377 
Tin . 
metallurgy have been, especially from Germany,) I have 
not been able to learn. In the first account which I have 
seen of its being practised in England, it is said to have 
been an invention of Major Hanbury at Fontypool , the ac- 
count was written in 1697, and many plates had then been 
rolled.* The milling of lead, however, which is an ope- 
ration of the same kind, had been practised in the year 
1670 ; for an act of parliament was passed in that year, 
granting unto Sir Philip Howard , and Francis Watson , 
Esq ; the sole use of the manufacture of milled lead, for 
the sheathing of ships. A book was published in 1691, 
intitled, The New Invention of Milled- Lead for sheathing 
of Ships , &c. It appears from this book, that about 20 
ships, belonging to the navy, had been sheathed with lead ; 
but the practice was discontinued, on account of the 
Complaints of the officers of the navy, that the rudder 
irons and bolts under water, had been wasted to such a 
degree, and in so short a space of time, as had never been 
observed upon any unsheathed or wood- sheathed ships . 
The persons then interested in sheathing with lead, pub- 
lished a sensible defence; and amongst other things, they 
remarked, that bath the Dutch and English had ever been 
in the habit of sheathing the stern-posts and the beards 
of the rudders with lead or copper ; and that the Portu- 
guese and Spaniards did then sheath the whole bodies of 
their ships, even of their gabions, with lead, and had done 
it for many years. Copper sheathing has since taken 
I place in the navy, but it is said to be liable to the same 
objections which were, above a century ago, made to lead 
jj sheathing. It is preferable, however, to lead, on account 
I of its lightness. If the fact should be once well establish- 
led, that ships sheathed with lead or copper, will not last 
>! so long as those which are unsheathed, or sheathed only 
* Phil . Trans. Ab. vol. V. 
