262 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Following this Sowerby was asked "to give the necessary
instructions to the Officers of Deptford Dock Yard for the
erection of six Stacks of Timber."
Sowerby was apparently feeling that he should have some
considerable payment17 and consulted Knowles who advised
him to present an account of the time he had spent on his
investigations. He adds "The Vigo a ship built about three
years since and heated according to Mr. Lukin's plan is in a
bad state from the dry rot; the fungus is seen upon the beams,
decks, etc. exteriorly, on the timbers in the inside of the ship.
Do you think if we were to fumigate the ship with brimstone
that it would stop the vegetation? This is a notion of Mr.
Seppings—and he wishes to hear your opinion."
Sowerby made his application and in it said "It was gener-
ally supposed that the Dryrot had rendered the Queen Charlotte
incurable and she is now on service, providentially saved by
my directions; I need not mention the value of such saving
to those conversant with the subject, it would certainly be
enough to afford ample indemnification for my past services ;
and, also upon future ones, reckoning upon other first rates
etc., assuredly saved and to be saved by such an example
properly applied, the amount would be immense."
The Navy Board awarded him two hundred guineas "At
the same time we deem it necessary to apprize you that in
awarding this sum we do not attach to you the merit of having
saved the Queen Charlotte by your advice, all the defective
materials having been taken out of that ship at Plymouth when
she was repaired there."
Judging from odd notes, Sowerby had looked forward to
"the common rate of salvage" and "something on account of
"the example by which so many valuable ships might now be
"saved." In January, 1815, he sent in a bill for £45 3s. for
regulating and colouring sixteen hygrometers, and for making
seven visits to Deptford for advising about the stacking of
timber.
Dry Rot was now the talk of the town. Pamphlets appeared
on the subject and references to the Queen Charlotte figured in
all of them. Many and strange specifics were put forward as
17 Lukin received £2,000 for his work on the Queen Charlotte.