AN expedient has been suggested by Lieut. E. G. BUTLER, E.N., to enable persons upset in a boat to hold on by her until succour reaches them. As it appears to be one of those simple and inexpensive plans which might be universally adopted without inconvenience, and as we think it might often be instrumental to saving life whether in the boat of the fisherman, the merchant vessel, or the man-of-war, we believe we may profitably devote a small portion of our space to an explanation of it.

Lieut. BUTLER proposes to attach a long iron rod to either side of the keel, projecting from, it laterally but not below it, and along these rods, at equal distances, to attach knotted lines of small rope each 3 or 4 feet long. By these lines, on a boat being upset keel uppermost, the crew would hold on until the arrival of relief, which might thus frequently be the means of saving life, as it is extremely difficult to hold on by a boat keel uppermost unless the water be perfectly smooth, and in a rough sea almost impossible to do so for any length of time.

By lines of this description, however, an equal number of persons on either side of a boat might support themselves so long as they retained the use of their limbs and their presence of mind.

When the boat was in motion these lines would tow after her in a horizontal direction, and so would not perceptibly impede her way through the water.

Lieut. BUTLER proposes that the rods should be made to take off and on by means of screws and nuts, so that they need only be attached when going afloat in rough weather; as however they would not be in the way, and would even be of service by acting as a light ballast well placed; we think that they should be permanently at- tached, but that the knotted lines might be taken off and on at pleasure, being always attached on going off in rough or suspicious looking weather. Double headed eye-bolts, fixed in the keel at the proper distances, would answer the same purpose as the iron rods, but might possibly be more liable to be broken off. Convinced of the utility of Lieut. BUTLER'S suggestion, we have no hesitation in recommending the boatmen around our coasts to make trial of it.