No. 133.] 467* 



especially^the first. The frigate Constitution — ' old Iron -sides' as 

 the sailors nick-named her — which acquired so much glory for 

 herself and nation in the last British war, was built of the granite 

 oak named. This was owing, no doubt, principally to t^e skill, 

 spirit and bravery of her commanders and their crews, but not a 

 little to her building, and the materials of which she was built, 

 as a few facts will show. She was built by George and William 

 Cleg horn, brothers, of New Bedford in the Bay State, among the 

 best ship builders of that day, of which they had given many 

 proofs. These gentlemen not only knew good, well seasoned tim- 

 ber, but what is of equal importance, they knew how to put it 

 together so as to stand the hardest knocks. This vessel was built 

 of timber from the granite hills named. There is much silex or 

 sand in it; this combines with the potash or alkali, and crystal- 

 izes. When struck with force it yields and crumbles into fine 

 pieces or chips. These substances fall into the impression or cut 

 made by any hard external body, and partially fill it up. It 

 dulls, breaks aud spoils axes very soon. A cannon ball may 

 enter it and perhaps pass through it, but it makes a small hole, 

 easily fills up; it makes no splinters or slivers of any kind. This 

 is one reason why old ' Ironsides ' withstood the batteries of the 

 tempests and the enemy's balls as well ai, she did. The black 

 oak, I believe, stands next to the white in importance. It is a 

 large, majestic tree ; grows fast ; is more porous ; splits easier 

 than the white ; but if cut at the proper season, and well pre- 

 pared, makes good timber. This oak possesses more of the tan- 

 ning principle ; all of them possess this in a greater or less 

 degree. It also possesses the property of making the color yellow, 

 strong and bright; equal, and perhaps superior to any other ma- 

 terial. Dr. Bancroft, a good chemist and botanist, discovered 

 this quality in the tree during the Revolutionary war. He re- 

 sided in Boston, and when he went to England he made it known, 

 and it was used for that purpose in Europe to a great extent, and 

 is now. Large quantities were exported from here on that ac- 

 count. The tree is called black from the dark color of its ex- 

 ternal bark. I know the tree as well as I know the appk tree ; 

 its scientific name is quercus nigra tinctoria. 



I Assembly, No. 133. | 



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