SAHS OF SHIFS. 231 



been (rjed^ proved, and neglefted, while others bave failed 

 from the unavoidable expence, neceflarily attending all ex- 

 periments on a large fcale, which require repetitions to bring 

 to perfe^iion; or from partial interefts or prejudices, being 

 oppofed with fuccefs (which not unfrequently happens) to 

 improvements of general advantage. And many are apt to 

 iuppofe that particular arts and fciences are brought to the 

 higheft degree of perfeftion they are capable of, though ex- 

 perience every day convinces us to the contrary. 



The largeft (hips might be much more eafily navigated, if 

 the improvements on capfterns, windlafles, blocks, hawfe- 

 hules, &c. were univerfaiiy adopted from the great redudion 

 of the fri<5lion. 



The following explanation will be eafily underftood by 

 thofe who are acquainted with the conftrudion of a (hip. See 

 I'lateVI. 



The courfes and top gallant fails are to be reefed from the 

 deck, and the top fails by one man at each lower yard arm. 



A. The after-part of the fails. Defcrlption of 



B. A ftrong band on the after-part of tire fails, fewed on at ^^.^ '^proved 

 the upper part only, and roped at the lower part. 



C. The long clews of the courfe, formed by the bight of 

 the leech rope and rope of the reef band with thimbles, ieized 

 in above the tack blocks, for lafliing the lower clews to. 



D. The tacks and flieets fitted to the upper clews of the 

 courfes with thimbles above the tack blocks. 



E. The buntlines, brought up through the thimbles H, on 

 the foot ropes of the fails, and bent to the cringles I, on the 

 ropes of the reef bands. 



F. A fmall rope or gaflcet, rove, occafionally as a reef line, 

 through eyelet holes, under the reef bands, and made faft to 

 the middle fail, for confining the fail when reefed, in the 

 wake of the reef bands. 



G. Thimbles in theclevvs and earlngs. 



K. Thimbles on the foot rope with the earlngs rove through 

 Ihem. 



L. The reef tackle pendants, paffing through thimbles in 

 the clews and leech of the top-fail, and brought up and bent 

 to the cringles above the upper reef band. 



M. A boom tackle or burton hooked to the reef pendants. 



JST. Jhe crow'foot legs to the top gallant buntline. 



5 N.B» 



