JB/539/044/002

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1. in Advy (3 - Dict: ) 4 ) 5 Wibrali) 6 Min. Alk.
7. Lohonic. + 8. Tulu Trug. if ) Linc Inn. May 9th 1780 9. Naples 9 no hope

1. Timber - preserv.y Frankl.

Franklin's method of seasoning Ship-Timber,
communicated by him to Ingenhourz and by J. to
Saredi. Observing <del. to cut it the proper reason
( what that is he does not recollect , but
you know I dare say) he sets the pieces on
end: the lower end supported by a slanting floor.
The upper end is made the bottom as it were
of a kind of funnel which is made of a
considerable depth to hold a quantity of
a strong solution of common salt. The
weight of the column of water supported enclosed by the
funnel forces the lower stratum down through <lb/.> the between the longitudinal fibres
of the wood; and thus the whole is impregnated
with the salt. What suggested the idea of this
to Franklin was, the hearing that Ships used
in the salt trade lasted remarkably longer than
others.

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3. False Progresses continued

repairs came to be done, they are found greatly to exceed
the estimate. the Builder that he may not appear
to have been mistaken, charges to the account of
other ships as much of the work done upon this
as exceeds the estimates. The use of this contrivance
is to blind the eyes of the Commissioner altogether
and put skilful and unskilful Builders upon a
level. I do take it that in these cases perfect accuracy
is impossible. An inaccuracy that happens in
any given instance will therefore be owing either in
whole or in part to the unavoidable uncertainty of the
subject: but it may be owing in aprt also to a want
of care of judgment on the part of the builder. When
this is the case it might be of use perhaps that it should
be known: now this you see is effectively prevented.
Perhaps tho blame and the cause of this system of deceit
may originally have lain either in which or in part at the
door of the Commissioners, who may have scolded Builders
sincerely upon the face of the difference between the estimate
& the Progress, without perhaps due attention to the
/ which may have rendered this difference
unavoidable unforeseeable.

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Identifier: | JB/539/044/002"JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 539.
Date_1	1780-05-15	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	539	Main Headings
Folio number	044	Info in main headings field
Image	002	Titles
Category	Correspondence	Number of Pages
Recto/Verso		Page Numbering
Penner	Samuel Bentham	Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number
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