A Lecture, Or Essay On the most efficacious means of Preserving The Lives Of Shipwrecked Sailors And The Shipwreck

9 Between the shot and line (platted ox-hide), which did not, as all ropes before had done, burn at the discharge, and thus succeeded in effecting’ the object for communication. From that time not a single life has been lost on that part of the coast, where many, as before stated, had annually perished. I should observe, the important fact has also been confirmed to me, that, since its adoption, crews have felt confidence in their safety, and do not, as formerly, cut and run to the shore for self-preservation in vio- lent gales of wind ; and I can add with truth, not only from what has been related to me by persons on board vessels in cases of great danger, but from what has come under my own observation, that many vessels with valuable cargoes have been saved entirely by the con- fidence with which'the plan has inspired the crews. To leave this proem, I shall now turn to the subject upon which I have more especially the honour of addressing you. The preservation of human life is certainly the most interesting pur- suit that can engage the attention of man, and if anything can possibly give greater importance to such an object, I may be allowed to say, that it becomes a matter of increased consideration in this country, when the point in view is to relieve our fellow-creatures from death in its most appalling form, arrayed in all the horrors of conflicting elements. The rescuing of mariners from shipwreck, without weighing its importance in the scale ofhumanity, imperiously claims our attention, as having peculiar reference to the mariners of Britain, who are the bulwarks of her strength, and the protectors of her glory ; whose ardent spirit, daring intrepidity, and contempt of death and danger, have so often hurled back upon her foes their boasted menaces, and advanced our naval fame above that of every nation now existing. Let us not be unmindful how many blessing’s have been insured to us by them, and that it is through their energies that our commerce has been increased to an extent unprecedented both in the annals of our own country, and of other rich and mighty nations. The task I have undertaken is one extremely difficult to explain by language merely ; I shall, therefore, in order to point out the means em- ployed for averting the perilous cases referred to in this Lecture, and to make the uses of the apparatus clearly understood, and more gene- rally available, elucidate my system by submitting to your inspection models explanatory of each part of the service ; and, as I proceed, will