a good story is told of the late captain r. b. forbes, who was interested in some seventy sail of fine vessels, and who built many clippers for the india and china trade before the general application of steam. it seems that while testing the sailing qualities of a clipper-schooner, she was struck by a squall in boston harbor, fell on her side, filled with water, and went down. fortunately she had a boat in tow, which saved all hands. he would not start a sheet nor luff her into the wind to prevent her being capsized; he was determined to know what she could do in a squall, even at the risk of his life and the lives of a select party of nautical friends he had with him; and although this experiment may have been of intense interest to captain forbes, it is doubtful whether his invited guests relished their position. later she was raised without much trouble and had her spars reduced. for years afterwards she was famous along the coast of china for her speed.

captain forbes's brother, hon. john m. forbes, now in the eighty-fourth year of his age, has an original steel clipper of the following dimensions: length on the water-line, 125 feet, 154 feet 6 inches over all; has 27 feet 6 inches extreme breadth of beam; is 12 feet 6 inches deep; has engines of 400-horse power; is fully rigged as a two-masted schooner, and has a steel centreboard 21 feet long by 6 and 7? feet wide; is a complete sailing-clipper as well as a steamer, and is the only vessel of the kind in the world. she is also unsinkable; if full of water she will still float, having air-tight compartments along her sides like a life-boat.

under sail, with a working breeze, she will stay within nine points in three minutes; by the wind, sail eight knots; and going free, twelve knots. she is named the wild duck, has been in service about two years, and has been quite successful under steam and sails.