[ 455 ] 
broken, and turned over in a white foam. Com- 
mon waves lift aveffel, without entering it ; but thefe 
when large fometimes break above and pour over it, 
doing great damage. 
That this effect might in any degree he prevent- 
ed, or the height and violence of waves in the fea 
moderated, we had no certain account; pliny’s- 
authority for the practice of fea men in his time being 
ilighted. But dilcourfing lately on this fubjedt with 
his excellency Count ben tin ck of Holland, his fon 
the honourable Captain bentinck, and the learn- 
ed profeffor allemand, (to all whom I (hewed 
the experiment of fmoothing in a windy day the 
large piece of water at the head of the Green Park j) 
a letter was mentioned which had been received by 
the Count from Batavia, relative to the faving of a 
Dutch fhip in a ftorna, by pouring oil into the fea. . 
I much defired to fee that letter, and a copy or it . 
was promifed me, which I afterward received ( b J . 
i 
(b) Extrait d’une Lettre de Mr. TENGNAGEL a Mr. !e Corate de 
bentinck, eciite de Batavia le 15 Janvier, 1770. 
Pres des ifles Paulus Si Amlierdam nous effuiames un orage, qui 
n’eut rien d’aflez particulier pour vous etre marque, fi non que 
notre capitaine fe trouva oblige en tournant lous le vent, de 
veifer de l’huile contre la haute iner, pour empecher les vagues de 
fe brifer contre le navire, ce qui reuffit a nous conferver, & a e e 
d’un tres bon effet : com me il n’en vtrfa qu’une petite quantite 
a !a fois, la compagnie doit peut-etre fon vaifleau a. fix demi 
aumes d’huile d’olive : j’ai ete prefent quand cela s’eft fait, & je 
ne vous aurois pas entretenu de cette circonftance, fi ce n’etoit 
que nous avons trouve les gens ici fi prevenus contre l’experience, 
que les officiers du bord ni moi n’avons fait aucune difficulte de 
donner un certificat de la verite fur ce chapitre. 
Ext raff 
