244 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1758. 



in readiness, he put 7 quarts of sea-water, and 1 oz. of soap into the pot, and 

 set it on the fire. The cover was kept from rising by a prop of wood to the bow. 

 They fixed on the head, and into it the long wooden pipe abovementioned, which 

 was wide enough to receive the end of the pewter one into its cavity. They easily 

 made the joint tight. 



It need not be mentioned with what anxiety he waited for success: but he was 

 soon relieved ; for, as soon as the pot boiled, the water began to run ; and in 28 

 minutes he got a quart of fresh water. He tried it with an hydrometer he had 

 on board, and found it as light as river-water; but it had a rank oily taste, which 

 he imagined was given it by the soap. This taste diminished considerably in 2 

 or 3 days, but not so much as to make it quite palatable. Their sheep and 

 fowls drank this water very greedily without any ill effects. They constantly 

 kept their still at work, and got a gallon of water every 2 hours, which, if there 

 had been a necessity to drink it, would have been sufficient for the ship's crew. 



He now thought of trying to get water more palatable; and often perused the 

 pamphlet above-mentioned, especially the quotation from Sir R. Hawkins's 

 voyage, who " with 4 billets distilled a hogshead of water wholesome and nou- 

 rishing." He concluded he had delivered this account under a veil, lest his me- 

 thod should be discovered : for it is plain, that by 4 billets he could not mean 

 the fuel, as they would scarcely warm a hogshead of water. When, ruminating 

 on this, it came into his head, that he burnt his 4 billets to ashes, and with the 

 mixture of those ashes with sea-water he distilled a hogshead of fresh water 

 wholesome and nourishing. Pleased with this discovery, he cut a billet small, 

 and burnt it to ashes: and after cleaning the pot, he put into it a spoonful of 

 those ashes, with the usual quantity of sea-water. The result answered his ex- 

 pectations: the water came off bright and transparent, with an agreeable pun- 

 gent taste, which at first he thought was occasioned by the ashes, but afterwards 

 he was convinced it received it from the resin or turpentine in the pot, or pipes 

 annexed to it. He was now^ relieved from his fears of being distressed through 

 want of water; yet thought it necessary to advise his people not to be too free 

 in the use of this, while they had any of their old stock remaining; and told 

 them, he would make the experiment first himself; which he did, by drinking 

 a few glasses every day without any ill effect whatever. This water was equally 

 light with the other, and lathered very well with soap. They had expended their 

 old stock of water before they reached England ; but had reserved a good quan- 

 tity of that which they distilled. After his arrival at Shields, he invited several 

 of his acquaintance on board to taste the water: they drank several glasses, and 

 thought it nothing inferior to spring water. He made them a bowl of punch of 

 it, which was highly commended. 



He had not the convenience of a still, or he should have repeated the experi- 



