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I should never have done if I attempted the describing all the subordinate
contrivances: for these vessels differ from all others in almost every
particular that can be imagined. For example instead of one large mast
as in common, 2 slender masts forming a triangle with a thick rope that
stays them. Of the two rudders which the Sea-Vermicular and Timber-Vermicular are each provided with one at the head and the other at the tail in one, I
forget
forget which the staff is set down in the middle of the broad part, thus
instead of the side, as in common rudders thus . This was for a reason which
sea-men will readily apprehend, and which I apprehended at the time
but have since forgotten.
The great principle upon which the advantage expected from this construction
in point of swiftness depends is, that according to a maxim my brother says received by
all shipbuilders theoretical as well as practicable, a vessel meets with no
sensible retardment from its length. But by increasing the length you
may increase indefinitely the number of rowers and consequently the moving
force: while the increase of length, as far as the above maxim holds
good, makes no sensible addition to the resistance. What sets limits to the
length of all plans of construction hitherto known in the capacity of the vessel
for capacity of hold without falling to pieces by its own weight which is called hogging by sea-men. My
Brother does not know that any body before him ever put two rows of
rowers close together on the same side. They row without interfering with one
another in the least.
Of the particulars contained in the above description scarce any were furnished
me by my Brother. His attention was sufficiently taken up partly by
an ague, partly by the conducting of these and unexampled and untried vessels,
with a crew perfectly raw and unexercised, through a navigation rendered as
dangerous by sunken or projecting stumps, as a sea-navigation by
sunken rocks. When I embarked he had had his ague for about 10 days: and
he was so weakened by it as to be unable to stand, and sometimes even to speak,
even when the fit was not on him: but in the course of the time I
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Identifier: | JB/540/354/002"JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 540. |
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1787-05-03 |
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540 |
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354 |
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002 |
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Correspondence/copy |
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