Excerpt from A Manual of Naval Architecture: For the Use of Officers of the Royal Navy, Officers of the Mercantile Marine, Shipbuilders, Shipowners, and Yachtsmen

The first edition of this book, published in 1877, grew out of lectures delivered at the Royal Naval College to naval officers and others studying there. In these lectures it was my endeavour to popularize and explain some of the many problems of naval architecture in a manner which should be intelligible to those who were interested in or connected with shipping, but not engaged as naval architects or shipbuilders. Many officers who attended the lectures requested that they might be published; and from shipowners, yachtsmen, and other persons came inquiries for a book containing, in popular language, a comprehensive summary of the theory of naval architecture. Existing treatises had been written mainly for the use of those who desired to obtain an acquaintance with the subject which would fit them for the practice of ship-designing. To benefit by these treatises a considerable knowledge of mathematics was necessary. There was obviously a want in the literature of naval architecture; and, in its original form, this book was intended to supply that want, and to enable persons, outside the profession of the naval architect, to obtain a general acquaintance with the principles of the construction, propulsion, and behaviour of ships.

The book was written, therefore, in popular language; and the mathematics introduced were of the simplest character. Explana tions were given of many terms and mechanical principles, which required no explanations to readers possessing a good knowledge of mathematics. The details of theoretical investigations were omitted, but the general modes of procedure were sketched, and the practical deductions fully explained and illustrated. From this point of view, the survey of the theory of naval architecture was made as complete as possible.
The principal deductions from theory respecting the buoyancy.

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