170

HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

cularlv those of the first, second, and third rates, were never once put into com-mission. This occurrence was productive, in conjunction with other subse-quently coinciding circumstances, of a very extraordinary naval anecdote: theRoyal-William, a first rate, launched about 1719, was never employed formore than thirty-six years from the time of her completion, and never re-ceived any material inspection, or repairs that could be said to deserve that nametill 1757 *. This ship was then found in so good a state, as to be capable of beingsent to sea in a very short time, and continued during the whole remainder ofthe war, not only in commission, but employed in the most active service. Owinghowever, to a defect in the construction, or formation, which rendered it extremelycrank, an evil that subsequent practice caused a discovery of, and remedy for,’twas considered expedient to cut it down, and reduce its force from a first rate tothat of a third, thereby causing it to mount 84- guns only, 'i bis measure was, never-theless, taken solely on scientific grounds, having no reference whatever to the actualcondition of the ship, in respect to service. The prolonged longevity of the samevessel subsequent to the peace, which took place in the year 17G3, becomes amatter of no less wonder. After continuing almost uninterruptedly employedduring the whole of the war, which commenced in 177 8, with France, and inthe ensuing summer with Spain also, it was not long afterwards, having un-dergone a survey a-fioat in 1785, considered not unworthy of being converted intoa guardship, a station from which it was scarcely considered necessary it should bedismissed, till after the close of the eighteenth century.

As the long preservation of timber from decay is certainly one of the firfl desi-derata to a nation ambitious of erecting itself into a maritime power, and as theoccurrence just related indubitably proves the great extent to which its duration,in a sound state, may be prolonged, perhaps even without any attention beingpaid to it: what extensive benefits might there not be expected to result from aserious investigation of this point. Strange, however, as it cannot fail to appear,the enquiry seems to have been laid totally dormant for more than a century.In the report before quoted, there is, however, p. 29 , an account given at no in-considerable length, of sundry experiments made in respect to the construction of

* The main-mast of this vessel is said, whether with truth or not is uncertain, to have been formedof a single tree, the growth of Scotland, and to have been brought from thence for that purpose, butthat having continued in store for more than thirty-six years, was found, on examination, when theship was ordered to be fitted, so far decayed as to be unfit for service. This anecdote is certainly someiwhat curious, oil more accounts than one

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