"1. They do not upright themselves in the event of being upset.
"2. That they are too heavy to be readily launched or transported along the coast in case of need.
"3. That they do not free themselves from water fast enough.
"4. That they are very expensive."
A committee was formed to examine, and report upon the models.
The offer of His Grace, and the conditions of the competition, were published in October 1850, and no expense or pains were spared in making them known.
The interest and excitement produced by the notice were deeply and widely felt; the challenge was accepted by great numbers of people—amateurs, to whom to invent a life-boat seemed a laudable and holy ambition, vied with the boat-builders who had thoughts of professional reputation to give a spur to their humanity—speedily in all parts of England, and in many other parts of the world, busy minds and skilful hands were at work.
In due time models came teeming in upon the committee in almost overwhelming numbers.
Not content with asking for models of life-boats, the committee also asked for information upon certain defined points, the models sent in numbered no fewer than two hundred and eighty, while the answers to inquiries were sufficient to fill five folio volumes of manuscript. As for the models, every possible form and every possible principle seemed to find its illustration.