Method of Securing a Ship’s Beams. 377 
The models I have sent will, I trust, clearly explain 
to the Committee every circumstance, which will be 
thought necessary, I am, &c. 
George Williams, 
Explanation of the Engraving. Plate 12 , Fig. 1, S, 
and 3. 
Fig. 1 is a horizontal plan of a portion of a ship's 
side ; the planks of the deck being removed, to show the 
ends of two of the beams AA, which extend across the 
vessel. BB is the outside planking of the ship; CC the 
sections of the timbers or ribs ; and to these the beams AA 
are fastened by beaten iron triangular braces aa , similar 
in form to the Roman capital letter A. These are let 
into the beams, and attached there at the angle by three 
bolts going through them. Fig. 2 is a front view of only 
one beam, where the spectator is supposed to be looking 
towards the ship’s side ; and fig. 3 is part of a cross sec* 
tion of the vessel’s side ; the same letters are used as in 
the other figures. By inspecting these, it will be seen, 
that the ends of the brace aa are turned up and bolted to 
the timbers of the ship’s side by two bolts passing through 
each end, and through the timbers and the outside planks ; 
by which means the beams are secured from lateral mo* 
tion : and to brace them in a vertical direction the wooden 
block H, fig. 3, is fitted in beneath them, and two iron 
straps bolted on them ; one end of each of these straps is 
attached to the deck beams by the same bolts as the up- 
per brace aa ; the other ends are bolted against the inside 
planking, and an oblique bolt /z, fig. 3, passes through the 
middle of each strap and the ship’s side; III , fig. 1, are 
the small intermediate beams, answering to the joists of 
a floor, to which the planks of the deck are spiked down ; 
m, fig. 1, represents one of the planks, and the dotted 
lines show the joints of the others. In fig. 3, these planks 
Vol, II. 3 A 
