operations, which consists of an “Ocean Ferry” partaking as to form somewhat of the features above described for Mr Wilcox’s “Ocean Palace.” The speed said to be possible by Captain Coppin’s vessel is twenty knots an hour, and the terminal ports proposed are Milford Haven and New York. It was announced some time ago that M. Raoul Pictet, the eminent engineer of Geneva, was engaged upon the question of ship design and propulsion, and was in hopes that by application of his ideas he might yet send ships careering over the sea at the rate of thirty-seven miles an hour! Enough has been said to show that there is no lack of inventive effort being put forth towards a realization of the ideal ships of the future. In a service, however, like that of the Atlantic, where competition is strong and keen, and where the monetary issues are neatly adjusted between rival companies, there is little chance of any of the various projects being tried. An impression exists among shipowners—for which doubtless there are sufficient grounds—that time and capital staked on novelties or “new departures” are simply invitations to defeat in the race or to absolute ruin itself. This commercial prudence and industrial caution has been startled in several ways of recent years—_e.g._, by meteoric flashes such as the _Livadia_ and _Meteor_—the ultimate effect of which has been to illumine and make clearer the probable line of advancement. By pretty general consent of those most competent to judge the ships of the immediate future will possess the broad distinctions of being either purely passenger or purely cargo-carrying mediums. It is equally agreed that twin in place of single screw propellers will be employed, and that for the express ships nothing less than 20 knots per hour will be considered satisfactory. On a subject, however, concerned not with historical facts, but with theories and scientific forecasts, it may be well not to enlarge, especially as the future is evidently charged with possibilities of which present-day designers can have but indefinite notions. The subject of employing electrical energy as the propulsive power on board ship is at the present time engaging serious attention, but the degree of practical and commercial success attained does not, as yet, warrant any anticipation of its immediate application to vessels beyond small craft, such as launches and ferries. In the midst, however, of such immense and marvellous works achieved by this great—and, in some senses, modern—force, it would be both idle and unwise to keep out of view the possibilities of its future as affecting ship propulsion. List of Papers and Lectures bearing on the speed and propulsive power of modern steamships, to which readers desiring fuller acquaintance with the _technique_ and details of the subject are referred:— ON THE BOILERS AND ENGINES OF OUR FUTURE FLEET, by Mr J. Scott Russell: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xviii., 1877.