d model which would
have to be cut down to render them really seaworthy, or fit to go into
action. Being short, she ought to have been able to veer quickly--the
time employed in a manoeuvre of that kind being in proportion to the
length of the vessel--but her weight deprived her of the advantage of
her shortness. Her midship-frame was too broad, a fact which retarded
her; the resistance of the sea being proportioned to the largest section
below the water-line, and to the square of the speed. Her prow was
vertical, which would not be regarded as a fault at the present day, but
at that period this portion of the construction was invariably sloped at
an angle of forty-five degrees. All the curving lines of the hull agreed
well together, but it was not long enough for oblique sailing, or for
lying parallel with the water displaced, which should always be thrown
off laterally. In rough weather she drew too much water, sometimes fore,
sometimes aft, which showed that her centre of gravity was not rightly
adjusted. Owing to the weight of the engine, the cargo shifted, so that
the centre of gravity was often aft of the mainmast, and then steam
power had to be resorted to, for at such times the mainsail had to be
furled as it only made the vessel fall off. If close to the wind, very
careful manoeuvring was required. The rudder was the old-fashioned
bar-rudder, not the wheeled one of the present time. Two skiffs, a
species of _you-yous_, were suspended to the davits. The vessel had four
anchors; the sheet-anchor, the second or working anchor, and two
bower-anchors. These four anchors, slung by chains, were moved,
according to the occasion, by the great capstan of the poop, or by the
small capstan at the prow. At that period the pump windlass had not
superseded the intermitting efforts of the old handspike. Having only
two bower-anchors, one on the starboard and the other on the larboard
side, the vessel could not move conveniently in certain winds, though
she could aid herself at such times with the second anchor. Her buoys
were normal, and so constructed that they carried the weight of the
buoy-ropes without dipping. The launch was of a useful size, of service
in all cases of need, and able to raise the main anchor. A novelty about
her was that she was rigged with chains, which in no way detracted,
however, from the mobility of the running rigging, or from the firmness
of the standing rigging. The masts, yards, etc., although not