STEAM NAVIGATION.
TO THE EDITolt OF THE SPECTATOR.
Liverpool, Swid October 153g.
..!rit—In reference to the letter signed E. F. (which appeared in the last ipeciater, but one,) commenting upon my remarks on Steam Navigation in. fretted in the previous number of your able journal, I beg to state, that my omitting to notice Mr. HOWA ISO'S plan of substituting vapourisers containing a mercurial preparation, and placed over a coke fire and under a jet of water, for boilers of water to generate steam, arose from the fact of such plan having, so far as can be ascertained from the trial of its powers made some time ago by the Admiralty, and those hitherto made on board the Columbus of 100 horses' power, now lying here in a comparatively dismantled state as regards her machinery, decidedly failed, through a deficiency of sin face for conducting the heat requi- site to produce an adequate and continuous supply of steam. Far be it from me, however, unnecessarily to decry this plan of Mr. Howe an ; since every rational scheme for effecting any useful purpose should be encouraged ; and because it is possible, though seemingly not very probable, that the plan in question, from the accomplishment of which, as at first devised, vast benefit, arising limn a diminution of the present bulk and cost both of machinery and fuel, would re- milt to steam navigation, may, by the enlargement said to be making, of the vapourisers, ultimately, with much advantage in the matter of economy, suc- ceed. In questioning (but with doubtful success) the accuracy of my assertion that consumption of fuel for marine purposes has been reduced to three-fifths of a ton per ten horses power per day, (the truth of which has been further proved, or nearly so, by the consumption at the rate of 13 hundredweight for the same power and time, on board the Liverpool during her experimental trip to and from Dublin,) E. F. mentions in effect, that the consumption on board the Great Western, during her last passage but one from New York, amounted to 12 hundredweight of coals and 3 hundredweight of resin, or three. fourths of a ton of fuel per ten horses' power per day ; which statement, as far as refers to the quantity of coal burned, exactly confirms my assertion men- tioned above; and as far as relates to the copious use of resin in addition scarcely merits credence, but if true certainly deserves observation.
It behoves me to take this opportunity of remedying an omission in my former letter on the preseut subject, in not alluding to the novel plan of consuming smoke, apparently effected with some profit, and the prevention (which ought to be henceforth compulsory) of a grievous nuisance, by Mr. IVISOt.• of Edin- burgh, through an injection of steam into the furnace! and it may be well also to remark, that if this simple smoke-consumer (lately but imperfectly fitted, and therefore with only partial success) on board the steamer Adelaide, plying be- tween London and Leith, together with the manufacture of prepared fuel, now in progress, succeed in the manner expected, a considerable saving in the present cost and space necessary for the stowage of fuel, will unquestionably occur, and steam navigation be hereby greatly facilitated. I shall conclude this brief reply to your correspondent E. F., by expressing a hope, that respecting the performance of his fair friend the Vesta, with whom he takes agreeable trips to and from Ramsgate,—but which vessel appears, from the fact of the condensing.pump becoming choked, not to be quite the perfect creature her name implies,—he will be good enough to furnish a more detailed account for the information of the public. I have the honour to be, Sir, yours respectfully, W. F.
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