Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo: Moorsom') from George Moorsom to C. R. M. Talbot, MP, presenting his 'A Mode Proposed for Determining the Register Tonnage of Merchant Shipping, by Means of a System of Internal Measurements', with the copy of the book.

There is an obituary of Moorsom (who was not, as sometimes stated, an admiral) in The 'Moorsom System' of calculating tonnage became law in 1854, and remained in effect until 1982. Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, Volume 8 (1867). Letter: 4pp., 12mo. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. He explains that he has been 'a member of, as well as Secretary to the late Tonnage Commission', and that he is 'aware, from your correspondence with Mr. Labouchere, that you must have given much attention to the question of the admeasurement of Merchant Shipping, and that you take much interest in all legislative proceedings respecting it'. Regardig the introduction of Labouchere's 'Tonnage Admeasurement Bill of last Sessions', he considers that if 'those of the Commission who alone could be cognisant of the fact, namely the Shipowners, stated, that the cargoes of light specific gravity, or what are termed measurement goods, formed hte bulk of our merchandise, it is probable a very different conclusion would have been arrived at. Being, however, subsequently made aware that a ship is generally full before being immersed to her load draught of water, and could therefore carry more had she more internal space, I became convinced that the profits of the ship being, thereby, in proportion, generally speaking, to the Internal Capacity, that capacity must be the proper basis for assessment. [...] From the above considerations, I have framed a Rule on the Internal Cubical Contents'. The details of this rule are given in 'a pamphlet' which he is sending Talbot. He has 'submitted my Paper to the investigation of some of the most scientific and practical men in this country', and is enclosing 'a copy of their opinions' (not present). The 'system' which he has 'prepared' is 'the result of more than two years exclusive devotion to this important question'. Book: [vi] + 30 pp., folio. Stitched. In original plain grey wraps. In fair condition: worn and dogeared on lightly-aged paper. With numerous tables and one diagram of a ship's hull. No copy listed on COPAC or WorldCat.