The Locust. 



that when Cropper, Benson, and Co., of Liverpool, 

 built their East Indiamen, they imported the Locust 

 trunnels and some other of the timbers from New York. 

 We have a monstrous deal to do, in many respects, 

 to make our navy (gun for gun) a match for that of the 

 United States; but if we had accomplished every other 

 point, there would still remain want of timber, unless we 

 supplied ourselves with the Locust, at the least. The 

 Hickory we should want for handspikes, for mast-hoops, 

 and other hoops to go round the yards and stays. Various 

 other things would be wanted to make our ships as light 

 and as roomy as those of the Americans, and with the same 

 degree of strength ; but, without the Locust, it is impossible 

 to match them. 



330. But, important as these matters are, these are, by 

 no means, to be compared to the various uses about build- 

 ings and fences. I have said that this wood is indestructi- 

 ble by the elements, except that of fire. How many thou- 

 sands of houses are rendered useless in England, every year, 

 by that thing which they call the dry rot, proceeding solely 

 from those villanous soft woods, which impatient people 

 take such delight in planting, and which carpenters of 

 delicate constitution take such delight in sawing and plan- 

 ing, English Spine Oak is stronger than Deal; and if you 

 keep it dry, it will not rot; but let it lie in the wet, or 

 damp, and let the air get at it at the same time, and no 

 villanous Deal board will turn to earth more quickly. Win- 

 dow sills of the best of Oak will rot, if something be not 

 done to keep away the wet from getting under them : and 

 in this very way the dry rot has got into many a house. 

 Oak door sills are rotten in a very short time. The ends 

 of beams and of joists, if they rest upon brick or stone, 

 where the moisture is constantly about them, rot in a few 



