Page:Miscellaneous Papers on Mechanical Subjects.djvu/171

 Lower deck main hatch is 14 by 20; middle deck, 14 by 16; and main deck 14 by 11. She has a hurricane deck over all, merely for working the ship, thereby obviating the difficulty in obstructions from houses, spare spars, water casks, &c.

Her mainmast is 126 feet long, 98 above deck, diameter 44 inches; masts made of hard pine, to carry two stationary yards with trusses, the same as used on lower yards; fore and main deck alike, and those on the mizenmast the same as those on the other masts above the lower yards, so that, except the courses, all her sails will have duplicates on every yard fore and aft. Her main yard is 110 feet long, the others in proportion; she will have a fourth mast, principally to lead the mizen braces, to prevent the difficulty arising from mizen braces leading forward, and hauling the mast out of place.

The model of the ship was said to promise a combination of swiftness, buoyancy, and beauty that has never been excelled. Notwithstanding her vast size, such is her length and buoyancy that, when loaded ready for sea, her draught of water will not exceed 23 feet, a common draught for ships half her size.

70. Fire Companies.—The fire companies are formed in many towns of volunteers, who do