest; it is a national question, whether we shall remain the most ignorant of the maritime nations of Europe in the scither we shall make some struggle to reence of most importance to us, or whedeem our character? Let us see what the Commissioners for the Revision of the Civil Affairs of the Navy, in 1804, said on this subject: has been paid to naval architecture; "In this country too little attention and, unfortunately, what was given to it a few years ago seems to have been discontinued, without having yet been turned to much practical use.' "Where we have built exactly after the form of the best of the French ships that have been taken, thus adding our dexterity in building to their knowledge in theory, the ships, it is generally allowed, have proved the best in our navy; but whenever our builders have been so far misled by their little attainments in the science of naval architecture, as to depart from the model before them in any material degree, and attempt improvements, the true principles on which ships ought to be constructed being inperfectly known to them, have been mistaken or counteracted, and the alterations, according to the information given us, have in many cases done harm. "While, therefore, our rivals in naval power were employing men of the greatest STATE OF SCIENCE IN OUR DOCKYARDS talents, and most extensive acquirements, to call in the aid of science, we have contented ourselves with groping on in the dark, in quest of such discoveries as chance might bring in our way." The names attached to this document are, perhaps, nearly of as much weight as that of A. C., even supposing the real name itself given. Let the Commissioners also speak for themselves, as to the qualifications of the Officers of Dockyards formerly, and of their reasons for an alteration of the system : "In the whole course we have described, no opportunity will be found of acquiring even the common education given to men of their rank in life; and they rise to the complete direction of the construction of ships, on which the safety of the empire depends, without any care or provision having been taken, on the part of the public, that they should have any instruction in the mathematics, mechanics, or in the science or theory of naval architecture." After mentioning the way in which apprentices were received in the King's Yards, the Report says-"Those who have since come into our dockyards are, accordingly, found to be almost entirely without education."- "We believe the representation we have given of the education of the shipwrights, as matters are at present carried on, to be correct; it can scarcely be necessary to add, then, that unless the plan of the present system shall be altered, even good working shipwrights will hardly be found in our dockyards; and it would be in vain to expect order or regularity in the conduct of the business, accuracy in the accounts, or professional skill, in those who must, at no great distance of time, come, of course, to be entrusted with the management of every thing respecting the construction of the ships by which this coun try is to be defended." After this, it will not, I think, be denied by the most practical men, that something was wanting, when another system was proposed by these statesmen; for it would hardly, I imagine, be deemed prudent by them, that the most important branch of all the practical and theoretical works of this great Go ernment should be ultimately entrusted to persons, for whose introduction into the service not even the qualification of spelling was necessary; and who, during the period alluded to, were often such as to deter the more respectable of the artificers themselves from putting their sons as apprentices. To obviate these difficulties, the Legislature established the School of Naval Architecture; and it will now be worth while to see if this institution has, or has not, made good, as far as could reasonably be expected of it, the intentions of its noble founders. And here it 51 must be highly gratifying to its members, that those whose opinions are most valuable to them, and who have the best means of information, are the best satisfied with their exertious, the most content with their progress. Vide the notices from time to time of Lord Melville, and Preface to Knowles on Dry Rot.] But we will meet A. C. on his own ground. It is brought as a proof of failure, that the Regent yacht was not the finest ship of the kind that ever sailed. It is also stated, that this institution has now been established fifteen years, and from the way in which the very candid A. C. has put it, it may be understood that the Regent was the result of fifteen years' study of naval architecture, and the last effort made by the students of this esta blishment. What is the fact? In the first place, it is scarcely more than fourteen years since the very first student was admitted at Portsmouth, at which time, from the newness of the thing, and the want of some particular patron, no arrangement was made for their instruction or improvement-they had not even a separate place allotted to them for study. Professor Inman (it is now, after his great and, it may be said, successful exertions, no disparagement to say it) had never read a book on naval architec ture-knew not even its terms; yet to him was left the whole weight of the establishment. Accordingly, some time was requisite to look for a proper author: there was none in English; the book was to be translated, and the difficulty of translating a technical work, those who have tried it alone can judge. Thus much time was necessarily consumed. Again, the very candid A. C. has spoken of the School of Naval Architecture as entirely theoretical; let him read the course of studies, and he will there see, that one half of the time is devoted to pure manual, practical ship-building, beside the time allotted to laying-off. In fact, there are but three afternoons in the week appropriated to mathematical study. Now, the Regent yacht was ordered to be built in about four years and a half after the commencement of the establishmenta time when not one of the students, what with the attention to practical shipbuilding, and the necessary preliminary mathematical study, had commenced the study of naval architecture more than a year; and yet A. C. makes it a matter of surprise that she was not perfect. She was, in fact, rather overmasted; but subsequently, in a trial with the Royal George, the masterpiece of yachts, she was found to be scarcely inferior to her. But why has this solitary instance of want of complete success been brought forward? Why have the Rose and the Orestes been so entirely forgotten? The former, I believe, will be found to have STATE OF SCIENCE IN OUR DOCKYARDS. een superior to the Martin, the rival essel; and the Orestes, as far as the rials have yet gone, for which we have the authority of Captain Hayes himself, nas lost nothing of the credit of the establishment. At the Navy Office, in addition to the talents universally acknowledged of Sir Robert Seppings, there is a gentleman of first-rate ability, who has for many years been employed in the constructions made there; and it is not too much to V, that the best English constructions of the day have gone through his hands; vet has the School of Naval Architecture ost any thing by the contact? And is it nothing for an infant establishment, depressed by neglect, awed by the opposition universally given to things new, and having to sustain the weight of all the attacks which old prejudices, old inte rests, and "old human nature," could bring against it-is it nothing, I ask, to have contended with these master-spirits of the time, and to have come off, not only without dishonour, but with merited praise? It will not-it cannot be denied, that those ships are evidences of the improvement of the School; and if, under Buch circumstances, so much has been done in so short a time, is it not fair to hope that, when consolidated in its founlations, its patrons determined in their protection, and its members incited by hope and encouragement, naval architecture may yet receive the benefit anticipated by those who projected the establishment? that discoveries in naval architecture, A. C., however, seems to imagine, ។ confessedly the most difficult and complicated of the arts, are to be obtained as eggs are got-put a cock and hen together, and eggs will be the probable result; so he appears to expect, that put a master and pupil together at naval architecture, and in about the same time (hey presto!) our ships ought to sail to the moon. But Dr. Johnson said, a long time ago, that the expectations of ignorance are indefinite," and every day's experience proves its truth. If AntiCalculus believes that learning will give genius, he has only fallen into the error of the countryman who expected to read because of his spectacles; but if he does not know that education alone enables its possessor to turn his talents to the best account, he must be more ignorant than he appears to be, or than he even wishes the shipwright to remain. Anti-Calculus passes a high eulogium on the practical shipwright-I certainly agree with him; perhaps there is not to be found in the service of the state a more valuable class of men. But would they have done less if they had had more power-that additional power which the coutalation of mechanical principles gies directing the effort band even at the impulse of the moment and although employed from six o'clock to six, or even from five to nine?" How often may the practical man be seen struggling with the ingenious devices which fill his mind, yet unable to give them form or maturity for want of this assistance, of which A. C. is in so much alarm? The merely practical man will ever excel in old and heaten paths; put him in the track where he has been jogging time out of mind, and the most brilliant genius, the highest calculus, must hide their diminished heads. But the time when innovation in ship-building was looked upon with sacred horror, when every nail was to be driven in sanctified reverence to former nails, has for some time gone by; the reiterated attacks of Seppings have burst the tenfold chain in which the improvements of our navy, even practically, seemed almost spell-bound; and now, when propositions of every kind are issuing from every quarter, it requires something beyond a knowledge of fornier rules to decide on what should be received and what rejected, and, at the same time, to carry into effect that which is received with the greatest advantage to the end proposed, and to the public service. Were, indeed, any evidence wanting as to the benefit of the School of Naval Architecture, the impulse which this interesting branch of science has of late received, and which might be proved to have resulted from it, would alone be sufficient. Every publication is teeming with questions on the subject-the spirit of inis afloat, and even this letter of quiry isill add to the flood; proving, too, by the violence of the resistance, the strength of the tide in the opposite direction. As to the attack on Alpha, that is merely the vehicle by which the School of Naval Architecture was to be brought to account, though there the general candour of A. C. breaks forth. Alpha does not say that "a calculus is now formed and applied by the Academy, by which the sailing and other qualities of a ship may be predicted, previous to her being built," he only asserts that it is taught there, and speaks of the general utility likely to result from its application to the phenomena of naval architecture. Anti-Calculus also insinuates thatFrench, dancing, and fencing, are among the subjects taught at Fortsmouth. He must know but little of the matter, if he be not aware that neither one nor the other have a place in their employment: so far from it, that only a day and a half in the week are employed in theoretical study; and that the remainder is de. voted to practical ship-building and its dependencies, draughting, laying-off, and drawing. Far is it from them, then, to depreciate the merit of the practical me SQUARE AND CUBE NUMBERS. chanic, for it is on the union of that and theoretical knowledge that their stand, in the estimation of the Government and their country, must be made., It is true, that iu consequence of the peace, they have not been frequently called upon to make the extraordinary exertion quoted by A. C., but never have they been found backward when so required. Still they are not wholly without some claim to the favour and protection of the public, if it were only in consideration of the seven years of hard and laborious study at Portsmouth, to which, in more than one instance, health, if not life, has been the sacrifice: nor does there appear to be any just ground to disturb that zeal, in one of their duties, which in another has led many of these students to restrict themselves to three or four hours rest only for many successive nights. As to the question respecting "the students being employed in the superintendence of house carpenters and joiners," there can be but one opinion; it is an entire misapplication of the education on which the public money has been expended. It is worse still as it regards the object about which so much is said-the acquisition of practical knowledge, by wholly absorbing their exertions in a different direction. This is knocking a man down with a bludgeon, and then quarrelling with him for not keeping his legs. There are some other points in A. C.'s letter on which I would wish to offer some remarks; but having already, 1 fear, exceeded the limits you may be able to afford to this discussion, I shall reserve them for some future occasion. In conclusion, then, Sir, I should be very sorry if that which I have been led to say, in vindication of this national institution, should be capable of being construed into any thing like disrespect for the talents of those who have gone before; on the contrary, I highly appreciate and respect them and though alive to the hopes for the future given by the one, I also feel gratitude and veneration for the other; for I, too, though without any exclusive title, am A SHIPWRIGHT. SQUARE AND CUBE NUMBERS. SIR, I read with much pleasure the communication of your ingenious Correspondent, respecting the production of Square and Cube Numbers by multiplication of others. I have long known that the product of any square number x 4 was equal to the square of double the root, and that a cube number multiplied by 8 gave the same 586 result; but I did not know of any law which governed those results, until I sat down to study the matter of the communication alluded to. I then immediately discovered what I had never met with in any work on the subject (very few, indeed, have fallen in my in the case, viz. the product of any two way), that the following principle exists numbers of the same power will be the power of the product of their roots, from which we derive the following corollary:-The successive product of any number of numbers, of any power, will be the power of the successive product of the roots; for, when each preduct is obtained, it will amount to the original proposition, viz. a root and its Our cube roots evidently exhibit the regular series of the perfect square numbers, and we perceive this law to exist: The cubes of the perfect square numbers are also squares, and their square roots are formed by the product of the original square number multiplied by its root, and, consequently, they must be cubes; and, on reference to our column of square roots, we find it exhibits the regular series of perfect cube numbers, and the column of squares and cubes is evidently the regular series of the sixth power, or square cubed or cube squared. The consideration of such beautiful properties naturally brings to our recollection the attributes of the great Geometer who formed them-How ap plicable, then, the term Omniscience Cork. I remain, Sir, Your most obedient servant, RICHARD DOWDEN. BAKING MACHINERY WANTED. SIR,-Among the various improvements which modern times have produced, and to many of which your very useful Magazine has given publicity, it is rather extraordinary that the slovenly and highly objectionable mode of manufacturing bread, both in large and small bakeries, should hitherto be so entirely overlooked as not to call forth one solitary suggestion towards an improvement. The great desideratum is to preclude the necessity of workmen using their naked hands and arms, by total im mersion of them in the material, in the process of the work, which, under a warm temperature, and with out the most particular attention to cleanliness, must, on reflection, sug gest ideas not very encouraging to the general use of that article. I would, therefore, beg leave to call the attention of some of your ingenious Correspondents to this important subject, not doubting but that this hint will induce it to be eagerly taken up, when its importance to the public is duly considered. An swers to the following questions may, perhaps, lead to the means by which the object sought may be accomplished: 1st. What sort of machinery could be best applied to the purpose of mixing (primarily) the spunge, and, thereafter, the spunge and salt liquor, in bakeries where the business is done on a large scale, and now performed by total immersion of the workman's hands and arms? 2nd. In such case what must be the form of the kneading-troughs? 3rd. What description of tools or apparatus could be most usefully applied to the mixing and incorporating the material, viz. the flour and liquor, and afterwards kneading it, without bringing the naked hands and arms of the workmen in contact therewith? 4th. What description of apparatus could be effectually applied to the kneading and pressing the dough, after being boarded for scaling, &c.? 5th. What means could be devised for shifting it from the troughs, and from one place to another of the bakehouse, without having recourse to the present mode of taking it up/ in the workman's arms? These inquiries, if satisfactorily answered, must. accomplish three important objects-first, cleanliness and dispatch in the manufacture of that staff of life-bread; secondly, giving to the workmen a neat, clean, and workman-like appearance, instead of a filthy and slovenly one; thirdly, the removal of the cause of that infirmity or defect in the limbs with which working bakers are sometimes afflicted, and which has given rise to the term baker-legged. Next, in respect of ovens. What are the means by which the expansive force of the flame issuing from the furnace may be increased, and its progress delayed from the |