180 Intelligence and Miscellanies. 
ships, steamboats and other vessels and boats as respects 
metals with a view to their application to the useful arts, es- 
pecially ship building. After adverting to the different sub- 
t that have been em] or the fastenings and sheath- 
ing of vessels, and the advantages and disadvantages of each, 
he pointed out the great superiority of iron for the fasten- 
ings of that stupendous, moveable fabric, a modern ship, in 
every respect, except its liability to oxidate in sea water, es- 
pecially when the vessel is sheathed with copper. He re- 
marked that with this exception, iron combines for this pur- 
pose all the valuable properties of all the other metals. It 
is most abundant; its malleability is sufficient for all useful 
purposes ; in strength or tenacity it surpasses them all, being 
in this respect to copper as five hundred and forty nine to 
three hundred and two, and it possesses the property of be- 
ing welded, which is peculiar to it and platinum. Having 
pointed out the cause of the rapid oxidation of the iron fas- 
tenings of vessels when sheathed with copper, which was 
first suggested by Fabroni, viz. a galvanic influence; and 
having spoken particularly of the admirable researches of Sir 
H. Davy on preserving the copper sheathing of ships, he ob- 
served that since it was so desirable an object to use iron 
fastenings, and inasmuch as the cause of the rapid decay of the 
iron fastenings in copper-sheathed vessels was understood, 
it seemed to him surprising that no one had attempted to cor- 
rect this defect by means founded on this knowledge. In 
the autumn of 1826, he formed the resolution of undertaking 
sO 
employing iron sheets for sheathing. He added that he 
now thought himself authorized to announce to the Society 
