THE ACACIA. 



233 



in a ship, purposing, when he arrived in England 

 to bore out the Locust trenails, and drive iron 

 bolts in their stead. When he first informed me 

 of this scheme, I must own I thought the experi- 

 ment very hazardous. However, as necessity has no 

 law, he put it in practice. The ship was built in 

 that manner, loaded, and sailed for Liverpool, 

 where she arrived safe ; and though they met with 

 some blowing weather on the passage, she never 

 made so much water, but that one pump could 

 easily keep her free. She returned back to Vir- 

 ginia the next year, when I had an opportunity 

 of being informed by the builder himself (who 

 was then captain of her) what had been the result 

 of his project. He said, that during the passage, 

 especially in blowing weather, he was very atten- 

 tive in examining the waterways,* as, at that 

 place, weak ships are most liable to work and 

 strain, but that he could not perceive any thing 

 more than is usual in other vessels. When un- 

 loaded she was hauled ashore upon the bank, in 

 order to be searched both outside and inside ; 

 when, on the strictest examination, it was found 

 that the Locust trenails that had been substituted 

 for iron bolts, seemed (to all appearance) to have 

 effectually answered the purpose intended ; how- 

 ever, it was thought prudent to take several of 

 them out and put in bolts in their room : and this 

 operation afforded another proof of their extra- 

 ordinary strength and firmness, as they endure to 

 be backed out, f with a set-bolt, just as well as 



* The Waterway is that part of a ship's deck that is next to the 

 sides of the ship ; this seam, or joint, is very difficult to keep tight, 

 and in weak vessels will open and shut in carrying sail, when it blows, 

 hard. 



f Backing out a bolt or trenail is driving it out by means of a tool 



