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A MEMOIR 0/; the CONSTRUCTION 0/ SHIPS. 

 5^ 5/r GEORGE SHEE, Bart. M.R.LA. 



Allow me to fubmit to you a few thoughts on fhip- Read Nor. i. 

 building ; a fubjed which, from its national importance, wotild 

 feem to claim the attention of the moft enlightened, but which 

 has heretofore been confidered by few, except mere mechanics. 

 My motive for addreffing you is to promote the public good ; 

 and as the remarks I fhall make are more the refult of ob- 

 fervation and experiment than of fcientific refearch, I am per- 

 fuaded you will judge them with indulgence. I fliould not 

 indeed hazard them but upon the idea that great improvements 

 in the arts have been fuggefted by perfons who w^re not 

 artifts, and that objeds may fometimes prefent themfelves in 

 a more clear point of view to unprejudiced minds, than to 

 minds much more informed when biaffed by prediledion for 

 eftablifhed fyftems. 



I WAS firft led to fufped that the conftrudion of fliips 

 built in Europe admitted of improvement, by obferving that 



veflels 



