'ways distinguished himself as the disinterested friend of mankind,
and a sincere well-wisher of his Country. t
I t was in America, during the fatal contest- betwixt the
Mother Country and her Colonies, that Captain Schank obtained
the favour and patronage of his Grace the Duke of Northumberland,
then Dari Percy, w<ho was on service there with
his regiment. His Grace had so long ago as that period discovered
a taste for naval architecture, the knowledge of which he
now possesses in an eminent degree.' I t was there in.a conver-,
sation on the art of ship-building, betwixt his Grace and Captain
Schank, that the idea of Sliding Keels first suggested itself
to the latter.
His Grace observing, that “ if Cutters were built much
« flatter,- so as to go on the surface and not draw much water,
“ they would sail faster, and might still be enabled to carry as
“ much sail, and keep up to the wind, by having theivKeels
« descend to. a greater-depth; and that the flat sifle of tbe Keg!
« when presented to the water would even make |l^m able to
« spread more canvas, and hold the wind better» than o n a con?
: struction whereby they present, only the .circular s^rfa,ce;Qf
“ the body to: the water.” Captain Schank coincided in this
opinion, and observed, that if this deep Keel m * made moveable,
and to be screwed upwards into a trunk or well formed within the
vessel,-so as that on necessity they might draw little wat,er, all
these advantages might be obtained.
Captain Schank having maturely considered the principle
thus suggested, was fully convinced of its use and practical
bility, and afterwards (viz. in 1774) solicited Lord Pergy, then
a t Boston in New England, to permit him to,build;a bpat for
his Lordship upon that construction. He did so, and it was
found to answer in eyery respect-
In 1789 he built a boat at Deptford with three Sliding Keels,
and
and in the following year the Trial cutter at Plymouth. Since
that time Captain Schank has built asnumber of other vessels
nn the,same construction, three, of which are at this time in the
service of (jovernmeflt.: these are, the Trial cutter befère mentioned,
the Cynthia- sloop \pf wax;- and the Lady Melspn, the
smallest o f thedb^ee; siof the-successful-voyage to South Wales,
in .tbetiast.of which, the ^followingsheets;Cónfcain.the narration.
All these vessels have proved the utility e f this construction,
as will appear by the Certificates.contained in the Appendix.
Other, vessels’ might be mentioned,:built on the. account of private
persons with the1 like const'ruction, which have been found
to answer every useful purpose.
Having now given a brief account of the origin of the. invention
of.Sliding Keels," I shall lay before.iny nautical:and other
Readers the advantages resulting from their use; and this I am
enable#; to: do from Papers with which! have been favoured by
Captain Schank himself.
That Gentleman has comprehendep their • advantages under
thé six following heads^^-—1. That:vessels dhus constructed will
sail faster, steer easier? ahd tack ated wear quicker, and in less
room :- ;2.'Thfey will- carry more, and draw -Mss water: 3. They
will ride more easy“ at'dn^arichor: 4. They w ill take thé ground
b e tte r: 5. In case of ^Shipwreck, of -springing a leak, or of a
they 'are more safe and more likely to bêjsaved: i & ;Ahd
lastly, that they *will answer better ais men of war, bombs, fire»
ships', floating batteries, guh boats, gün batteaux, and flat-
bottomed boats for landing1 troops. 4
1. With respect to vessels'soslêónstrücted Sailihg1 faster, he
sStys;. it has ëver been’ his'opinion, that a ■< strips sailing fast
does not so much depend Upon her -being sharp-built, as it
dees on her-depth in the water; because: water is the Més
easy to divide the deeper -it Üs^ to’ ascertain which, figures
b 2 ' of