THE FAREHAM LIFE-BOAT.—A novel description of life-boat, to which the above appellation is given by its designer, has been recently patented.

It is the invention of the Rev. E. L. BERTHON, M.A., of Fareham, and is especially intended for the use of ships ; in particular, of large steamers, emigrant vessels, and troop-ships. The advantages it holds out being that it combines the properties of a life-boat of the best description with facility of stowage in a small space: two properties which have never before been united in the same boat; but which, being so, are invaluable, since vessels having a large number of persons on board, may, through that means, be enabled to have ready prepared a safe refuge in the event of fire or other accident at sea.

It will be difficult without diagrams to give a clear idea of the character and nature of this boat, which is a specimen of contrivance, ingenuity, adaptation to the required end, and of first-rate mechanical skill, which reflects the highest credit upon the gentleman who has perfected it. A clear and concise description of it, with diagrams, &c,, is, however, published (to be had of S. SUTTON, High Street, Fareham), which will be found well worth the examination of those who take any interest in such subjects.

The reverend gentleman has also a beautifully- constructed model of it, made by his own hand, which still more perfectly shows its properties, and which bears evidence that he possesses, in as eminent a degree, the skilful manipulation of a practised working mechanic as he does a theoretical knowledge of the subject.

The Fareham life-boat is a collapsible one; by which means it is enabled to be stowed away in a comparatively small compass, but it possesses greater strength than an ordinary wooden boat; would not be liable to get stove in, or broken, except by a sharp cutting instrument or rock; and, having eight water-tight compartments, would require to be separately damaged in each to have its buoyancy totally destroyed. Its repair may also be easily and expeditiously accomplished ; the skins, if torn or perforated, are readily mended by cementing patches on the damaged parts ; and should a timber be injured it can be taken out, repaired and replaced.

The following is a description of 'some of the advantages and peculiarities of the boat, as described by the inventor:— " 1. Stowage. It is stowed in one-sixth of its width. When collapsed it is strapped-to against the ship's side, or in a recess in the bulwarks, from which it projects a few inches, being firmly secured there, and covered by a strong flap of doubled canvas.

Thus being always outboard, the largest boat (say the size of a first-rate's barge or launch) is ready at a moment's notice.

" 2. Facility and quickness of lowering.

One hand is enough to expand and lower the largest boat; he can expand it in three seconds, and lower it as rapidly, or slowly as he pleases, and it is sure to take .the water on an even keel.

"3. Perfect insubmergibility. This it may be said to possess in common with other life-boats, but it has it in a greater degree; and this excellent quality is obtained in a new way, essentially belonging to this principle. It is made in eight longitudinal compartments, into which, when expanding by its own weight, a vast volume of air is inhaled: a boat 30 feet long inhales about 320 cubic feet in the moment of expansion.

" 4. Another advantage is that of discharging all water. It has a delivery channel nearly the whole length, fore-and- aft, so that if filled by a sea it empties itself almost immediately.

" 5. Security from being washed away or stove. Being stowed so snugly against the bulwarks; not rising above nor projecting far from them, there is almost nothing for wind and sea to act upon: immense boats may thus be stowed nearly out of sight, and yet be more easily and quickly lowered than a gig. Again, in case of fire, they are out of the way of harm, as the ship's top sides must be burnt before they can be injured.

" 6. Prevention of a rush to the boats in case of accident. These boats being collapsed, offer no resource for terrified passengers, whose crowding to the boats on the davits, and their consequent difficulty to lower, has been so often fatal.

" 7. No plugs. When shut up this boat holds no water, and wants no plugs.

" 8. No caulking. These boats will never be leaky.

" 9. No davits. Falling derricks take their place, and are out of the way of everything.

"The framework is composed of wood, in a new and peculiar arrangement. There are no transverse timbers, nothing corresponding to ribs in the usual acceptation of the term, but all the timbers are fore-andaft, extending the whole length of the boat.

These timbers are eight in number, i. e. four on each side of the stem and keel piece.

They are thin, flat, and deep, something like a thin slice of melon. In a 30-feet boat they are li inch thick, and vary in depth from 8 to 18 inches. They are made without scarfing, by bending plank over plank till the required thickness is obtained, connected with bolts and marine glue. The strength of these segmental timbers is enormous, involving all the force of the plankon- edge principle. They are. all jointed together, and to the tops of the stem and stern posts at their ends, by a kind of chainhinge, which, in a very simple and effectual manner, binds them all together; and as the angle through which each moves is only about 16 degrees, there is neither strain nor wear upon the links. Now these timbers stand side by side, in vertical planes, like the leaves of a closed book on its edge, when the boat is collapsed; but when expanded they stand apart in radial planes, somewhat like the segments of an orange, and, being properly shaped, assume the form of a boat.

" There are two distinct skins or coverings made of a very strong durable waterproof material; they are firmly secured to the edges of all the timbers, the outer skin to the outer edges, and the inner one to the inner edges. By this means the whole body of the boat is divided into eight separate longitudinal cells or compartments, each cell being bounded on two sides by two adjacent timbers, and on the other two by the inner and outer skins. The cavities of these cells are spontaneously filled with air through proper apertures at the extreme ends, at the moment of expansion ; as the weight of the boat falling on to certain gunwale-spans, separates the timbers, the air rushes in, as it does into a pair of bellows upon separating the handles.

" The extension of the boat is effected and maintained by the bottom-boards and thwarts, which, jointed along the middle line, are made to stand up at an acute angle when the boat is collapsed, and fall down to straight lines when open. The weight of these causes them to act as most powerful extenders, for, as they approach the straight line, they necessarily gain a great accession offeree.

" It is difficult to convey a very clear idea of these boats; but some notion may be formed of the principle of extension, by observing a carriage-head, the frame of which may be compared to the boat's timbers, and the joints to the thwarts and stretchers of the bottom-boards.

" She has a rather deep keel, beside two bilge-pieces on each side; and in every other salient point the cloth over the edges of the timbers is well protected by -wood or copper outside all. By this precaution no injury to the skins is produced by running on shore; indeed, in all respects, it may be treated as a strong solid boat. As a proof of this, it should be mentioned that one of this construction has been exposed for several months on a beach—floating and taking the ground every tide, without sustaining the slightest injury.".