47 
longs to the English sea captaixr, J Wormley, brother-in-law of Mr, 
Amory, and, though small, is very neatly arranged, and hand¬ 
somely situated. A small lake, called the Fresh Pond, with its 
shady trees, affords a very picturesque view. After spending 
some time very agreeably with his friendly family, we returned 
at nine o’clock in the evening, by way of Cambridge to Boston. 
I visited the navy-yard on the 5th August, in company with 
Major Wainwright, of the marines, and Lieutenant Gwynn. In 
the small barracks of the marines where we commenced, the 
rooms is not large; the beds stand on a platform, so that the rooms 
are very narrow and close. The appearance of the soldiers was 
not remarkable. The navy-yard was founded only twelve 
years ago, and not yet completed, but is very extensive. A dry 
dock has not yet been made, but will be advantageously placed. 
The two line of battle ships, Columbus and Independence, and 
the frigate Java, were in ordinary. Two line of battle-ships and 
a corvette were on the stocks, and not yet named. The two 
former, which were under sheds, were finished, so that they could 
leave the stocks as soon as government should order. But as no 
loss was incurred, the vessels were allowed to lie on the stocks, 
and under shelter as long as possible, that the wood may become 
still better seasoned. The sheds are larger than the English, and 
are actual houses. The two vessels are very modestly called se¬ 
venty-fours, but have each three decks; the one pierced for one 
hundred and thirty thirty-two pounders, and the other for an 
hundred and thirty-six, of the same caliber. They are built of 
live oak, and to prevent the dry rot, salt is scattered among the 
timbers, which, as I was told, was of great advantage. The ves¬ 
sels are so high and roomy, that I could stand erect in the two 
lower batteries under the beams. Some methods which tend to 
strengthen and relieve vessels, used in other places, have not yet 
been adopted here; for instance, I did not observe the cruciform 
strengthening of the sides, and the diagonal deck, according to 
the plan of Sir Robert Seppings, from which two improvements 
the navies of England and the Netherlands derive the greatest 
advantage. The same system which prevails in England is ob¬ 
served here, namely, not to employ shipwrights for builders, 
as in the Netherlands and in France, but carpenters. Mr. Baker, 
the master shipwright of this place, with whom I became ac¬ 
quainted, is considered to be a very skilful man. 
After we had seen the navy-yard, been much gratified with its 
good condition, and wishing it might soon be finished, we visited 
the lady of the commissioner, Captain Craine, who was absent. 
The commissioner’s house belongs to the government, and is 
placed on a height overlooking the navy-yard; the architect who 
planned it, worried the commissioner with continual questions re- 
