Papers relating to Captain Manby's plan for affording relief in cases of shipwreck: viz. Copies of instructuions, given by His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the purpose of carrying into effect the plan of Captain Manby, for affording relief in cases of shipwreck.[London, House of Commons, 1816]. Folio. With several woodcuts and wood engravings of the inventions in text. Sewn.

37, [1 blank] pp.Rare compilation of papers for the parliament of the United Kingdom, commonly found bound in series, related to a plan concerning the rescue of shipwrecked persons. The proposal included the placement throughout the country of so-called "Manby mortars" throughout the country. This mortar fired a shot with a line to a wrecked ship and could be lighted with a special wind-proof pistol. The line could be used for communication purposes, as well as to connect to specially designed lifeboats.George William Manby (1765-1854) was an English author and inventor. Appointed barrack-master at Great Yarmouth in 1803, he witnessed the wrecking of the brig Snipe in 1807, with over 60 casualties. This tragedy inspired him to think about both the equipment available for rescue and the means of communication between a wrecked ship and the shore. Manby's inventions were brought before parliament in 1810 and an agreement to place them along the coast was finally reached in 1816.Water stain in foot margins throughout; last leaf with some foxing; a good copy.l "Captain Manby's apparatus for wrecks", in: The Edinburgh review XXXVIII, pp. 332-349; Catalogue of Parliamentary reports… 1869-1834, p. 71 no. 28.