Observations in reply to the opinions of the Elder Brethren of the Trinity Houses of London, Newcastle, and Kingston-upon-Hull, contained in their several reports of the 8th February, 5th March, and 9th April, 1813 ... on the plan submitted to ascertain 'the real merits and benefits of a general establishment for the preservation from shipwreck' / [George William Manby].

  • Manby, George William, 1765-1854
Date:
[1814]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations in reply to the opinions of the Elder Brethren of the Trinity Houses of London, Newcastle, and Kingston-upon-Hull, contained in their several reports of the 8th February, 5th March, and 9th April, 1813 ... on the plan submitted to ascertain 'the real merits and benefits of a general establishment for the preservation from shipwreck' / [George William Manby]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    On my suggestion, of laying out two anchors, with a rope, supported by a buoy fast to each/over which a barbed shot, from the mortar, is to carry the line, by which, in the face of the most violent storm, the life-boat may be hauled olf to proceed to the assistance of a vessel aground at a distance; the Brethren observe, that, 44 when the life boats are 44 established, an anchor and a hawser laid in from the offing would be more effectual in 44 getting the boat off, than that of the chance of a shot being thrown at the end of a line 44 over a hawser between two anchors parallel to the coast.” This remark either supposes me very dull of apprehension, or so infatuated with the love of machinery, that I despise the simplicity of any process by hand. I am not, how¬ ever, reduced to this alternative. Even against this opinion of the Brethren, 1 can oppose the experience of fact. It was very much the desire of Admiral Russel, when he com¬ manded at Yarmouth, to preserve uninterrupted, even by the most stormy weather, the communication between the ship, which bore his flag, in the roads, and his residence on shore. For this purpose, that a boat might be hauled to the point, at which the deep water begun, an anchor was laid out with a hawser two hundred and fifty yards in length, reaching to the shore. It lay some days before occasion called for it’s application, and was then found, so bedded in the sand and shingle, that the utmost efforts of many hands could not disengage more than a few yards of it, of which no use could be made : and, therefore, this scheme, so specious, so unobjectionable in the proposition, was abandoned. The same experiment was made at Lowestoft, by the Committee, for the purpose of get¬ ting off the life-boat, and produced the same result. On the other hand, my suggestion (which the Brethren call 44 a chance,”) of throwing a barbed shot, with a rope attached to it, over the buoyed hawser, connecting the two anchors, has been approved, bv men best able, from their habits, to judge of it’s utility ; which opinion is at least in it’s favour, an .opinion justified by fact; for of numerous experiments not one has failed. 44 Loises toff, llth July, 1810. 44 We, the undersigned, Pilots and Beachmen, of Lowestoft, hereby certify-, that 44 We, this day, tried the effect of firing a barbed shot from a five and half 44 inch mortar, with an inch and half line attached to it, over a rope moored 44 between two anchors, suspended in the middle by a buoy, to prevent it’s 44 beaching. When at a distance of one hundred and thirty yards from the shore, 44 and with four ounces of powder, it was throWn over, and caught the rope. 44 With eight ounces of powder, the shot was carried fifty yards beyond the 44 mooring, and at the same time caught it: and with a heavier shot attached to 44 a two and half inch tarred rope, belonging to the Lowestoft life boat, it was, 44 with sixteen ounces of powder, Carried over, and again caught ..the mooring 44 rope. We do, hereby, declare it to be our opinion, that, if a mooring rope 44 and anchors were laid down on the Lowestoft coast, and at Other places, where 44 boats are wanted to be launched off an Open heath in bad weather, it would be 44 of the greatest service to the shipping interest of chis country, as well as of 44 rendering assistance to shipwrecked mariners •, l that a two and half inch 44 rope is of sufficient strength to haul off the largest class of pilot boats in the 44 worst weather, and would be of the greatest service to the life-boat stationed 44 at this place.” Signed hy Twenty-two Pilots and Beachmen.—(See Lecture, p. 54.) The Brethren assert, that44 the information, collected on shore by Capt. Manby, res- 44 pectino' the navigation in and about the Fern Islands, and Cocquet Island anchorage, 44 will, they apprehend, add little to the knowledge of the manner.” The Brethren of the Trinity House of Kingston-upon-Hull coincide with the Brethren of London.'—44 As to what respects Cocquet Island, this (ornmittee observe, nothing is 44 said, in Capt. Manby’s Report, but, what is known to all Masters 0f coasting vessels.” _44 As to the roadstead, mentioned in Capt. Manby’s Report, under the Fern Island, 44 the Committee cannot see any thing more than rvhat is laid down in the charts.” By the side of their opinions, I slia.il only place the answers of Admiral Otway, Commander in Chief at Leith, and Capt. Buckle, his Flag Captain, to letters which I addressed to them with information on this subject. 44 I think it very desirable, that you should send asaetch of the Fern and Staple 44 Islands, with the new discovered shoal off the latter, and an account of the 44 Anchorage you recommend, to the north-westward of the great Fern Island; 44 to Captain Hand, Hydro^rapher to the Admiralty. eth January, 1813. A. OTWAY.” « Your little Chart of the Staples, brings to my recollection the accident that 44 happened to the L’Amiable in 1810, when she stiuc °n the outer edge of the 44 Staples, and was docked in Brunt Island in consequence, where a large piece 44 of