The Locust. 



for his learning than he is for his goodness. The Law- 

 rences are, Effingham, the uncle, and Henry, the father, 

 of Messrs. Lawrence, merchants at New York, who trade 

 with London and Liverpool. Doctor Townsend is the 

 brother of Mrs. Effingham Lawrence. He was in 

 London last June 1822, and must, doubtless, be known 

 to many of the faculty in London. In short, these are all 

 persons of the first respectability in every sense of that 

 word. 



343. Before I dismiss this part of the subject, namely, 

 the great durability of the wood, it is bare justice to myself 

 to insert two extracts from other English works : the first 

 is part of a Note, by Hunter, in his edition of Evelyn's 

 Svlva; the second is an extract from the Gentleman's 

 Magazine of the year 179L I beg the reader's attention 

 to these extracts. 



344. Note from Hunter's Edition of Evelyn's Sylva. 



My excellent friend, Joseph Harrison, Esq., of Bawtry, has favoured me 

 with the following ohservations, in a letter dated July 25, 1782 : — " The first 



experiment that 1 know of, respecting the application of the timber of the 

 " Locust-tree to any purposes in ship-building, was in Virginia, where 1 

 " resided some time about the year 1733; aud there, happening to be ac- 



quainted with an ingenious shipwright, that had been sent over by some 

 ** merchants of Livei-pool to build two large ships, I had frequent conversa- 



tions with him, respecting the qualities of the several principal timber trees 

 " in that country. Being a person of observation, he had made many useful 

 " remarks on that subject; which the nature of his employment afforded 

 *' many opportunities of doing with advantage. He reckoned the Oaks, Elms, 

 " Ashes, and many other timber-trees common to both countries, much in- 

 " ferior to the same sorts in England ; but frequently spoke of the Locust- 

 " tree, as of extraordinai7 qualities both for strength and duration ; and used 

 " often to say, if a sufficient quantity could be had, it would be the best tim- 

 " her he had ever met with for the building of ships. After he had completed 

 " his engagements with his employers at Liverpool, he set a small vessel on 

 the stocks for himself; but unluckily, not having a sufficient quantity of 



