260
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
asked to visit Deptford and Woolwich to see and comment on
the method of storing timber.
"To the Honourable the Commissioners of His Majesty's
Navy.
"Honourable Gentlemen
"That you have not forgotten my reports on the premature decay
"of His Majesty's Ships is an high gratification to me and it flatters
"my feelings to the utmost to know that they have so long and so
"continually been under consideration, being a proof of the pains
"your Honourable Board takes in a concern confessedly of the first
"National Importance. Permit me to presume that they have tended
"to increase the care taken to keep His Majesty's Ship the Lord Nelson
"judiciously and sweetly aired, by making use of the advantages
"Nature presents in the best way in her present position, keeping
"her in a medium state, neither too dry nor too wet ; and, may I
"not hope that my Reports will be continually attended to, because it
"is easy to follow their directions and they may in time be regulated
"so as to produce the best effects.
"I was very much pleased with the zeal of Mr. Seppings; his pene-
"tration and extensive practical knowledge stamp great value on his
"judgment, and I was happy to answer his very judicious and instruc-
"tive queries in every case as far as in my power.
"Attending more particularly according to your desire dated the
"16th inst. ' to see the mode of stowing Timber and point out how far
"my suggestions can be carried into execution' I cannot but regret
"that there should appear so much difficulty, which Mr. Seppings has
"pointed out ; yet would I cherish a hope, that for the credit of my
"country and all concerned, a little more will be done towards raising
"from the ground, arranging and clearing round the stacks of Timber ;
''and as a little improvement leads to greater, so, in the end, seeing
"plainer the utility promised we may arrive at the desired perfection.
"That the Timber may be better stowed is most certain, and perhaps
"room may be gained by it, but whether sufficient for the desired supply
"is doubtful ; it is always healthy to have plenty of room; confined
"places are always detrimental to everything. This thing and indeed
"all others as I hinted in my second report might be executed by some
"one or more among so many who might be chosen as most adequate
"for such a purpose ; for in any line there are some persons more
"particularly efficient than others, and I would willingly assist, if
"required. I think, at least in marshy places (as in the new ground at
Deptford, where the Timber is lying in a very uncomfortable and
"hazardous manner) paved platforms should be raised with arches,
"stones or other supports to keep the Timber from the ground and
"open beneath ; as few horizontal plains as possible must be contrived
"to those supports, always allowing in every part an inclining plain to
"prevent any lodgement for water or damps. The stacks should
"be in the proportion of a cube or about as high as they are long and
"wide. Each stack may support a moveable shelter or covering to
"defend it from the sun and rain, but admitting air by open lathing