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the dexterity of feamen may prevent a fhip from being ex- 

 polcd to the violence of the lea upon her broad fide, let us fee 

 how, in moderate weather, the deep gripe can operate. 



Waves, I believe, are not thought to run very high when 

 they rife from fix to ten feet above the water level ; that is 

 from twelve to twenty above the trough of the fea :— there are 

 few lliips whofc draught of water exceeds twenty ; is it not 

 evident then, that through all gradations of fizc, veflels, even on 

 their prefent conftruaion, are in general completely expofed to 

 the power of the furgc. 



But, as experiment fuperfedes argument, any pcrfon in whofe 

 mind doubts exifl: upon this fubje«fl, may fatisfy himfelf by 

 viewing a fmall cutter, when failing upon a wind, in company 

 with large fliips ; or by obferving a wherry, which draws ftill 

 lefs water, working to windward : Nay, even a Ihlp's long-boat, 

 the mod flat of all fea vefllls, may ferve to convince him that 

 he may difmifs thofe doubts without running much rllk of 

 falling into error, and flitisfy him that, provided a veflll have 

 hold of the water proportionate to her fize, it is of little mo- 

 ment whether the gripe be near to or remote from the fur- 

 face. 



The improvements then which I beg leave to recommend in 

 the conftru(5tion of merchant veflels are, an increafe of their 

 horizontal, and a redudlion of their perpendicular dimcnfions, 

 which will corred the three defc(5ls I have pointed out ; aUb 



the 



