112 THE BEE, OR Jan. I9. 



Nautical Jffain. 



X HOUGH Britain be (tows more attention to trade than 

 any other nation, and though it be the general opinion 

 that the fafety of her {late depends upon her navy alone ; 

 yet it feems not a little extraordinary, tliat moft of the 

 great improvements in fhip-building have originated abroad. 

 The bell failing veffels in the royal navy have in general 

 been French prizes. This, though it may admit of excep- 

 tions, cannot be upon the whole difputed. 



Nor is Britain entirely inattentive to naval architeflure ; 

 though it is no where fcientifically taught, and thofe who 

 dcvife improvements have feldom an opportunity of bring- 

 ing them into pradice. What a pity it is, that no con- 

 trivance fhould be adopted, for concentrating the know- 

 ledge tliat difierent individuals attain in this art, into one 

 common focus, if the expreffion may be admitted. Our en- 

 deavours fhall not be wanting, to colled together, in the 

 befl way we can, the fcattered hints that fliall occur under 

 this head, not doubting but the public will receive with fa- 

 vour this humble attempt to awaken the attention to a fub- 

 jedt of fuch great national importance. 



Dr. Franklin, among the other enquiries that had enga- 

 ged his attention, during a long life fpent in the uninter- 

 rupted purfuit of ufeful improvements, did not let this 

 efcape his notice ; and many ufeful hints tending to perfeft, 

 the art of navigation, and to meliorate the condition of fea- 

 faring people, occur in his work. In France, the art of con- 

 ftrufting fliips has long been a favourite ftudy, and ma- 

 ny improvements in that branch have originated with them. 

 Among the laft of the Frenchmen who have made any con- 

 fiderable improvements in this refpeft, is Mr Le Roy, wlio 

 has conftruaed a veflel well adapted to fail in rivers, where 

 the depth of the v/ater is inconfiderable, and that yet was 

 capable of being navigated at fea with great eafe. This he 

 etiedled in a great meafure by the particular mode of rigg- 

 ing, which gave the mariners much greater power over the 

 veflel than thev could have when of the ufual conftruftion. 



