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Stability of english iron-clads
sept., 1877.]
Satellites of Mars, etc.
149
SATELLITES OF MARS. The following is an extract from the letter of Rear Admiral John Rodgers~ Superintendent of the U. S. Naval Observatory at Washington, to the Secretary of the Navy, dated August 21st, 1877, announcing the discovery of two satellites of the planet Mars: "The outer satellite of Mars was first observed by Professor Asaph Hall, U. S. N., on the night of the l l t h of August, 1877. Cloudy weather prevented the certain recognition of its true character at that time. On August 16th it was again observed, and its motion was established by observation extending through an interval of two hours, during which the planet moved over thirty seconds of arc. " The inner satellite was first observed on the night of August 17th, and was also discovered by Professor Hall. " On Saturday, August 18th, the discoveries were telegraphed to Alvan Clark and sons, Cambridgeport, Mass., in order, that if the weather should be cloudy at Washington, they might confirm the existence of the satellites with the 26-inch telescope of Mr. McCormick, which is in their hands. "The discovery was confirmed by Professor Pickering and his assistants, at Cambridge, Mass., and by the Messrs. Clark, at Cambridgeport. " On August 19th the discovery was communicated to the Smithsonian Institution, by which it was announced to the American and European observatories * * * * "
°
S t a b i l i t y of E n g l i s h I r o n - C l a d s . w i t will be remembered that among the late experiments in naval architecture by the British Government, has been the construction of what are called citadel ships. These ships have the central portion of the hull, for about one-third its length, enclosed with armor of immense thickness, for the protection of the machinery, magazine and guns; the remaining portions being unarmored. Of these, the Inflexible, supposed to be the most powerful vessel ever designed for the British navy, measures 320 ft. in length, 75 ft. in breadth at the water-line, with a mean draught of water of 24 ft. 5 in., and a total displacement of 11,407 tons. The central citadel is 110 ft. long by 75 ft. wide, and is protected with armor-plates of a total
150
Gout.
[J,,ur. Frank. Inst.,
thickness of 24 in. from 6 ft. below the water-line to 10 ft. above. Forward and aft of the citadel the hull of the vessel is entirely unprotected, except by a 3 in. armor deck 7 ft. below the water-line. The Inflexible is now approaching completion, and two others on the same principle, the Ajax and Agamemnon, have been commenced, at an estimated cost of ~500,000 each. The London Times, of June 18th last, made the startling announcement that notwithstanding the 24 ins. of armor with which the Inflexible is protected, she will be capable of being sunk by shell-fire from an enemy, without her armor being even touched. This statement is based upon the alleged fact that the armored citadel does not provide the requisite stability to enable her to float upright when the unarmored ends are practically destroyed. Mr. E. J. Reed, formerly chief constructor in the navy, and now a member of Parliament, repeated these charges in the House of Commons, in the evening of the same day, and stated that, from careful calculations made by himself, it was certain that the _~nflexiblewould have no stability whatever, should the unarmored ends be destroyed. Mr. Ward Hunt, First Lord of the Admiralty, denied these statements, and asserted most positively, on the strength of a recent inquiry into the matter, that she would have the requisite stability if the unarmored ends were completely perforated. In the discussion which has since taken place, the stability of other armored vessels is called in question, and the position taken by Mr. Reed causes the more anxiety when it is remembered that just before the loss of the Captain, the Admiralty reported that she would be safe even with such damage as she was likely to receive in action, and yet she capsized while perfectly intact, and in an ordinary sea-way. Such charges, involving great incompetency on the part of the Admiralty Board, were of too grave a character to be lightly passed over, and the subject was referred by the House of Commons to a committee of experts, whose report will be looked for with much interest by those interested in naval architecture. K. GOut.--Dr. Th. Max. Sorel describes a successful treatment of hereditary gout, in his own case, by digitalis, quinine, and " Palmerston pills," with careful attention to exercise and diet.--Lea
Mondes.
C.
Satellites of Mars, etc.
149
SATELLITES OF MARS. The following is an extract from the letter of Rear Admiral John Rodgers~ Superintendent of the U. S. Naval Observatory at Washington, to the Secretary of the Navy, dated August 21st, 1877, announcing the discovery of two satellites of the planet Mars: "The outer satellite of Mars was first observed by Professor Asaph Hall, U. S. N., on the night of the l l t h of August, 1877. Cloudy weather prevented the certain recognition of its true character at that time. On August 16th it was again observed, and its motion was established by observation extending through an interval of two hours, during which the planet moved over thirty seconds of arc. " The inner satellite was first observed on the night of August 17th, and was also discovered by Professor Hall. " On Saturday, August 18th, the discoveries were telegraphed to Alvan Clark and sons, Cambridgeport, Mass., in order, that if the weather should be cloudy at Washington, they might confirm the existence of the satellites with the 26-inch telescope of Mr. McCormick, which is in their hands. "The discovery was confirmed by Professor Pickering and his assistants, at Cambridge, Mass., and by the Messrs. Clark, at Cambridgeport. " On August 19th the discovery was communicated to the Smithsonian Institution, by which it was announced to the American and European observatories * * * * "
°
S t a b i l i t y of E n g l i s h I r o n - C l a d s . w i t will be remembered that among the late experiments in naval architecture by the British Government, has been the construction of what are called citadel ships. These ships have the central portion of the hull, for about one-third its length, enclosed with armor of immense thickness, for the protection of the machinery, magazine and guns; the remaining portions being unarmored. Of these, the Inflexible, supposed to be the most powerful vessel ever designed for the British navy, measures 320 ft. in length, 75 ft. in breadth at the water-line, with a mean draught of water of 24 ft. 5 in., and a total displacement of 11,407 tons. The central citadel is 110 ft. long by 75 ft. wide, and is protected with armor-plates of a total
150
Gout.
[J,,ur. Frank. Inst.,
thickness of 24 in. from 6 ft. below the water-line to 10 ft. above. Forward and aft of the citadel the hull of the vessel is entirely unprotected, except by a 3 in. armor deck 7 ft. below the water-line. The Inflexible is now approaching completion, and two others on the same principle, the Ajax and Agamemnon, have been commenced, at an estimated cost of ~500,000 each. The London Times, of June 18th last, made the startling announcement that notwithstanding the 24 ins. of armor with which the Inflexible is protected, she will be capable of being sunk by shell-fire from an enemy, without her armor being even touched. This statement is based upon the alleged fact that the armored citadel does not provide the requisite stability to enable her to float upright when the unarmored ends are practically destroyed. Mr. E. J. Reed, formerly chief constructor in the navy, and now a member of Parliament, repeated these charges in the House of Commons, in the evening of the same day, and stated that, from careful calculations made by himself, it was certain that the _~nflexiblewould have no stability whatever, should the unarmored ends be destroyed. Mr. Ward Hunt, First Lord of the Admiralty, denied these statements, and asserted most positively, on the strength of a recent inquiry into the matter, that she would have the requisite stability if the unarmored ends were completely perforated. In the discussion which has since taken place, the stability of other armored vessels is called in question, and the position taken by Mr. Reed causes the more anxiety when it is remembered that just before the loss of the Captain, the Admiralty reported that she would be safe even with such damage as she was likely to receive in action, and yet she capsized while perfectly intact, and in an ordinary sea-way. Such charges, involving great incompetency on the part of the Admiralty Board, were of too grave a character to be lightly passed over, and the subject was referred by the House of Commons to a committee of experts, whose report will be looked for with much interest by those interested in naval architecture. K. GOut.--Dr. Th. Max. Sorel describes a successful treatment of hereditary gout, in his own case, by digitalis, quinine, and " Palmerston pills," with careful attention to exercise and diet.--Lea
Mondes.
C.