112 ORDERS OF ARCHITECTURE. same as the eye of a tape-bodkin, and then secure the end of the tape in it. Not only is the inconvenience of which I have spoken thus remedied, but both the tape and umbrella covering are saved from being so much worn by the sliding of the ring up and down. This is a very simple thing, yet I never saw it adopted by any one but myself. Perhaps you will think it deserving of being more generally known. I am, Sir, yours, &c. ORDERS OF ARCHITECTURE. SIR, Although the Composite or Roman Order partakes of the Ionic and Corinthian, and is certainly not so elegant as the latter, yet it has been thought by many to have been used indiscriminately with the Corinthian, in order upon order. This opinion carries some force with it, since the cornice is always Corinthian. There are much greater discrepancies than the above to be found in the works of the ancients (even supposing the Composite to be of a more massive nature than the Corinthian). In the Coliseum the same order is repeated; and there are some instances where the intermediate order is altogether omitted," and the Ionic placed upon the Tuscan, or the Corinthian upon the Doric." How far this may agree with good taste, I will not venture to say, leaving it to every person to form his own opinion. The Composite is generally composed from the frontispiece of Nero (Corinthian), and the Temple of Concord (Ionic). Vitruvius, in the first chapter of his fifth book, says, that "the columns in the second story should be less than those in the first by a quarter; for the inferior part being more loaded, ought to be the strongest." I am, Sir, yours, &c. KAPPA. Answer 2nd. SIR,-In answer to an inquiry made in your 88th Number, under the title of Orders of Architecture," I beg leave to state, that the reason why the Composite Order is generally placed over the Corinthian, is, that the composite order is much more light and slender in its proportions (as in the best examples, the arch of Titus, at Rome, and others), and also more full of embellishments. Its composition, from which it derives one of its names, is in the capital only; the superior, or upper part, having the two large volutes of the Ionic, and the lower the leaves of the Corinthian. A STUDENT IN ARCHITECTUre, CORRESPONDENCE. Were we to insert P. F.'s Reply to the Rev. Mr. Grinfield's attack on Mr. Brougham's Pamphlet, it would only serve to give importance to what few have heard of, and nobody cares for. It is impossible that an apostle of ignorance can now make a single proselyte. J. T. M. need not restrain himself in his communications. We shall be always glad to hear from him. W. H.'s papers are under consideration. 66 N. and T. R., on the Balance Question, are too late. We consider that enough has been said upon it. Some of our Correspondents say more than enough;" and were our work intended to communicate new facts and ideas to learned persons alone, we, too, should say so; but our object is, not only to make what is already well known still better known, but to encourage a class of men to write on scientific subjects who never be tolerated in our pages,which, under a wrote before, and much, therefore, may different state of circumstances, might justly be considered superfluous. Communications received from-Captain Manby-T. C.-W. L.-A Student of the Mechanics' Class-M. P.-WC-r--An Inquisitive Apprentice-A Provincialist-A Practical Shipwright— Frumentarius-John Street-C. W.-Z. -Cranium-T. N.-Ignoramus-F. S.Rusticus-A Goldsmith's ApprenticeW. Lake-R. B. M.-Quietus St. John. Communications (post paid) to be addressed to the Editor, at the Publishers', KNIGHT and LACEY, 55, Paternoster-row, London. Printed by B. BENSLEY, Bolt-court, Fleet-street. Mechanics' Magazine, MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, AND GAZETTE. No. 92.] SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1825. [Price 3d. "In matters of Natural Philosophy we must not pay an absolute submission to even the greatest authority; much less ought we to be slaves to our own prejudices, but to embrace the truth wherever we find it, and not affect to be Newtonians at Paris, or Cartesians at London."L'Abbé Nollet. WE were favoured, last week, by Captain Manby, with a very useful Code of Instructions for the Preservation of Lives from Shipwreck, drawn up by him, and sanctioned by the approbation of the Norfolk As. sociation; and conceiving that the cause of humanity ought to supersede all other claims on our attention, we hasten to give it insertion. We are sure none of our Correspondents will complain of a precedence which inay, possibly, be the means of saving the life of a fellow-creature. VOL. IV. The Mechanics' Magazine is, to our own knowledge, a general favourite both in cabin and steerage, and, by the insertion of these instructions in our pages, they have a chance of being more speedily and extensively disseminated than they could be through any other channel. INSTRUCTIONS. After the means of communication have been effected between a stranded vessel and the shore, by a rope attached to a shot projected from a 114 PRESERVATION OF LIVES FROM SHIPWRECK, mortar, it is often found a matter of DIRECTIONS TO PERSONS ON BOARD It is your duty, as well, no doubt, as your inclination, to use every honourable and manly endeavour to save the vessel and cargo committed to your care, and to satisfy yourself that these have failed, before it is a justifiable resource to run the ship on shore, for the preservation of your own lives, On the determination being made to run for the beach, every exertion should be made to keep your vessel off the shore till high water, and then, if canvas is or can be set, steer the vessel stem on, with as much force as possible, making signals of distress to attract the notice of the people on shore, who will collect at the point most favourable for the purpose, and prepare to assist you-endeavour to run for the spot where they are collected. Shipmasters, on these occasions, must enforce their authority more than ever, and seamen must be more than usually obedient, as the safety of all on board will frequently depend on this. Whether a vessel is thus run on shore, or is stranded, without any choice of time or place, the follow ing directions will equally apply, and must be minutely observed and practised: • Collect, in some safe part of the vessel, ready to apply as occasion may require, all your small lines and ropes, buoys, pieces of cork, or small kegs (such as seamen keep spirits in), snatch, tail, and other blocks, with a warp or hawser clear, axes, knives, &c.-all these may be of great use. Attend to the people on shore, and observe if they have a boat, or are getting one to the spot, as their first object would be to launch it to you, and to throw a line on board you, to haul her off with; in that case they will make signal No. 1. The signals, illustrated by representations and their distinct meanings, will be hereafter described. On receiving the line, you will secure the end to such part of the vessel as may best draw the boat into a safe lee. If the people on shore, after you have received the line, make signal No. 2, you will. bend the warp or hawser to the line, and they will draw it on shore, fearing to trust the boat to the small line. When the bend is made, and you are ready, make your signal No. 1, (which will be hereafter described, expressing yes.) If, when you have got the line, the people on shore find you have not a warp ready, and wish you to haul on board by it a stouter rope to haul the boat off with, they will make signal No. 3, to haul away, for you to receive a stout rope; secure it as before directed, and make your signal No. 1, which is also to denote you are ready, or their direction is complied with. Remark. A boat, when it can be applied, is the promptest method of bringing a crew on shore. Upwards of twenty crews have been saved by them. If, when you have received the line, and observe there is no boat at hand, and the signal on shore (No. 3) is made, you will haul in, and receive by it the end of a stout rope, and a tail-block rove with a small line, both ends of which are kept on shore; make the end of the stout rope and the tail of the block well fast round your mast, higher or lower as circumstances require, and the tailblock close below the large rope. On your making signal No. 1, denoting to have complied with the direction of having carefully secured the stout rope and tail-block, the people on shore will haul taut the stout rope, and place on it a snatchblock (with a sling hanging to it large enough to hold a man); and making the ends of the small line fast to the lower part of the snatchblock, they will work it to the ship, when, on a man getting into the sling, he will, by pulling down the slide or button, secure himself in, |