376 Method of Secur ing a Ship's Beams . 
NO. 74. 
Method of Securing the Beams oj Ships , ivithout wooden 
Knees made of one Piece. By Mr. George Wil= 
LIAMS.* 
(With an engraving.) 
I SUBMIT to you, for the inspection of the Society, 
the following particulars of my invention for the better 
securing of the beams of ships of war, East and West 
India ships, and all others where strength, dispatch, 
room, and cheapness are required. In this method less 
iron in weight, and fewer bolts are necessary, than in 
the iron knees before in use ; there is also less strain 
upon the bolts, as the block underneath is morticed 
both into the beam and side of the ship, as well as 
bolted. 
Upon this plan the work is all done under the hand, 
which is executed much quicker than in the former plan, 
where the work is all done over hand, and where great 
nicety is requisite in making the bolt-holes which pass 
through both the iron stays. In my method much more 
room is also gained between decks for stowage and work- 
ing the guns, and even a porthole may be made under 
the beam itself. 
I calculate the saving in a 74-gun ship or East India- 
man to be as follows, viz. 
Ton. Cwt. qrs . lbs. s. d. L. s. d. 
Copper bolts, 2 1 3 9 at 1 4 per lb. 305 8 0 
Iron, 2 12 56 per cwt. 145 12 0 
Three men and one boy ? s time for a month 45 17 6 
Timber . . . . . . 50 0 0 
£546 17 6 
* Nicholson, vol. 26, p. 187. From the Transactions of the Society for the Bn- 
eouragement of Arts, ksf c. vol, 27, p. 142.-—The silver medal was voted to Mr. 
Williams for this invention. 
