Thomas Henry Farrer to Faraday   9 May 1859

4822. | 9th May 1859.

Sir,

to request your assistance under the following circumstances.

The Officers of the Board of Trade are charged with the duty of surveying Passenger Steamers periodically. If they report the Hull & Machinery of a Vessel to be safe the Board of Trade issue a Certificate or Licence which enables her to ply. If they do not so report the License is withheld and the Vessel is prohibited from plying with Passengers.

A case has recently arisen in which a River Steamer -: “Waterman 3” - has been fitted with a new form of Apparatus for superheating steam. The Engineer Surveyors of Steam Vessels for the Port of London have forwarded a report thereon, a copy of which is inclosed, together with a sketch of the invention¹.

From this report it will be seen doubts are entertained whether the apparatus is free from danger. The apparatus it is said gives the means of saving a great deal of fuel and whilst it is of course of paramount importance that the safety of the public should be duly cared for, it is also very important not unnecessarily to discourage an invention which promised valuable results in the way of economy

The Board of Trade are under these circumstances desirous before they decide whether to grant or withhold a certificate of having the best scientific opinion they can procure on the question whether the apparatus in question is or is not such as is likely to cause danger to passengers, and they therefore direct me to apply to you in the hope that it may be in your power to inquire into the matter and give them the benefit of your advice.

A copy of a report from Mr. Atherton² (Chief Engineer at Woolwich Dock yard) is inclosed for your information.

My Lords are making arrangements for the inspection of the Osprey and will write to you again as to time and place

I have the honor to be | Sir | Your obedient Servant | T.H. Farrer

Professor Faraday F.R.S. | &c &c &c