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An essay on the preservation of shipwrecked mariners

Chapter 1: AN ESSAY ON THE PRESERVATION OF SHIPWRECKED MARINERS, IN ANSWER TO THE PRIZE-QUESTIONS PROPOSED BY THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY: “1. What are the best Means of preserving Mariners from Shipwreck?—2. Of keeping the Vessel afloat?—3. Of giving Assistance to the Crew, when Boats dare not venture out to their Aid?”
By A. Fothergill
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The essay examines causes and prevention of shipwrecks, analyzing their frequency near coasts and promontories and the roles of storms and human negligence; it surveys past incidents to draw practical lessons for preserving crew lives and cargo, proposes technical and organizational remedies such as improved self‑righting lifeboats, projectile lines and floating air‑vessels to reach shore, enhanced nautical implements, and local asylums for survivors, and emphasizes swimming and diving training, appropriate treatment and rationing of those rescued, legal measures to prevent plunder, and coordinated institutional responses to reduce maritime loss.

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Title: An essay on the preservation of shipwrecked mariners

in answer to the prize-questions proposed by the Royal Humane Society : "1. What are the best means of preserving mariners from shipwreck?-2. Of keeping the vessel afloat?-3. Of giving assistance to the crew, when boats dare not venture out to their aid?"

Author: A. Fothergill

Release date: October 6, 2024 [eBook #74528]

Language: English

Original publication: London: John Nichols, 1799

Credits: Richard Tonsing, Charlene Taylor, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ESSAY ON THE PRESERVATION OF SHIPWRECKED MARINERS ***

Transcriber’s Note:

New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.

ON THE
PRESERVATION
OF
SHIPWRECKED MARINERS.
Printed by J. NICHOLS,
Red-Lion-Passage, Fleet Street.

AN
ESSAY
ON THE
PRESERVATION
OF
SHIPWRECKED MARINERS,
IN ANSWER TO THE PRIZE-QUESTIONS
PROPOSED BY
THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY:
“1. What are the best Means of preserving Mariners from Shipwreck?—2. Of keeping the Vessel afloat?—3. Of giving Assistance to the Crew, when Boats dare not venture out to their Aid?”

By A. FOTHERGILL, M.D. F.R.S.
Member of the Royal College of Physicians, Lond.
Honorary Member of Medical and Phil. Societies of Lond.
Edinb. Paris, Manchest. Philadel. &c.
Delightful task!—to soften human woe,
“’Tis what the happy to th’ unhappy owe.”
LONDON:
Printed for the Society by John Nichols,
And sold by Johnson, Dilly, Hookham;
And at the Libraries in Bath, Bristol, &c.
1799.
(Price Two Shillings and Sixpence.)
TO THE
KING’S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY,
PATRON
OF THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY:
TO THE
RIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRESIDENT,
THE VICE PRESIDENTS,
THE TREASURER,
AND MEDICAL ASSISTANTS,
THIS ESSAY,
IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,
BY THEIR VERY OBEDIENT,
AND FAITHFUL SERVANT,
THE AUTHOR.
LONDON, March 19, 1799.
At a special Meeting of the Directors of
THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY;

Several of the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House being present; the Prize Essays, on preserving Mariners from Shipwreck, were read; when the following RESOLUTIONS passed unanimously:

I. That the ingenious Essay which has for its motto, “Delightful task, to soften human woe,” &c. is a very able and scientific performance, happily enlisting Philosophy in the cause of Humanity.

II. That, as the precautions which it so earnestly impresses may tend to prevent the fatal disasters of shipwreck, and to preserve the lives of British seamen, its publication, especially at this eventful period, will be peculiarly interesting; and that, therefore, the permission of the Author be requested.

III. That, on opening the sealed packet, annexed to the above mentioned Essay, the Author appears to be Dr. Fothergill of Bath.

JOHN NICHOLS, Chairman.