A detection Of the Shipwrights new Tricks in Combination wi●● Captain Ely, against LEAD-SHEATHING. Practised upon the Trumbal-Gally in Mr. Wells ' s Dock, Aug. 31. MDC XCIX.  
also an Account of the Lead-sheathing upon the WEEDAW. Together with a new Publication of the charge thereof. At 12d. a foot.  
ONe would think the Shipwright might be content with their profitable Trade of Building and necessary Reparation of Ships, wh●ch wi● continually bring wealth and work enough to them, let their Owners preserve them as well ●s they can, and Sheath with Lead that will: But 'tis not the bare profit perhaps of Wood ●heathing that makes them so obstinate against Evident Truth, tho' that be considerable also. They who ●ive not by the Preservation, but by the Damage and Decays of Plank and Shipping, which the Worm and ●●●d-sheathing do various ways promote, cannot be recon●●d to Lead-sheathng, 
† Vide the Papers formerly published, particularly the Certificate of the 6 Commanders that viewed the Antelope's Lead-sheathing, in presence of the Navy-Board, aftermentioned.  which ('tis fairly proved by Reason and Experience) does much preserve them: And there●● the Shipwrights in combination with one Captain ●ly, formerly a Shipwright also, and now the English East 〈…〉 Companies Husband, bend all their force and false suggestions, as the Old o●es are baffled, with new tricks 〈…〉 ppose it, as appeared more particularly of late upon the Trumbal Galley. which (having made one East-India 〈…〉 age in her Lead-sheathing, and being taken into the said Company's service) was brought into the Dock to fit, and 〈…〉 very next day Mr. Hale, appointed by Mr. Whaley her Owner to meet him about 5 in the afternoon at the Ships side, 〈…〉 ●iew her Sh●athing to mend what might be ●ami●s; when they were strangely surprised to find the Lead-sheathing 〈…〉 lly stripped off. But to satisfy the Owner; they told him, (as he did Mr. Hale the next morning) that Captain 〈…〉 had brought an Order from the Company, that she must be sheathed with Wood, and dispatched forthwith, which 〈…〉 same day, about noon, meeting with some of them, who signed the Order for fitting her out,) he found to be 〈…〉 tively false; they never having Ordered her Lead-sheathing to be stripped off, or, if there were cause for it, to 〈…〉 ose Wood-sheathing upon him, as they declared to him in Mr. Hale's presence, at which he seemed to be very 〈…〉 ch concerned that he should be put to such unnecessary charge.  
But if his Captain, (who was not present at this stripping, and who also had formerly been a Shipwright) was 〈…〉 scenting or conniving at it, it is supposed (his Ow●●● having left all things to his ordering, as he says) he was 〈…〉 lie able to pacify him, when he found how much 〈◊〉 had saved him of the usual charge of the Wood sheathing, 〈…〉 ch doubtless the Shipwrights amongst them had agreed to allow, be it what it will, rather than this Lead-sheath 〈…〉 should be continued, or a new one put on, as Mr. 〈◊〉, upon his discourse afterward with Mr. Whaley, can give very 〈…〉 d reasons to believe. But as for the hasty stripping, this nimble operation that could not stay one day for a fair 〈…〉, sufficiently declares to all indifferent persons the concern they lay under, lest its excellency should appear, for 〈…〉 there been any thing material to complain of, they would certainly have exposed it to be seen by every body.  
●he Sheathing being stripped, there appeared one place upon the Garble-strake, on the Starboard side aba●●, where 〈…〉 Worm had eaten, which Captain Ely. having espied, mightily bounced of his discovery, till the Owner said he 〈…〉 do Mr. Hale that right, to tell him that the Led ha● by an accident been rubbed of in that place at her first 〈…〉 out of the Dock. But the thing they in●●●●ed on, that required her stripping was, that the seams wanted 〈…〉 aulking, some said they were not well done at first, tho' to those that went down with Mr. Hale, they seemed all 〈…〉 ●ell; But why new Caulking here, and not under the Wood-sheathing above, which was done at the same 〈…〉? and as they told the Owner, need not be stripped these 10 years, 'twas readily answered, the Lead-sheathing 〈…〉 decayed the Oakam under it; but be that as it will, stripping was resolved on by Captain Ely, right or wrong; 〈…〉 told her Owner before she was put into the Dock, that the Lead-sheathing must come off, at which he being 〈…〉 what moved, said the Ship was his, and he would see very good cause for it, first; but it seems it was agreed 〈…〉 ngst them, that for that reason he should not see it at all. And, let Captain Ely deny, or say what he will to 〈…〉 use himself to his Masters, for abusing their Authority, the great Zeal and Concernment he is transported with, 〈…〉 senseless 〈◊〉) against the Lead-sheathing, relating to this Ship as well as those already gone in the Compa 〈…〉 Service, who would have sheathed with Lead, if they had been permitted, does so much discover his great Ignorance 〈…〉 Prejudice, that no body believes him, nor minds what he says, but such as are obliged to comply with his Power 〈…〉 Office.  
The ●ame Trick was formerly played for the better justification of stripping the Antelope's first Lead-sheathing (all 〈…〉 a sudden) to Cau●k her Seams without acquainting her Commander, Captain Hammond, he having said too ma 〈…〉 Truth's in favour of it; but he affirming to her Owner, Mr. Shepherd, that the Seams were very good and sound, 〈…〉 appointed a ti●● to hear them all together, when Mr. Hale producing some of the Spun Yarn that lay in her Seams full 〈…〉 Pi●ch, fr●sh and strong as at first, the Shipwright was forced to own it to Mr. Shepheard, and said, that the 〈…〉 indeed, were 〈◊〉 and good next the Lead, but that they were rotten from within Board, and not well 〈…〉 at first, which 〈◊〉 new Caulking, and for that reason, as also to new drive her Iron-spikes, which had been 〈◊〉 from her 〈◊〉 building, He found it necessary to strip her sheathing, not because 'twas Lead, for had it been a 〈…〉 never ●o good, he said, it must come off. But if Caulking after one Voyage be made an excuse for 〈…〉 riping, Why do●● they Caulk better at first? The true reason must be, because a Lead-sheathing is to be brought 〈…〉; And if these Tricks and Pretences will serve, to be sure a Lead-sheathing (tho' 'twould last as long as the Ship) 〈…〉 be stripped every Voyage.  
If Owners will still believe the Shipwright, and suffer themselves to be thus imposed upon, Who can help it? But if their Commander, Master, or some body else that understands it, they can trust, will be constantly by, but for 2 or 3 days, and see the searching and caulking of every Seam, and sound Oakam driven themselves, certainly their trouble or expense would be very well recompensed; for (●his objection being once removed) they could have no pretence thus to put the unnecessary charge of a new sheathing u●on them. Tho' Mr. Hale has sufficiently cleared this matter about the Seams, as well as other things, in his An●elope's Evidence, Printed in May 1698. Several Months before she was new Sheathed, which some of them should ●●ve Answered, and put his name to it, if they had had any thing to say against the Truth thereof, while the Ships sid●●, with her seams and sheathing lay in the Dock to be seen by every body, which would easily determine the point, and certainly they had done it, under those provocations, if they had had any thing material to say against it: But they could never answer that, nor any other of the Papers, he has been obliged to Print, to vindicate the excellency of his Lead-sheathing, against their many false suggestions, and idle stories they had raised about it. But the Truth of that Paper appears by the Testimony of six Experienced Masters, and Commanders of good credit, who in presence of the Navy-Board, viewed the Antelope's Lead-sheathing, and the Plank and Seams where it was stripped, and have justified it under their hands among other things, That (not to mention the known damage of the great Iro●●-Nails, of the other) they found the Lead-sheathing did preserve the Plank better, more cool, smooth and sound and the Oakam longer in the Seams, than a Wood-sheathing could do, besides its certain security against the Worm, and great benefit in Sailing, etc.  
The Weedaw Friggot having made her Voyage in her Lead-sheathing, to Guinea, and the West-Indies, was brought into Mr. Fowler's Dock at Limehouse, the 19th. Instant▪ to be fitted out for the same Voyage again, where any one may find her sheathing and seams under it, very good and sound, in respect of the sheathing itself, and no cause for stripping, save only in those places where the Shipwright had mixed Elm Plank with the Oaks, which being doted and rotten, was shifted, about a tenth part, which was with little charges new sheathed with Lead: But where upon searching the Plank was sound; they found the Seams sound also, and no need of stripping the whole sheathing, as the Trumball-Galley was, to new caulk her Seams, pretending the Lead-sheathing had rotten the Oakam under it, as abovementioned. The Foe had visited her sheathing two nights before she came into the Dock, but finding themselves discovered by the Watch, who was set for that purpose, after they had torn off about two Foot, they got off to the shore, being pursued, they left their Boat and ran away.  
Obj. It is newly objected. That tho' what is said of the preference of Lead-sheathing to that of Wood, may be true, yet th● thing can never do; for ●f the Shipwrights find they cannot keep it out, they will agree to leave some places so defectively Caulked about the Seams, or Trunnel-holes, etc. not discoverable by the eye, which shall soon become very Leaky, and then lay the fault upon the Lead-sheathing. Thus the Owners being over persuaded, or always i● fear of ill Caulking, will be unwilling to venture it, and so the Lead-sheathing will fall; and if Mr. Hale wil● carry it on, he must get a Dock of his own.  
This ill Caulking may, by the Owners care, and little charge, be prevented by the means abovementioned: 
Ans. 1.  Or they may reserve the Caulkers (which is not the Carpenters) work to themselves, and employ those the● can trust to see it well done, unless the Shipwright will lay this Trick aside, and undertake for the goodness of h●● Seams, that they shall last (at least) as long under a Led as under a Wood-sheathing, which (it is plain from wh●● is proved by Reason and Experience as above) preserves them better.  
But if they will not, certainly if Owners would but consult their interest also, which is very considerable 
2.  in this matter, they would not suffer their own Reason and Profit to be thus invaded by the Tricks a●● Interest of the Shipwrights, to their great charge and damage to their Ships and Sailing; but agree amongst themselves to oblige the Shipwrights, who get their living by them, and vast profit otherwise, by new Building a●● necessary Reparation of their Ships) to permit them quietly to preserve their Hulls by careful Caulking and Le●●-sheathing, or any ways else they think fit.  
As for Mr. Hales taking a Dock purposely for that Work, there is no need, nor reason for that, for if 〈…〉 
3.  Lead-sheathing be countenanced, it is not to be supposed, one or two Docks would be sufficient to dispatch all 〈…〉 will sheath with Lead, many of which may happen at the same time. He is indeed offered by a Shipwright to 〈…〉 a Hulk in a convenient place to Careene Ships of any burden for his Lead-sheathing, which (as he is infor 〈…〉 may be better done, and Caulked also upon the Careene, than in a Dock. But this Shipwright is afraid to 〈…〉 till he can receive some assurance that the Lead-sheathing will go on, that he may not expose himself to 〈…〉 and the ill will of his Fraternity for nothing.  
Now for the further encouragement of those that shall make use of this Lead-Sheathing hereafter, altho' 〈…〉 Antelope ' s Evidence abovementioned, and other Printed Papers, it's much greater cheapness (as well 〈…〉ness) is fully proved at the rate of 14d. a foot, in respect of an East-India Wood-Sheathing, at 〈…〉 Penny, and even of an ordinary straits Sheathing of 7d. a foot, by the graving saved, duration 〈…〉 of the Lead wh●n stripped. Mr. Hale hereby proposes to do it for 12d. a foot with the same thickness of 〈…〉 3 l. to the foot, and the same Nailing at 1½ inch distance, close driven in the Seams, with the Nails h 〈…〉 hitherto used, approved by long experience everywise proper for the work, allowing only for extraordinary 〈…〉ness of the bottom of the Keel and Cut-water, as that shall be required to be done; and for abundant 〈…〉tion against Beats and Lyters, he will Sheath over and between the Wales with Led a third part 〈…〉 and double nailing, driving one between each; Provided always, that there be no Wood-sheathi 〈…〉 ●bove, and that the Carpenter or Caulker may have no pretence of business to do on the side he is at work, 〈◊〉 hath hitherto by their Spawles, Stages, etc. caused him great trouble and damage, but that the Ships 〈…〉 be prepared (by paying, and parcelling the Ironwork, Spun-Yarn in the Seams, or otherwise, as they shall 〈…〉 fit) ready to bring the Lead-sheathing on, desiring only that he may have the use of the boards an 〈…〉 terials in the Yard, to make his Table for his Plumbers to open and fit his Lead, and for Stages 〈…〉nient to bring it on, and a room as near the Ship as may be to lock up his goods till his work be done.  
Or to enforce this Improvement for public good as well as benefit to those that use it, (altho' his Patent b 〈…〉 in being, yet) if any one thinks he can perform the work of Sheathing cheaper, and as well with Nails of h〈…〉 providing, he is willing to sell them his Lead at the rates published, which others pay for Houses, and 〈…〉 purposes, viz. 16 s. a Hundred, for the thicker sorts of 6 l. to the foot and upwards, and for the th' 〈…〉 sorts 12 d. a hundred more for each pound in a foot less: Or if they please to buy their Lead themse 〈…〉 and send it in to his Mill at Deptford, he will Cast and Mill it for them, and return them Weight 〈…〉 Weight in Milled Lead, at 5 s. a hundred for the thicker sorts, and 12 d. a hundred for each pound 〈…〉 foot thinner as aforesoid.  
Mr. Hale lives at the Mill'd-Lead sign in Orange-street, by Red-Lyon-Square, who undert 〈…〉 all Led Work about Churches, Houses, etc. as well as Sheathing, having Plumbers and 〈…〉 Workmen to perform the same, and sells his Solder for 6 d. a pound.   

LONDON, Printed Septemb. 27. 1699.