CHAP, iv S Y L V A 91 



pumps and conduit-pipes, and for all water-works, & c. 

 fir for beams, bolts, bars ; being tough, and not so apt 

 to break as the hardest oak : In sum, the more 

 oderiferous trees are the more durable and lasting ; 

 and yet I conceive that well- season 'd oak may contend 

 with any of them ; especially, if either preserved 

 under ground, or kept perfectly dry ; in the mean 

 time, as to its application in shipping, the best of it 

 ought to be employed for the keel, (that is, within, 

 else elm exceeds) the main beams and rafters, whilst 

 for the ornamental parts, much slighter timber serves : 

 One note more is requisite, namely, that great care 

 be had to make the trundels of the best, toughest, 

 and sincerest part, many a vessel having been lost 

 upon this account ; and therefore dry and young 

 timber is to be preferr'd for this, and for which the 

 Hollanders are plentifully furnish'd out of Ireland, as 

 Nicholas Witsen has himself acknowledged. 



Is it not after all this to be deplor'd, that we who 

 have such perpetual use and convenience for ship- 

 timber, should be driven to procure it of foreign 

 stores, so many thousand loads, at intolerable prices : 

 But this we are oblig'd to do and supply from the 

 Eastern countries, as far as Norway, Poland, Prussia, 

 Dantzick, and farther, even from Bohemia, tho' 

 greatly impair'd by sobbing so long in the passage : 

 But of this the most industrious, and our worthy 

 friend Mr. Pepys, (late Secretary of the Admiralty) 

 has given a just and profitable account in his Memoirs. 



1 6. Here farther for the uses of timber, I will 

 observe to our reader some other particulars for direct- 

 ion both of the seller and buyer, applicable to the 

 several species : And first of the two sorts of lathes 

 allow'd by statute, one of five, the other of four foot 



