The text of Mr. W. H. White's Presidential Address to the Institute of Marine Engineers on the 7th of June 1893. White described the more notable advances and improvements made in marine engineering since 1859. He had witnessed and to some extent assisted in a series of transformations more rapid and remarkable than anything that had occurred in the last four centuries. When he had entered Admiralty service in 1859 ships were still dependent on sail as their principal means of propulsion. Steam reconstruction was being carried out at a feverish pace. Ships built for sailing were being "converted" into screw steamers; new steam-ships were being laid down. The paddle wheel occupied as prominent a position as the propeller. Wood was almost universally used in warship construction, and against considerable opposition from high naval authorities the first steps were being taken in the construction of ironclad warships. In 1893 sail power had practically disappeared in most classes of warships. Steam power had been accepted as the sole means of propulsion, and safety was guaranteed by the duplication of machinery and propellers. Steam pressures had been increased from 20 to 25 pounds per square inch to 160 to 180 pounds per square inch. The box-tubular boiler had given place to the cylindrical boiler, whilst the locomotive boiler that had been used extensively in small swift vessels was facing serious competition from the water-tube boiler. Surface condensers had succeeded jet condensers. Compound and triple-expansion engines had followed simple-expansion engines. The inverted-vertical engine had replaced the horizontal engine. Piston speeds and rates of revolution had been greatly increased. Improved materials and designs had enabled great economies in weight to be effected in proportion to the power developed. The rate of coal consumption had been reduced by about two-thirds. Steam had been applied to auxiliary machinery of all kinds and manual labour reduced considerably. Hydraulic and electrical machinery had been introduced for working guns, lifting heavy weights, steering and other applications. Electric lighting had become general. Powerful air-compressors were necessary for charging torpedoes. Heavy guns had special mechanical arrangements for training, elevating, and loading. And the ceaseless struggle between guns and armour had continued on.