On pteventing and curing the Dry Rot in Skip Timler. 349 



repaired immediately, and sunk when she is completed, in order 

 that the new timber used in repairing her may have the bene- 

 fit of submersion as well as the old. I beg also to state to the 

 Society that I have learnt, since the publication of my treatise, 

 that accident has furnished us with two other instances of the 

 good effects of sinking ships, in the San Fiorenzo frigate, which 

 was sunk off the French coast about 18 years ago, and the Re- 

 sistance frigate, which was also sunk in attempting to heave hor 

 down in the Mediterranean about eight or ten years since : the 

 latter ship is now under repair at Plymouth, and is perfectly free 

 of fungus, which excited considerable surprise and inquiry; and 

 the former is in the same favourable state. The fact, therefore, 

 appears to be established as completely as any fact can be proved, 

 the Eden having been raised one year, the Resistance about ten 

 vears, and the San Fiorenzo about IS years. Nothing more 

 strongly shows the opinion entertained by the Lords of the Ad- 

 miralty than the orders they have issued, and the consideration 

 that they never would have given such orders (so contrary to for- 

 mer prejudices) on any other than an unquestionable foundation. 



I am, sir, &c. 

 ji. Aikin, Esq. Secretary, &c. A. Bowben. 



Besides the foregoing letters, copies were communicated to the 

 Society of the following official papers confirming the statements 

 in Mr. Bowden's letter, viz. 



1. A recommendation from Mr. Commissioner Seppings, that 

 the Eden and Mersey sloops- of- war, both infested with fungus, 

 being new ships, built at the same place, and launched in the 

 same year, should be selected for a comparative experiment to 

 ascertain the effect of submersion in sea-water. The Eden to be 

 submerged, the Mersey not to be submerged. 



2. Warrant to the officers of Plymouth yard to sink the Eden, 

 November 16, 1816. 



3. Survey of the Eden before suljmersion, November 16, 1816. 



4. Report on the state of the Eden and of the Mersey, after 

 the former ship had been submerged, September 8, 1817. 



5. Report on the state of the Eden, March 7, 1817. 



6. Letter from the Navy Board to the Admiralty on the state 

 of the Eden, March 11, 1818. 



7. Order from the Admiralty (7th" April 1818), to repair the 

 Mersey, and afterwards to sink her, that the new timber may hare 

 the benefit of the immersion in sea-water. 



LV. Re- 



