Genre:

Essay

Subjects:

Light, Navigation, Nationalism, Natural Imperialism, Hunting

    Claims that the 'light-vessel is a thing characteristic of England' (33). Gives a technical account of the problems of maintaining the visibility of 'argand-lamps, balanced and gimbled to get the vertical position in which alone they can remain alight' (34), but concludes that light-vessels have 'kept advancing abreast of the best practical science of the day'. Also relates how on one ship 'as many as a thousand birds', attracted by the lights, were shot in a single night in order to make 'an enormous sea-pie'. (40)