SHIP BUILDING. 
rabbit, by the radius 24 feet, keeping the 
centre tlie same height above the upper 
edge of the rabbit on the keel, as there tlie 
aft-side of the rabbit on the stem at the gun- 
deck, and the rabbit of the keel, intersect 
each other, by carrying the centre 7 inches 
before the first ; then describe the aft-side 
of the rabbit, and by opening the radius 4 
inches more, the fore-side of the rabbit will 
be parallel to the aft-side, and the stem and 
rabbit shown below the lower-deck, except 
the boxing, or keel, which will be deter- 
mined on hereafter ; then set up from the 
upper edge of the rabbit of the keel, on the 
foremost perpendicular, 36 feet, the height 
of the upper part of the stejn, and draw a 
horizontal line upon this line before the per- 
pendicular; set off 15 inches, which is what 
the stem rakes forward at the head, thence 
draw a straight line, or one a little curving, 
to break in fair with tlie back of the fore- 
most sweep, at gun-decks, and the fore-side 
of the stem is complete ; then draw ano- 
ther, 18 inches from, and parallel to, the 
fore-side, and the aft-side will be drawm ; 
then by the same curve the rabbit may be 
continued up on the fore-side, to the head 
of the stem, as the aft-side of the rabbit 
may not be drawn higher than the under- 
side of the wall. 
Proceed to draw in the stern-post thus ; 
before the after perpendienlar, on the up- 
per edge of the keel, set 7 inches ; then set 
up the after perpendicular 27 feet from the 
upper edge of the keel, and draw a hori- 
zontal line, which is the upper side of the 
wing transom on that line abaft the per- 
pendicular, set off 23 inches ; then a straight 
line, drawn through those two spots, will 
represent the aftside of the stern-post; 
then from the aft-side of the stern-post, set 
forward on the upper side of tiie keel 2 feet 
1 inch, and at the upper side of the wing 
transom 13 inches ; a straight line drawn 
through these two spots will be the aft-side 
of the rabbit, and another line, 4 inches pa- 
rallel before it, will be the fore-side of 
the rabbit, which will intersect the per- 
pendicular at the gun-deck. The stern- 
post thus far described, would be sufficient 
at present; but, to complete it, set up 2 
feet 8 inches above the upper-side of the 
wing transom, and continue upwards the 
aft-side ; then, on a line parallel to the un- 
der-side of the deck, at that height set for- 
ward 20 inches, and fi-om the aft-side 3 feet 
upon the upper-side of the keel ; a line 
draw'll through those spots and the sterp-po^t, 
will be represented from the head down- 
wards. Draw another line before the fore- 
side of the post, on the keel, 16 inches, ano 
, at the under-side of the deck transom 13 
inches, and the fore side of the inner post 
will be likewise represented. Thus we 
have the extremities of the ship below the 
main-breadth. 
The height of breadth-lines are next to 
be drawn on the sheer plan, and there they 
determine the height of the broadest part 
ot the ship, at each transverse section or 
timber ; that nearest the keel, is called the 
lower height of breadth, and the one above, 
the upper height of breadth. The lower 
height of breadth in the midships generally 
is placed midway between the ports and 
the load- water line in naval ships, and ra- 
ther above the load-water line in merchant- 
ships; its quick rise forward and aft is 
highly requisite for preserving a greater 
breadth above the load-waterline, to assist 
and relieve the ship in her pitching and 
rolling motions in a heavy sea, lifting her 
forward, and making her lively, as the sea- 
men call it. In order to set up the height 
of breadth-lines, it is necessary that the sta- 
tions of several of the timbers should be set 
off between the perpendicular at 0, and 
the stem forward, and stern post abaft : 
here the timber and room, or room and 
space, must be determined, which is the 
distance between the moulding edges, or 
joints of every two timbers, and an interval 
of two or more inches between them ; for 
here it may be observed, that in moulding 
the timbers, either before or abaft this Joint ’ 
or station, the moulds are made to the same 
line, as they are supposed to adjoin each 
other ; but this method could not be true, 
supposing the timbers to be separated some 
distance apart ; and it must be here also 
further observed, it being of the utmost 
consequence to the strengtli of the ship, 
that all the frame-timbers should be pre- 
served whole, and not cut or wounded by 
the ports, at the timbers appointed to make 
the sides of ports should run up to the top 
of the side, and are to be united or framed 
together into bends, before they are gotten 
up into their places in the ship : thus, those 
intended to make the sides of ports, are 
called frame-timbers; and those cut off 
under the ports, or between the frames, 
are called filling timbers, the third futtocks 
of which, to increase the strength, should 
run up to the under-sides of the ports, if 
possible. 
The room and space of this ship is 2 feet 
9 inches, consequently the distance of every 
