I40 OBSERVATIONS on the 



in a letter I wrote to Timothy Pickering, late Secre- 

 tary of State to the American Government, in November 

 1799, 1 recommended barilla or foda as a fubftance by 

 which the falt-water of the ocean could be fo foftened 

 and altered in its qualities as to become fit for wafhing 

 the clothes of fcamen. , 



A fea-vefid is peculiarly fitted for concentering foul 

 and corrupting things, and for converting them into pefti- 

 lence and poiion. This is one of the moil: common ac- 

 cidents in tailing to the latitudes where there is heat 

 enough to promote corruption and to exalt feptic fub- 

 flances into vapour. 



One of the moft difgufting fights during a voyage is 

 the perfonal naftinefs of many of the crew. It is pre- 

 tended that much of this is necefllirily conne£ted with the 

 fervice, that the work is dirty, and efpecialjy that frefh 

 water cannot be fpared from the vefiel's ftores to wafh 

 the company's clothing ; that loap cannot be ufed with 

 ocean-water, that falt-water alone will not get them clean, 

 and that therefore they are under a neceflity of being un- 

 comfortably nafly on long voyages, efpccially toward the 

 latter part of them. Now, naftinefs of a man's perfon 

 and garments is neceffarily conneQcd with a fimilar con- 

 dition of his bed, bedding, hammock and berth, and mofl 

 commonly of every thing he handles or has ought to do 

 with. Jfafeaman has flrength of conftitution to keep 

 about and do duty, his feelings are neverthelefs very un- 

 comfortable, he is thereby predifpofed to difcafe and in 

 danger every moment of becoming fick ; and if this 

 (hould really happen, his chance of recovery is exceed- 

 ingly leflencd by the filth with which every thing that 

 touches him is impregnated, and the venom into v.jiich 

 that filth is inccflantly changing. 



Thus, the great difficulties with which a feaman has 

 to flruggle, are, i ft, the unfitnefs of ocean-water to wafli 



with ; 



