No time was now lost in commencing the repairs of which the steamer stood so much in need. It will be remembered, that the structure of the ship's side has been elsewhere described, and that the angle-irons are, in fact, the ship's ribs. The split amidships had taken place in the middle of the iron plate, between the two angle-irons immediately before the after sponson-beam. It extended downwards full seven feet from the deck on either side the vessel; and, as the distance from the deck to the water-line, with a moderate draught of water, is only from three feet four inches to three feet six inches, it must have extended under water for about the same distance as it did above. But the whole _semi_-circumference of the vessel's hull is only about twenty-three feet and a half. Therefore, as the crack was full seven feet in length on each side of the ship, there only remained sixteen feet on each side of the ship's hull, or about two-thirds in all, not separated in two. In other iron vessels more recently constructed by the same builder, Mr. Laird, of Birkenhead, it is satisfactory to know that full provision has been made against the recurrence of any similar accidents. The Phlegethon, which was afterwards built upon the same model, has been constructed in such a manner, by the addition of bulkheads, &c., that not only could there be no apprehension of the accident, but an almost impossibility of its recurrence. The accompanying woodcut will explain the improvement. [Illustration: TRANSVERSE SECTION AT THE ENGINE-ROOM OF H.E.I. COMPANY'S IRON STEAM VESSEL PHLEGETHON. Shewing the method of giving additional strength by originally building-in the coal-box bulkheads as part of the vessel. A Keel. B Floorings. C Keelsons. D Deck beams (iron). E Deck. F Covering-board, 18ft. by 4in. G Longitudinal iron bulkheads, built into the vessel, forming the sides of the coal-boxes. H Angle-iron stay-beam between. I Side frame and coal-box bulkhead. N.B.--These bulkheads appear to have remedied the weakness complained of in the Nemesis, as the Phlegethon is reported, after nearly three years' hard service (including the passage round the Cape, when she experienced very bad weather), in as good order as when she left England, never having required any alteration or strengthening. ]