EXPERIMENTS. 
21 
“ 3. The third experiment was a run of 19 miles, from Dover Roads to Calais Roads, 
in a perfect calm, with sea smooth as glass. Engine of Archimedes 27, and speed 
to 9 knots. The Widgeon performed the distance in 3| minutes less than Archimedes, 
and the whole time occupied by the latter on this trial was 2 hours 9^ minutes. 
“ 4. In returning the above 19 miles back to Dover Roads, the weather was calm, and 
the sea smooth as before. The French mail packet, called the f Poste/ started at the same 
moment. Speed of Archimedes and her engine as before. The Widgeon ran the distance 
in 4 minutes less than the Archimedes, and the Archimedes in 25 minutes less than the 
Poste. The latter has engines of only 50 horses’ aggregate power. 
“5. On this trial there was a fresh breeze at east, and moderate sea; both vessels set 
the whole of their sails, the Archimedes carrying much more canvass than the Widgeon. 
The run was as before, from Dover to Calais, 19 miles, close hauled. Archimedes engine 
from 27 to 28, and speed from 9 to 9|. Archimedes ran the distance in 9 minutes less 
than Widgeon. 
“ 6. In returning to Dover, with a fresh breeze abeam, and all sail set, Archimedes 
engine 28, speed 10, she performed it in minutes less than Widgeon. 
“ REMARKS. 
“ These trials clearly prove that the speed of the Archimedes is slightly inferior to that of 
the Widgeon in light airs and calms, and in smooth water; but as the steam power of the 
former is 10 horses less, and her burden 75 tons more than the Widgeon, it is evident 
that in these vessels the propelling power of the screw is equal, if not superior, to that 
of the ordinary paddle wheel. In this respect, therefore, Mr. Smith’s invention may be 
considered completely successful. 
“ It is also plain, from the second trial, that in steaming against even a light air of wind, 
the low masts and snug rig of the Widgeon gave her an advantage over the Archimedes, with 
loftier masts and heavier rig; and although the prevalence of calms prevented my trying 
them farther upon this point in blowing weather, I am satisfied that in strong breezes, 
the advantage of Widgeon’s low rig, in going head to wind, would be still more apparent. 
“ On the last two trials, however, the power of the sails operated strongly in favour of the 
Archimedes, as she then beat the Widgeon, and made the passage between Dover and 
Calais in less time than it has ever been performed by any of Her Majesty’s mail packets. 
The Archimedes went, upon this occasion, from Dover to Calais, in 2 hours 1 minute, and 
returned in 1 hour 53^ minutes.” 
We have been favoured with the following particulars of the relative dimensions 
and powers of Her Majesty’s packets with which the Archimedes competed in the 
preceding trials, by which the reader may be enabled to judge of the proportion 
between the power and resistance in each case. The criterion which these pro 
portions afford, however, is subject to some qualification; in the first place, 
because the resistance does not depend on the area of the midship section, but 
is modified by the form of the bow or entrance. The comparative performance 
of the engines likewise considerably affects the results; and as these circumstances