14,0 Sir Robert Seppings on a new principle 
to have happened to ships of war on their being taken into 
dock) and still reach the place of her destination ; when the 
loss of either , would be the destruction of a ship built on the 
present mode. It will be evident also, that a ship constructed 
as now recommended, possesses greater stowage, and more 
space for leakage, than by the old plan ; by the omission of 
the useless inner planking, and by laying the kentlage on 
dunnage, leaving a space for the water, which was formerly 
occupied by the inner lining. This dunnage in the bilge may 
be formed with the iron kentlage, and thereby serve as 
ballast, for which it is well calculated from its situation ; and 
by its occupying a space heretofore forming part of the fa- 
bric of the ship, will give an increase of stowage, as before 
stated. 
The best mode of closing the openings between the tim- 
bers, is by filling the intermediate spaces with pieces of wood, 
about three inches in depth, of such lengths as the inferior 
conversions will supply, abundance of which may be pro- 
cured from the offal. These fillings are to be well caulked, 
after which the exterior plank is to be brought on. When 
the works are going on within board, similar pieces are to 
be fitted internally, and afterwards taken out for the pur- 
pose of filling the spaces between the pieces so fitted, with a 
mixture of Parker's Roman cement and drift sand, in the 
following proportions, viz. 
Parker’s Roman cement, 3- 
Drift sand, - - - 7 
previously paying the opening well with coal tar. Where 
there is sufficient space, a brick, or part of one, may be in- 
troduced, provided there is room for cement between it and 
