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Weight below it, and it is poflible that an increafe of their 

 horizontal cxpanfion would be unfafe, confidering that timber 

 beyond the prefent dimenfions cannot well be procured. Deter- 

 minate flatnefs of fide, however, for fome diflance below the 

 furface of the water, would aid very confiderably in refifting 

 the efFe(fl of a fide wind on fo prodigious a furface as their 

 hulls prefent above water, and even a very trifling addition to 

 their breadth of beam would probably enable them to carry 

 their guns better than they now do in a high fea, and render 

 fome redudion of their draught of water pradicable. 



That light frigates might be made capable of receiving as 

 great Velocity from a moderate breeze as is now given them 

 by a flrong wind, is a truth I am perfuaded of ; and that the 

 ixtmoft velocity any vefTels are capable of is not yet attained in 

 the European feas, is a fadl that will not be doubted by any 

 perfon who credits the well authenticated accounts given of 

 flying prows. The form of thefe vefl'els it is true unfits them 

 for any other fea but that in the latitude of the Ladrone 

 Iflands, but ufeful hints may notwithftanding be taken from 

 their conftruftion. 



