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on land, having under it two openings divided by an iron grate. The first opening, having an iron door, is for the fire; the afhes from the grate drop through into the bottom of the other; the fmoke paffes through a chimney, and is discharged as ufual. After the fire is lighted, it is fupported by the air from the parts next the ash-pit; but having, contrary to the ufual custom, adapted an iron door, like the former, made very tight, to prevent the ingrefs of air, the fire would foon be extinguished, if not fupplied by fome other aperture: in order to which, one or more holes are made through the brick-work in the fide of the ash-pit; and tubes of lead or copper, fitted closely in the holes, and made faft, are laid from thence into the well, and other parts of the fhip; by which means the air next the bottom of the tubes rushes through them, and the foul and stinking air fucceeding is tranfmitted through the fire, and paffes off, without offending, by means of the chimney; and a fupply of fresh air from the other parts of the fhip continually fills the place of the former, the fire requiring a conftant fupport. This fupport will not be wanting, not only during the continuance of the fire, but while any warmth remains in the fire-place, copper, or brick-work, as was observed on board the hulk at Deptford, where the draught of air through the tube lafted above twelve hours after the fire was taken away. This being confidered, as the dreffing the provifions for a number of people will take up fome hours every day, the warmth of the brick-work and flues will continue a draught of air from one day to the next. Mr Sutton propofes thus to circulate the air by the fame, and

no

no greater expense of fire than is customarily used for the neceffities of the fhip.

The operation of the machine will be equally ufeful in large as in fmall fhips; for the greater the number of people they have on board, the larger quantity and longer continuance of the fire will be neceffary to drefs the provifions; and therefore there will be required a greater quantity of air to fupport that fire. The fize and number of the tubes need not be specified; becaufe as the circulation of air is in proportion to the quantity of fire; the wider the tube, and greater the number of them, the lefs the velocity of the air, and vice versa.

I feveral times took notice in this machine, when, for the fake of obfervation, after the fire was well lighted, the lowest iron door was left open, that the flame did not afcend so high, or burn so fierce; but immediately upon fhutting thereof, when the draught of air was only through the tubes, the flame foon recovered its former vigour.

There is likewife, efpecially in large fhips, not only a copper, but also a fire grate like those used in kitchens that the heat and fmoke of this alfo may not be useless, an iron tube may be fixed behind the grate, and inferted quite through the brick-work, and through the deck, fo that one end thereof will stand about a foot, or little more, in the chimney above the brick-work, and the other will enter into the hold, or any other part of the fhip; the upper end of this tube then being heated, the draught of air will be fupplied from below, as in the other cafe. This likewife was tried on board the hulk, about two inches and an half in

with an iron tube diameter, and the

lighted

lighted candles held at the bottom of this tube were extinguished as faft as by any of the others.

It may be objected, that a number of tubes take up too much room, especially in merchant-fhips, and are fubject to be broken or injured by loading or unloading to remedy which, it is advifeable, that only one tube of a convenient fize be made faft unto the fide of the afh-pit, and, as foon as it comes through the main deck, to comprefs it (a circular or any other form being equally useful) not too clofe; and it may be divided into as many ramifications as may be thought necessary, (efpecially as the bread-room, ftore-room, &c. cannot be kept too fweet, 'a branch for each of thefe); and thefe branches may be carried between the beams which fupport the deck, till they come to the fide of the fhip, and there be let down likewise between the beams into the places intended; by which contrivance their operation will not in the least be obftructed, and the tubes be fecu red from any accident.

The fimplicity of this machine, it being fo little cumbersome, its operation without any labour to the feamen, the small expenfe to put it in execution, and maintain it, befides the forementioned confiderations, are other arguments for its general use.

Continuation of the hiftorical account of a new method, &c.

SIR,

Since

Ince my first letter to you, giving an historical account of my method for extracting foul air out of fhips, &c. I have made fuch improvements in it,

VOL. II.

H h

that

that I am convinced it is now perfect, and will produce all the benefits that can be expected from a free circulation of fresh air in clofe places; without any of thofe imaginary inconveniencies, that by fome few were apprehended from it. And my conviction does not arife from the truth of the principles alone, on which it is founded; but likewife from impartial experiments made with my machine during long voyages in feveral parts of the world; and ample teftimonials of its falutary effects, wherewith I have been honoured; the most material of which you will find at the foot of this letter.

I have now the fatisfaction to inform you, that my invention has at length furmounted all obstacles through the wisdom and zeal of the prefent Right Honourable the Lords of the Admiralty, and the Right Honourable and Honourable the principal officers and commiffioners of his Majefty's navy, who, having taken the whole affair into their ferious confideration, were fo thoroughly fatisfied of the great advantages that must accrue to the nation from the faithful execution of my fcheme; that the faid principal officers and commiffioners of his Majefty's navy have contracted with me for fixing my engine on board his Majesty's ships, whether laid up, or in commiffion for which act of general concern, as I well know the warmth of your heart for the good of our country, I doubt not but you will readily concur with me in making cordial acknowledgments to their Lordships, and those Honourable gentlemen in the name of the public.

Yours, &c.

SAMUEL SUTTON.

Extract

Extract from Lord Anfon's voyage, 4to edit. p. 36. fhewing the want of an engine to extract the foul air.

ΤΗ

HE Captains of the fquadron reprefented to the Commodore, that their fhips companies were very fickly, and that it was their opinion, as well as their furgeons, that it would tend to the prefervation of the men to let in more air between decks; but that their fhips were fo deep, they could not poffibly open their lower ports. On this representation, the Commodore ordered fix air-fcuttles to be cut in each fhip, in fuch places where they would leaft weaken it.

And on this occafion I cannot but obferve, how much it is the duty of all thofe, who, either by office or authority, have any influence in the direction of our naval affairs, to attend to this important article, the prefervation of the lives and health of our feamen. If it could be fuppofed, that the motives of humanity were infufficient for this purpose; yet policy, and a regard to the fuccefs of our arms, and the interest and honour of each particular commander, fhould naturally lead us to a careful and impartial examination of every probable method propofed for keeping a fhip's crew in health and vigour. But hath this been. always done? Have the late invented plain and obvious methods of keeping our fhips fweet and clean, by a conftant fupply of fresh air, been confidered with that candour and temper which the great benefits promised thereby ought naturally to have infpired? On the contrary, have not thofe falutary schemes been often treated with neglect and contempt? And have not Hh 2 fome

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