SUPPLEMENT TO THE CONNECTICUT COURANT. VOL. III. DECEMBER 29, 1834. THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE. NO. 67. George, perished. Such was the force of the whirlpool, occasioned by the sudden plunge of so vast a body in the water, that a victualler which lay alongside the Royal George was swamped; and several small craft, at a considerable distance, were in imminent danger. Sea battle, under Admiral Parker, had proOn the 29th of August, 1782, it was found cured him the command of this ship, was sanecessary that the Royal George, a line-of- ved, though he was severely bruised and batbattle ship of 108 guns, which had lately ar-tered; but his son, a lieutenant in the Royal rived at Spithead from a cruise, should, previously to her going again to sea, undergo the operation which seamen technically call a Parliament heel. In such cases the ship is inclined in a certain degree on one side, while the defects below the water-mark on the other side are examined and repaired. This mode of proceeding is, we believe, at the present day, very commonly adopted where the defects to be repaired are not extensive, or where (as was the case with the Royal George) it is desirable to avoid the delay of going into dock. The operation is usually performed in still weather and smooth water, and is attended with so little difficulty and danger, that the officers and crew usually remain on board, and neither the guns nor stores are removed. The business was commenced on the Roy al George early in the morning, a gang of men from the Portsmouth Dock-yard coming on board to assist the ship's carpenters. It is said that, finding it necessary to strip off more of the sheathing than had been intended, the men in their eagerness to reach the defect in the ship's bottom, were induced to heel her too much, when a sudden squall of wind threw her wholly on her side; and the gun-ports being open, and the cannon rolling over to the depressed side, the ship was unable to right herself, instantaneously filled with water, and went to the bottom. The fatal accident happened about ten o'clock in the morning; Admiral Kempenfeldt was writing in his cabin, and the greater part of the people were between decks. The ship, as is usually the case upon coming into port, was crowded with people from the shore, particularly women, of whom it is supposed there were not less than three hundred on board. Amongst the sufferers were many of the wives and children of the petty officers and seamen, who, knowing the ship was shortly to sail on a distant and perilous service, eagerly embraced the opportunity of visiting their husbands and fathers. The Admiral, with many brave officers and most of those who were between decks, perished; the greater number of the guard, and those who happened to be on the upper deck, were saved by the boats of the fleet. About seventy others were likewise saved. The exact number of persons on board at the time could not be ascertained; but it was calculated that from 800 to 1000 were lost. Captain Waghorne, whose gallantry in the North Admiral Kempenfeldt, who was nearly 70 years of age, was peculiarly and universally lamented. In point of general science and Judgment, he was one of the first naval officers of his time; and, particularly in the art of maneuvering a ficet, he was considered by the commanders of that day as unrivalled. His excellent qualities, as a man, are said to have equalled his professional merits. This melancholy occurrence has been rebeautiful lines:corded by the poet, Cowper, in the following TOLL, for the brave! The brave, that are no more! And laid her on her side. A land-breeze shook the shrouds, Brave Kempenfeldt is gone; She ran upon no rock. Once dreaded by our foes! The tear that England owes. And she may float again, But Kempenfeldt is gone, His victories are o'er; which pipe is led over the bow of the vessel and along the cut-water into the sea; and thence along the bottom of the ship till it returns into the hold with a common stopcock to draw off the water. The grand inprovement in this, is the making the element in which the vessel floats the condenser of the altered liquid; which runs off at the rate of about a quart a minute, perfectly fit for drinking, for washing, and for every other purpose for which fresh water is employed. We tasted it both before and after undergoing the process, and we used soap in washing our hands with it; and we can truly declare, that in the first instance it was sweet and palatable, and in the second soft and pleasing. The patentee, however, proceeds to filter it through charcoal, in order to restore the carbon which is lost in the distilling; and you have the pure and sparkling element equal in every respect to spring water. We have thus minutely stated what we saw and tested; and we do so with very great satisfaction, since it is hardly possible to imagine any economic discovery of suci, vast importance to the navy and to the nation. All the watering of ships rendered unnecessary, and the eccan itself converted into one abundant and everlasting fountaia of supply, forms, indeed, an epoch in the history of navigation. We need hear no more of the sufferings of brave and hardy sailors, from the want of this essential article of human subsistence. The room required in merchantmen for the stowage of water for the voyage, may now be filled with goods of any kind. In fine, it would be difficult to overrate the value of this admirable invention, which, there can be no doubt, will be speedily and universally adopted, and will, we also trust, amply reward the inventor of a benefit to his country and fellow creatures, the worth of which can hardly be excelled in the annals of useful humanity. The sea-water around a ship is incessantly converted into excellent fresh water fit for every purpose; and the ocean itself is made the chief agent in this metamorphosis. It is a great and wonderful achievement. From the London Literary Gazette. CONVERSION OF SALT WATER INTO FRESH. ON Monday week we witnessed a completely successful and a very important experiment, made by Mr. Wells, the patentee, in the conversion of salt sea-water into a perfectly fresh and pure liquid, fit for every purpose of domestic use and economy. A barge was moored in the Thames near Westminster-bridge, and a number of naval offi- | cers and scientific gentlemen were invited to inspect the process. The sca-water was brought from off Ramsgate, and fully impregnated with the same principle; some of it was in very impure and dirty condition. The apparatus invented by Mr. Wells consisted of a cast-iron cooking-machine; a cube on a comparatively small scale, especially when we looked to the extraordinary utility of its operation. It seemed about four feet in height and the same in width; and contained ovens, roasting-tire, pots, pans, | kettles, &c. &c., sufficient to dress a dinner for seventy or eighty men. The consumption of fuel is very small-about two bushels we are told, in 24 hours; and yet, by the internal application of the heated air, by means of spiral and circular tubes sur,ounding the various parts of the machine, roasting, boiling, and baking were carried on with the utmost regularity and precision. Here alone would be a valuable addition to the conveniencies and comforts of life, whether ashore or afloat; and, even without the far greater improvement yet remaining to be described, would entitle Mr. Wells's invention to high encomium and general adoption. Whilst the cooking is proceeding, the sea water is gradually supplied from a cask or tank, as may be most ready, and, pissing into the interior of the machine, is there submitted to distillation. In its distilled state it then flows into a pipe of cast iron, or of copper tinned, Marriage 519 Marshall's Letter, remarks on 209 POETRY-Death of Dr. Cornelius 3; The |