Page:The history of yachting.djvu/257

 Rh while two carved figures, part of her original knightheads, are now in the possession of the Brethren of the Trinity-house, Newcastle. A beam with carved and gilded mouldings, which formed part of her principal cabin, became the property of Mr. Rippon Waterville, North Shields.

At the time of her wreck the Betsy Cairns was 80 feet 3 inches in length, and 23 feet in breadth; was carvel built, and had two decks, the height between the decks being 6 feet 6 inches.

There is no record of her having been rebuilt while known as the Princess Mary, though it is probable she was kept in good repair. As the Betsy Cairns, however, it is extremely improbable that she ever received more than the most necessary repairs; for in those days it was the custom for owners to let their vessels run until they sank into watery graves and became the property of underwriters.

The long and useful life of this vessel is an eloquent tribute to the excellence, at this period, of material and workmanship; and yet this very durability, perhaps more than in any other thing, proved the most effective obstacle to improvement in naval architecture and construction. The fact that a vessel 139 years old could earn a living by carrying coals, shows how slight must have been the improvement in vessels in this flourishing and important industry, where competition is keen and intelligent.

This old craft was an object of especial affection, not unmixed with superstition, among the