Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-01-26

unaninous vote in It's favor. For his own
part, Mr.. M. faid he was wiling 10 adj
mir the project teadble one, and for the
prslcnt he lhould not difpuse it. The.
warfare with TripoIi was now npon OUT
hands; and we might have other wars.
The preferystion OF the lhips of the navy
was great public Object. The common
mode adopted by nations he believed was
TO expend comfortable fun Of mcuey
annually in repairs. Ships could be hove
down, or taken inro dry docks, and uu-
derpo all manner Of fearching, caulkins,
ccpper;ne, ard repairs. In the ordinary
mode OF taking lhips in lucceilively, one
dock, capable of containing one ihps
would anfwer for a great number; and
each veGeI, after being dried, cleared, and
oyerhau!ed, could be launched again into
her element. The pfefent object was
for,ewhas different. 1t mediiated dry
dock, or receptacle, in which twelve
large (hips could be laid up at once.
He did not know how far experience had
warranted fnoh an experiment. But he
had been told of fomething OF the fame
kind done in Sweden; and i, had been
Eaid ,ha, Venice had an eftabliihment ofa
like nature. But the details of informa.
ton concerning them were far from being
70 ample and correct as would render them
preceden,s in the prefeot inaance. 1.-THE
Object could be accomplished, the advance
Of the fun required for the work, would
Put the navy 10 irch fate Of pEefervation,
that hips {heltered within the dry dock
would remain great length OF time, IN.
injured by common accidents. With re-
gard TO ne4v flips, not launched nor wet.
ted in fervice, there could be no doubt
they might be 70 covered and protected as
TO keep as well as furniture In houie.
While dry and lhaded, there was no quel-
ton Gifts ability to remain found and un'
changed. Blu, it was different with HIPS
that had grown foul and water 'oaken 10
the ocean. Il was very Questionable
whether the dampnefs acquired could
ever be 70 thoroughly dried out as to
prevent putretaaion. The water I'm.
bibed would not eaGly quit the plank'
and ti..lbers, covered as they were with
heatl,:ng, copper ard hallaa. Enougs
moifure would, he feared, remain there
TO continue the procefs Of corruption
and decay in the wooden work. Such
MATS Of timber, foaked thro' and thfo'
would perhaps fall to pieces the faits'
for being kept a long time out OF w sI
The receptacle would probably be da'ap'
and ventilation imperfect. Septic va
pours with moiRure would exert their
diiorganizing powers. The Ntmyf6f'9
beat being greater than the tempelAsu's
Of y;z,er 7uafer would accelerate the rot
ting in fumm-r. And the expanhVe
power Of ice formed from the inloloed and
confined water, might be expected TO 90
no fmall mitchell in winter. Woen
fhip was under water@her Temperature
was more equal, neither 70 hot In io"'"ef
nor cold in winter, as bodies above wafels
and consequently lefs eSpoied TO the cauieS
of decay. r.
He Ga ould not however proceed any tu'-
ther at prelent on this copious iu0Jett;
but infpend further remarks until nc
ihould hear from the gentlemen who Fad
turned their attention TO the project, now
this novel and economical proportion Pre-.
tented itfeifto their understandings, ana
whether they felt any doubts like 'h0''
which occupied his own.
(De5ate 10 be eenti1ned.)