Shipwright of Chatham dock-yard, and accepting that of Surveyor of His Majesty’s navy, and which he was induced to do only from the consideration that he would be empowered thereby to protect those plans which he had brought forward, and to introduce others for the good of His Majesty’s service. Models, drawings, and descriptions of the several inventions herein detailed, are in the possession of your Royal Highness’s memorialist, which will more fully explain what he has endeavoured to describe.
“Your Royal Highness’s memorialist therefore prays that your Royal Highness will be pleased to take into consideration the many and important services that he has rendered to his Country, with the heavy responsibility he incurred in carrying his plans into execution; and that your Royal Highness will be graciously pleased to confer on him such reward as your Royal Highness may consider him deserving.
JAMES M‘FARLAND, Esq.
[Commander.]
Acted as signal-lieutenant of Lord Howe’s flag-ship, the Queen Charlotte, at the memorable battle of June 1st, 1794; received his first commission soon after the return of the victorious fleet to Spithead; subsequently served under Captain (now Sir William) Hotham, in the Lancaster 64, on the Cape of Good Hope station; and was there appointed
and exertions this country is mainly indebted for many of its most valuable improvements in Naval Architecture, the ingenious models of which have been submitted to the inspection of your Committee, with all the necessary explanations of their several uses and application. Your Committee do not pretend to describe or appreciate with accuracy the value of these improvements, to estimate which to their full extent requires considerable professional experience. They are, however, fully convinced that the result of them will be to effectuate in the construction of ships of war, a great saving of expenditure to the public, and to secure a proportionate economy of human life, arising from their superior durability and greater power of resistance to the elements, and to the casualties incidental to nautical life, which the modern system of keeping our fleets at sea, at all seasons and in all weather, has rendered of the utmost importance. These services, although they have nothing of that brilliancy which forcibly attracts public admiration, will continue to confer a lasting benefit to the British Nation, long after that period, when the beneficial effects of victories, however splendid, shall have passed away.
