Extract from Stalkart£ s Naval Architecture. 689 



of the desirable effect of carrying her guns higher. 

 Nor have I time sufficiently to expatiate upon these, 

 or to enumerate all the concomitant advantages which 

 I sincerely think the frigate in question will have 

 beyond all such as I have had any knowledge of 

 belonging to this or any other country. I much ap- 

 prove, too, of your ballasting her with iron, with your 

 reprobating the use of shingle for that purpose, and 

 never departing from the general principle of ballasting 

 with the densest attainable matter, ever to be placed as 

 low as possible, that, with less weight thereof than with 

 materials less dense can be effected, the requisite stiff- 

 ness under sail may be produced, to the great end that 

 the very important purposes mentioned and extensively 

 alluded to in the foregoing may be answered. Upon 

 the whole, then, I do not entertain a doubt of this your 

 proposed frigate sailing with such swiftness as will occa- 

 sion surprise, nor of her possessing every other eligible 

 quality a ship can have to a most eminent degree. Her 

 force, too, will evidently far exceed that of any ship car- 

 rying the same number of men and guns heretofore 

 sent to sea, at least that I have ever seen or heard of. 

 For the sake, then, of the public weal, so much depend- 

 ing upon improvement in our Naval Architecture, may 

 this your plan, so eminently tending thereto, meet with 

 all possible and immediate encouragement ; and that 

 you may enjoy perfect health to see the same quickly 

 carried into execution and trial, as also long to enjoy 

 the deserved fruits thereof, is most sincerely and 

 ardently wished by, 



Sir, your most, etc., 



Charles Douglas, 



B. Thompson, Esq. 



VOL. IV. 44 



