22 Mr Harvey’s Ohservatims on Sir E. Seppings' Plan 
than the good of tliat service to which they have so honourably 
devoted their lives 
To group together facts^ it has been observed, which have 
some important qualities common to them all, is the main scope 
and business of philosophy. Now, the examples contained in 
the Appendix alluded to, (of which those in the preceding Note 
may be regarded as a specimen), affords a most striking instance 
of the value and importance of this remark. Every document 
in the table bears a decided testimony to the uniform ^weakness 
of the stern. This is the common point or focus to which all 
the remarks tend ; and therefore, it may be added, without fear 
of contradiction, that the formation of the stem has decided ad-, 
vantages over the present formation of the stern. 
But the change which Sir Bobert Seppings contemplategj and 
which be has actually applied to several ships, is to communi- 
cate to the stern the strength and firmness of the bow, and to 
V. ^ ^ ^ . . . 
continue The. '^diagonal system of building which he has lately 
• For the information of those who may not have seen Sir Itohert Seppings*^ 
Letter, it may be observed, that the Appendix here alluded to, consists of extracts 
from the official reports of the officers who have commanded the different ships 
alluded to in it. The ships amount to about 120, namely, 60 of the line, and 
about the same number of frigates. The following is a specimen of the Appendix : 
74 
74 
98 
74 
50 
Ships* 
Names. 
Bellona, 
Minotaur, 
Lohdon, 
Ganges, 
Captains’ 
Names. 
T. B. Thompson, 
Mansfield, 
Western, 
Dundas, 
Adamant, Hothain, 
Date, 
Aug. 1799, 
Oct, 1806. 
May 1809. 
Mar. 1811. 
Dec. 1801. 
Kature of Defects. 
The poop works very much, so as to 
work the foremost bulk-head part- 
ly down. 
The poop is in a very weak state, wants 
adfditional security ; and when the 
ship rolls, the whole body of the 
poop goes over from side to side. 
The ends of the stern-timbers have 
forsook their seats, or scores, on 
the transom, on the larboard side. 
The stern shakes oy trembles much 
wfien in light winds, but much 
more so when in heavy seas. 
The stern frame and post work so 
much that the oakum works out, 
and the nails are drawn in the end 
of the deck, which occasions leaks 
in the bread-room. 
The stern-frame has fallen so, that 
the stern-timbers are nearly out of 
their steps op the wing traiisoip. 
