With the quarter gun of the new form no compar ison can be made with the square stern; hut by re ference to Fig. 7. which represents a view of the quar ter part of the Hamadryad, time projection being square from the side of the ship, and the gun run out as far as possible, it will be perceived that it possesses all the advantages of a broadside port, the only dif ference being a rather less projection of the muzzle, in consequence of the quarter being nearly perpen dicular, and not falling in, as is the case at the broad side. Any explosion must therefore pass clear of the side of the vessel, with nearly the same security as if the gun were placed at a broadside port.
Among the many objections that have been urged against the adoption of the curvilineal stern, is the apparently formidable one, that a broadside port has been lost on each side of every ship to which it has been applied. After a careful examination however of this objection with respect to the Hamadryad, Mr. H. feels no hesitation-in stating, that so far from this being the case, it would not be extravagant to assert that a port has actually been gained on each side, by means of the port at the quarter.
To demonstrate this, (and the great value of this investigation arises from nothing having been adopt ed hypothetically,) let a reference be made to the line of fire Li, Fig. 2. Plate CCCCXCVI]. and by which it will appear that the quarter port may be readily and satisfactorily employed as a broadside port: for since it was found possible, by the naval gentlemen who assisted at the experiments, to train the gun at the quarter port into the direction C c, forming an angle of 12° before the beam, with much greater ease would it be possible to work it in the line of bearing Li, on the beam. This circumstance adds therefore to the ordinary and essential uses of the quarter port, the additional advantage of being effectiffilly employed, when occasion requires, in aiding the defence of the broadside.
Nor should it be forgotten, that the facility with which all the guns can be worked in the curvilineal stern for the different points of bearing before describ ed, and the total absence of all the timbers and other obstacles which, in the square stern, occasion so ma ny serious and decided impediments, increase in a very high degree the advantages likely to result from the general application of the new form. To take the example of a man of war becalmed in the bay of Gib raltar, or at the entrance of the Baltic, situations in which our gallant seamen have sometimes been ex posed to the irritating and destructive effects of rak ing fires from gun-boats; is it not apparent from the preceding experiments, that a ship with a curvilineal stern, so circumstanceed, would be enabled effectual ly to resist any attack of this kind? And that even if the vessel so acting on the offensive should vary her position with all the readiness a steam boat is capa ble of moving, the guns at the quarters and stern ports of a round stern ship could be as readily made to follow her? Nor would it be possible for the at tacking vessel to take up any position in the neigh bourhood of the stern, without having a gun or guns ready to resist her. This is an advantage which ships constructed on the old principle never possess ed, and forms one among the many good qualities of the new.
The introduction of the round stern excited the most violent opposition; and the keenest controversies were excited amongst naval men respecting it. The publication however of some able papers has dimin ished in a very great degree the hostility so vigorous ly raised against it. The disapprobation of change, which at one time assumed the loud voice of thunder, has insensibly melted into tones of a gentler kind. Inquiry has been awakened, and many who imagined they saw in the alterations indications of decay in the martial energies of our marine, now contemplate it. with respect to the superior strength it affords, and the more ample means of defence it unfolds. Some, how ever, faithful to the ancient form, still regard the cir cular stern with unabated hostility. But to such it may be said, are we to arrest the march of architec tural improvement? Is the new principle of shipbuild ing, which has already conferred such transcendent benefits on our country, to be deprived of one of its essential elements? While every other part of our men of war has received accession of strength, is the stern to remain in all its primitive weakness, without receiving a single benefit from the science and enlarged experience of modern times? Can such an anomaly long remain to mock the efforts of human improve ment? Is the naval engineer to he doomed perpetu ally to reflect, that in the magnificent fabric which his genius has raised, science has lent her best efforts to strengthen the mighty system, in all its parts, save one? Or is the old system to be persevered in, to afford another exemplification of the maxim that partial strength is general weakness? Is it consistent, more over, with that noble spirit of advancement, which so preeminently characterises the age, and which in its general operations, confers so great a lustre on our own beloved country, to allow mere feelings of con venience,* and vague and undefined notions of beauty to stand in the way of genuine improvement? Rather let us, by the universal adoption of the circular stern, prove that we only adopt a system which science and sound experience sanction; and that we only advance another step in the career of that improvement which has been so lately introduced into shipbuilding; and that we are no longer enemies to the doubtful forms of beauty, than when they stand opposed to the pro gress of real improvement.
The period, however, we firmly believe, is not far distant, when the circular stern will be contemplated by all unprejudiced minds, with more real pleasure than that form which has nothing but time and the false perspective of centuries to recommend it; shed. ding new lustre on the name of its celebrated author, and adding to the other intellectual trophies he has achieved, one not the least valuable; since it will car ry with it the unerring symbol of truth; having made its way amidst prejudices of no ordinary cast, and in spite of an opposition of no ordinary kind; time having proved its unquestionable merits. and num bered it amongst its choicest and most valuable treasures.