Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/55

 , enclosed in boxes of ¾-inch deal board, joined in the best manner to render them water tight, and one secured under each thwart:– also two similar cases lashed outside each gunwale of the boat, which will secure her from upsetting.

This plan is particularly recommended to the attention of the owners and commanders of all merchantmen, as the probable means of saving many lives. In the event of a ship being stranded, a boat fitted with these cases would safely carry a line on shore, from whence she might be hauled back to the ship as often as required, till the whole crew were landed: the boat being stove on the rocks or beach, would be of no consequence, for so long as the cases continued secure in their places, she would be equally safe as when whole. The cases being very light, they might at all times be kept fixed under the thwarts of a boat hoisted up astern at sea. Six cases to fit any common boat, with the wooden boxes to prevent them from being bilged or bruised, and clasps made of thin plate iron to secure them to the thwarts, will cost under 20l.

In Oct. 1825, the following trials were made by Captain Spencer, near his residence on the coast of Dorsetshire. On the 3d, the wind then blowing a fresh gale at S.W. and S., with a high sea, three cases were lashed under the thwarts, and one outside each gunwale of a 4-oared boat. She was then filled with water, rowed with the plug out into the heaviest sea, and laid broadside to the surf, which broke over her with so much violence, as to render it difficult for the men to avoid being washed overboard; but in no instance had she the least inclination to upset. Having tried her in every way, and found her perfectly safe, when full of water, the plug was put in, the water baled out, and the boat again rowed into the midst of the breakers, where she was laid broadside on, and in every direction against the sea, for near an hour, without the smallest risk of capsizing.

On the 15th, six cases were fixed to one of the 4-oared gallies belonging to the pilots of Lyme Regis; and when full of water, with the plug out, 8 men stood on one gunwale, swam off together, then back again, and all scrambled into