climate in England. What we have said of the Mulberry, and the vastemolument raised by the very leaves, as well as wood of that only tree-,-were sufficient to excite and stir up our utmost industry. History tellsns, the noble and fruitful country of France was heretofore thought so
“ verpool, he set a small vefsel on the stocks for himself; but unluckily, not having a suffi-“ cient quantity of iron for the purpose, and none being to be had at that time in the“ country, he was obliged to put a stop to the work, till he bethought himself of the fotlow-“ ing succedaneum. He had formerly (as hinted above) observed the extraordinary“ strength and firmnefs of the Locust-tree, and on this occasion took it into his head that“Trenails* of that timber might be substituted for Iron Bolts j- in many places whereleast liable to wrench, or twist, as in fastening the floor-timbers to the keel, and the“ knees to the ends of the beams, which two articles take up a large proportion of the“ iron used in a ship, purposing, when he arrived in England, to bore out the Locust Tre-“ nails, and drive iron bolts in their stead. When he first informed me of this scheme, I.“ must own I thought the experiment very hazardous: However, as necefsity has no law»“ he put it in practice. The ship was built in that manner, loaded, and sailed for Liver-pool, where she arrived safe; and though they met with some blowing weather on the“ pafsage, she never made so much water, but that one pump could easily keep her free.“ She returned back to Virginia the next year, when I had an opportunity of being in-tl formed by the builder himself (who was then captain of her) of what had been the result“ of his project: He said, that during the pafsage, especially in blowing weather, he was“ very attentive in examining the Water-ways (, as, at that place, weak ships are mostliable to work and strain, but that he could not perceive any thing more than is usual in.“ other vefsels. When unloaded, she was hauled a-shore upon the bank, in ordef to be“ searched both outside and inside; when, on the strictest examination, it was found that“ the Locust Trenails, that had been substituted instead of Iron Bolts, seemed (to all ap-“ pearance) to have effectually answered the purpose intended ; however, it was thought“ prudent to take several of them out, and put in Iron Bolts in their room: And this opera-“ tion afforded another proof of their extraordinary strength and firmnefs; as they
* TreI? ails, or Tree-Nails, are wooden pins, that fasten the planks to the ribs or timbers andto prevent drawing, or the planks starting, they are wedged at both ends, inside and out, so that thestrength of aship depends much on the goodnefs of the Trenails; and if they are not made of wood thatis both hard and tough, they will not endure driving so tight as to bear the strain that lies upon them ;for in fact it is the Trenails that hold together the several pieces of which a ship is composed.
t Bolts are round iron pins, used to fasten the floor-timbers to the keel, and the beams that supportthe decks to the sides of the ship, and on all other occasions where Trenails are not strong enough tohear the strain that is to be supported.
t The Waterway is that part of a ship’s deck that is next to the sides of the ship ; this seam, erjoint is very difficult to keep light, and in weak vefsels will open and shut in carrying sail when it blowshard.
Volume II. ]£