OF FOREST-TREES. 235 



sea-coal ; but nothing has yet been found more expedient than the late CHAP. IV. 

 application of thin lamins of sheet-lead, if that also be no impediment ^--^v^*»-' 

 to sailing : however, there are many kinds of wood in the Western- 

 Indies (besides the Acajou) that breed no worms, and such is the White 

 Wood of Jamaica, proper enough to build ships. In the mean time, let 

 me not omit what the learned Dr. Lister, in his Notes upon Godarius of 

 Insects, says, That he is persuaded there could not be a more probable 

 expedient to discover what kind of timber were best for sheathing, than 

 to tie certain polished pieces of wood (cut like tallies) to a buoy, in some 

 waters and streams much infested with the worms ; for that sort of wood 

 which the worm should refuse, would in all reason be chosen for the use 

 desired. The Indies being stored with greater varieties of timber than 

 Europe, it were probable there might some be found, which that kind 

 of river-worm will never attack \ 



For all uses, that timber is esteemed the best which is the most pon- 

 derous, and which, lying long, makes deepest impression in the earth, or 

 in the water, being floated ; also what is without knots, yet firm, and 

 free from sap, which is that fatty, whiter, and softer part, called by the 

 ancients. Alburnum, which you are diligently to hew away. 



Our ships of war, destined for the West-Indies, are now sheathed with plates of copper; 

 and this improvement in naval architecture is found to answer the purpose of effectually 

 preventing the ravages of the sea- worm, whereby the ships are enabled to continue longer 

 upon their stations. This worm (teredo navalis) which is found so pernicious to the works 

 of man, appears to have the same office allotted to it by the Author of Nature, as the termites 

 upon land : for was it not for the rapacity of the sea-worm, tropical rivers would be choked 

 up by the bodies of trees which are annually carried down by the rapid torrents. Wood, 

 when immersed in deep water, is almost incorruptible, but when acted upon by those nu- 

 merous animals, it is soon reduced into small particles, and, mixing with the ocean, is thrown 

 upon the shore, where the sun, air, and various insects, speedily bring about its entire dis- 

 solution, in which state it becomes vegetable earth. This is part of the regular system by 

 which the Supreme Being continues, directs, and governs the works of his creation, dissolu- 

 tion and combination regularly following each other in endless succession : 



Haud igitur penjtus pereunt queecumque videntur : 

 Quando aliud ex alio reficit natura : nec ullam 

 Rem gigni patitur, nisi morte adjutam aliena. 



LUCRET. 



