RUSSELL'S BOAT LOWERING APPARATUS.

HAVING given publicity to the invention of Lacon, and Clifford, Mr. F. Russell demands at our hands as impartial journalists, a notice of his apparatus for saving the lives of our seamen. Whatever may be our opinion of the merits of the invention laid before us, we wish our yachting friends to examine it minutely, and they will be able to judge which is most suitable for yachts to be fitted with.

There is no doubt great merit attached to this invention, and every man who advances a means of saving life deserves well of his country.

In speaking of the invention Mr. Russell says:

"The Apparatus was recently tested off the Victualling yard, Deptford, on board the Britannia,' 1500 tons burthen, in the presence of several Members of the Trinity House, and of the Hudson's Bay Company; various officers of Her Majesty's Dockyard, and a numerous party of other nautical men of known influence and experience, who all expressed the warmest approbation, acknowledging it to be perfect in all its details-in a word pronouncing it to be the best invention of its kind they had ever seen, and worthy of the immediate and serious attention of the Mercantile Marine.

"Among the gentlemen who witnessed the trial may be mentioned the names of Captains Poulten, Austin, Hunter, Pelham, and Andrews; Messrs. John Hall and Co., 6, Mincing Lane; and the owners of the Britannia.

"The invention has also been fitted on board the Prince,' 'Gibraltar,' 'Powerful,' &c., Royal African Mail Company, &c., likewise to several of the splendid ships of the General Screw Steam Navigation Company; Spanish, and Portuguese Steam Shipping Company, and various other vessels; and in every instance it continues to receive the highest enconiums alike from owners, officers, pilots and seamen.

"Among the numerous practical results which have tended to establish this patent at the head of similar inventions, the following instance may be quoted as a peculiarly convincing proof of its efficacy.

"A few months ago the Gibraltar while on her passage from Cadiz to London, was caught in a gale off Teneriffe, and a man was blown overboard out of the rigging by the violence of the storm. On the alarm being given the mate and others of the vessel aprang to the boat— disengaged it from the patent davits, and in the almost incredibly brief space of five minutes they had succeeded in rescuing the poor fellow from the waves !

DESCRIPTION.

In the first place, although she has the great advantage of resting her whole weight upon two keel cranes (see A, Fig. 1,) the very act of lowering immediately disengages her from them without hoisting the boat, (see A, Fig 2,) and at the same time projects the boat several extra feet from the ship's side, and as both the pendants, after passing over the heads of the cranes, lead to one barrel of the crab (see D, Fig. 3,) both ends of the boat must be lowered together, and when near the water, one man can instantly disengage her fore and aft by the lever placed in the centre of the boat. Not by any chance whatsoever can one end be freed without the other, as a rod which passes between the keel and keelson plank, is connected with the apparatus, alike at the stem and

stern.

Secondly. The crab is placed flush with the stanchions insiue the bulwark thus occupying no space on deck, and being fitted with a break, one hand on board can lower a boat full of people, or by a lanyard attached to the handle of the break, a man in the boat can lower it, however weighty, and regulate its descent without any one remaining on deck.

Thirdly. The same tackle is always available to hoist the boat, and the crab being placed at a distance from the cranes, which turu inboard the boat can be easily brought on deck.

It will be seen by the simplicity of the whole arrangement that no part of it can get out of order from rust, disuse or otherwise, being fitted with gun-metal keys and bolts. There are no loose parts, and no part of the gear is at all connected with the mast, yards, or rigging, and is independent of the bulwarks; so that if the latter were carried away the davits would be still available for getting out the boats.

The advantages of the apparatus are evident, from the fact that one part of the boat cannot possibly be lowered or disengaged without the other. That it is also ready for immediate use, as the boat can, and

has been safely dropped from the davits without lowering the boat at all. When fitted to a stern boat, it could be lowered as quickly to the assistance of a man overboard, as a life-buoy could be thrown to him.

That in case of a rush being made to the boats, one person could have the sole control; and if chain pendants are always used, a padlock should be placed on the lever, (while in port,) so that it would be impossible for any of the crew or others to desert with the boat.

Models can be seen at the Society of Arts, John Street, Adelphi; at the Polytechnic Institution, Regent Street; Mr. Stebbings', Southampton; Messrs. Hall's, Mincing Lane, London; and at Mr. Gladstone's, Brunswick Terrace, Blackwall.

GREAT GRIMSBY REGATTA.

THE Committee for carrying out this Regatta offered very liberal prizes for Sailing and Rowing matches, on the 29th of July, and on that day the railways and steamers deposited in the town of Grimsby some thousands of persons, all anxious to see a repetition of the sports so successfully carried out last year. But we regret exceedingly to state they were in some measure disappointed. However we will at the end of the article allude to this again.

The first match was for a candelabrium value 30 guineas, for the first yacht, and a silver Tea-urn value 25 guineas for the second yacht. Open to all vessels belonging to a Royal Club, above 20 tons. No allowance of time for difference of tonnage.

The Rules specified that four yachts should start or no race; three only entered and the Committee consented to their starting. The following came to their moorings :

The course was down the Humber, round the Lower Burcum buoy, back up the Humber, keeping the ship's track to the No. 8 Holm buoy-rounding that buoy, returning down the Humber inside the Burcum Sand, rounding the Cleaness buoy, across the Humber, rounding the South Spit buoy, back rounding the lower Burcum buoy, to the flag-ship abreast of the piers.

The whole distance being about twenty-four miles, but owing to the light winds this was subsequently reduced to eighteen.

At the start the wind was about N.W., and they moved along very leisurely to the Burcum ; the Glance with a trifling lead. After rounding a fresh puff NO. 9.-VOL. V. 3 11

of wind sent them merrily through the water. And the Glance ever ready to seize an advantage set her huge jib, which had the desired effect of driving her ahead, and placing a considerable gap beteen her and her compeers. The wind veering to W.S.W. materially assisted her, and she came in the winner. The Rapid which was second round the Burcum struck her flag, resigned the contest, as the tide had fallen; she from her great depth could not go inside the Burcum Sand in the second round. Thus the Maud easily obtained the second prize. This match caused very little interest, as it was evident from the first start that the Glance would be A1.

The next match on the card was for a purse of twenty-five sovereigns, for yachts of 10 and not exceeding 30 tons. Three to start or no race. The following entered :

Numbered as in Hunt's Universal Yucht List for 1856.

The Cygnet and Eagre withdrew from the contest, consequently there

was no race.

A very pretty match was steamed between two little vessels of about 12 tons called the Frolic and Eaglet, which caused much excitement, the latter winning.

The rowing matches were well contested, and of course were loudly cheered by the spectators.

The prizes were given to Mr. Bartlett and Captain Andrews in the evening. The regatta we are compelled in justice to all parties to state, was marred by the opposition made to the Amazon entering for the first match. Several gentlemen we understand expressed themselves rather warmly on the subject. This opposition it appears arose from the Amazon having won a prize on the Humber a month previous. Why this should be an obstacle to her sailing we are at a loss to imagine; the prize was open to all yachts, and no rule existed to prevent her. From enquiries we have instituted we are informed "that had the Amazon been allowed to enter none of the yachts would have entered against her.”

The Committee, considering we presume, that if they did not agree to the objection there would be no regatta, submitted to the dictation of some interested parties. Who those objectors are the public should know ;-for we can assure the Committee that at present they labour under the stigma of inviting yachtsmen to attend their regatta merely to trifle with their time and put them to expense. And unless that opinion is removed they will do well to save their money next year, as it will be a greater failure than the present.