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Sir,

Mr. George Willers, late surgeon of the Alert private ship of war, and whom I succeeded as a surgeon in Mansion House-row, Kennington, in April 1807, went, as I have been informed, again to sea some time in the month of July or August following.

I have in my possession an engagement wrote by Mr. Willers, and which I have compared with the letter sent to Mr. Daniel, of Wapping, by him, giving an account of his happy escape from drowning, by means of his life-preserver; and I have no hesitation in saying, that the letter is in Mr. Willers's hand-writing, so far as comparison will guide me, having seen him write and sign the engagement above mentioned.

I have the honour to be, &c. &c.

HUGH BROWN.

Copy of a Letter from JOHN DICKENSON, Esq. of the City of Norwich, to Mr. DANIEL.

Sir,

I intended myself the pleasure of calling on you, and acquainting you personally of a singular incident, when the excellence of your machine, or life-preserver, was most conspicuously manifested.

I went from the city of Norwich, in a pleasure-boat that I keep for the amusement of sailing, in company with a gentleman and two ladies. As our return to Norwich, in the evening, was indispensible, and the direction of the wind favouring us both ways, a few hours would effect it, the distance being only thirty miles; accordingly we set sail about four o'clock, it being moon-light during the night; and fortunately procured, in case of accident (the wind blowing hard at South-east) one of your life-preservers, through the interest of a friend, of a captain, who had purchased one at Newcastle. The precaution proved, in a short time VOL. XIH.-SECOND SERIES. S s after

after sailing, to have been a fortunate one indeed. On tacking to enter Norwich river, at the extremity of a broad water, two miles over, known by the name of Braydon, a sudden gust overset the boat, precipitating myself, companion, and two ladies, into as agitated a water as I have ever seen at sea, (except in hard blowing weather). You may judge my situation at such a juncture. Your machine was jokingly filled as we came along, to which I ascribe (though very unexpected by us) our preservation. The gentleman, whose name is Goring, was inexpert at swimming, and with difficulty kept himself up, till I reached him; and then directing him to lay hold of the collar of my coat, over which the machine was fixed, I proceeded towards the ladies, whose clothes kept them buoyant, but in a state of fainting when I reached them: then taking one of the ladies under each arm, with Mr. Goring hanging from the collar of the coat, the violence of the wind drifted us on shore upon Burgh Marshes, where the boat had already been thrown, with what belonged to her. We got the assistance of some countrymen directly, (after taking refreshment at a marsh farmer's house, where we procured some dry clothing for the ladies, who were now pretty well recovered,) and by their endeavours put, the boat in sailing trim, and prosecuted our voyage to Norwich, which we effected by eleven o'clock that night.

From this singular escape, on my return from Birmingham, I shall be induced to inspect your warehouse, and procure the various prices of your invention, anxious to recommend it in even sailing excursions, in which its utility has been so evidently demonstrated, and its use ascertained."

Your most obedient humble Şervant,

JOHN DICKENSON.
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Account of a Method of throwing a Rope on Shore by Means of a Shell from a Mortar on-board the Vessel in Distress. By Lieutenant JOHN BELL, of the Royal Artillery.

With Engravings.

From the TRANSACTIONS of the SOCIETY for the Encon ragement of ARTS, MANUFACTURES, and COMMERCE.

In consequence of the Publicity which has lately been given to some similar Experiments, the Society have published the following Account of a Method of relieving a Vessel in distress, for which they rewarded Lieutenant BELL with Fifty Guineas, so long back as 1792.

SEVERAL

EVERAL trials were made before a Committee of the Society at Woolwich, on the 29th of August 1791, of throwing a line on shore according to Lieutenant Bell's principle, which were as follow.

From a boat moored about 250 yards from shore, the shell was thrown 150 yards on shore, with the rope attached to it; the shell was of cast-iron, filled with lead, it weighed 75 pounds, its diameter eight inches; the rope in the trial was a deep sea-line, of which 160 yards. weighed 18 lbs. ; the angle of the mortar from whence the shell was fired, was 45 degrees. By means of the line, Mr. Bell and another man worked themselves on shore upon his raft of casks; there were many kinks in the rope, which were with ease cleared by Mr. Bell, in which he was much assisted by his snatch blocks.

The second trial was repeated in a similar manner, and with equal success, the shell falling within a few

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