His Majesty's Ships of War, 1 
Fig. 2. The new principle. 
Let CC represent the fulcrum, or point of support. 
And DD two weights attached for the purpose of ascertam- 
ing the comparative strength or stiffness of each frame. 
This experiment will shew that the stiffness of fig. 2 is to 
that of fig. 1, as 6 is to 1, and the strength as 3 to 1. 
The greater the length of the frames, the greater w'ill be the 
advantages of the new principle, both in stiffness and strength. 
The substitution of the triangle, as in the frame of fig. 2, 
for the rectangle in the frame fig. 1, comprehends the prin- 
ciple of the new system, the use and advantages of wdiich will 
be sufficiently evident. 
The arrangement of the materials in the triangular mode 
is such, that the pieces disposed horizontally are acted upon as 
ropes are by a strain of the fibre, w^hilst the other parts, com- 
posing a series of triangles, are pressed upon as pillars ; in other 
words, the pressure acts in the direction of the fibres of the 
wood ; Vvhereas upon the rectangular, or old plan, the fibres 
are acted upon transversely, or across the grain, in the same 
manner as a stick is when placed across the knee and pressed 
