THE Antelope's Evidence; a third time published with additions. OR, An Experimental and Ocular Demonstration Of the Goodness and Excellency of MILL'D-LEAD-SHEATHING, Above that of WOOD  
Wherein is also proved, that It is much Cheaper at 14 d. a foot, the Rate published, THAN Wood-sheathing, if it were reckoned but at 7 d. a foot.  
The Lead being considered only to last no longer than an Ordinary Wood-sheathing, tho' 'tis evident it would Outlast many of the Best that were ever put on.  
THIS Ship was Sheathed with Milled Lead in March, 1694/5; the first Summer she was employed in the King's Service, and then upon her return sent by her Owners a Voyage to the East Indies, from whence also being returned, and put into Mr. Snelgrove's Dock, in March 1697/8, where she was viewed by the Navy-Board, 9th of April, and has been seen by many others before and since, and still remaining there, and likely so to continue for some time yet, any body else that pleases may view the Success of her Lead-sheathing, which they will find (tho' she had dangerously struck on ground) to lie on all about her Bildge and Keel, and quite throughout, for any defect in the Sheathing itself, as firm and well as at first doing, and the Ruddar-Irons under it being parcell'd, preserved sound and not so much as touched with Rust, but altogether as good as at first putting on above three years ago; as appeared upon stripping the Lead off a Brace, and a Stirrup of the Sterne-post, by the Commissioners directions, which this innocent Sheathing has been so obstinately charged by its Enemies to eat and corrode in so extraordinary a manner, and such Conclusions drawn from thence, that it has suffered under the Tyranny of this false and groundless Suggestion (and this alone) to the great Loss of the Public, and Injury of the Inventor, almost these Twenty Years, all other Objections, as rubbing off by Cables, Hawsers, Boats and Lyters, lying on ground, Shortness and Smallness of the Nails, and whatever its Enemies could invent, being removed long ago by sufficient Proof and Five Years Experience upon Ten Ships sheathed in that time, to the former Navy-board's full satisfaction; as they declared in the Preamble of their Contract, though the same Surmises have upon all occasions been renewed again, which, it is to be hoped, this present Evidence will silence for the future. They stripped some Boltheads also that were not parcell'd under the Lead, which were very sound. As for the Pintels and Braces of the Ruddar that lay naked to the Water, they are, as usual, somewhat eaten with Rust, but nothing extraordinary, and with only new nailing the Braces all may be made good again for further Service: and had these Braces, as well as those on the Sterne-post, been parcell'd and covered with the Lead, doubtless they would have been preserved sound as those others were. They will find some small Cracks in the Sheathing, occasioned by the Ship's opening her Seams in working, which closing when she comes to rights again, are little damage, no Worm having entered there; as appeared upon the Commissioners searching and dubbing about several of them. There was one place off on her Larboard side (by some unknown Accident) about the bigness of a Crown-piece, where the Worm having eaten, the Commissioners caused the Plank to be dubbed, but it went so little a way in, and not further than the bare place, that the Wormholes, which were but small, were quickly dubbed out: and 'tis observable, whenever any Lead happens to be off, the Worm eats but little in, and never goes under the Sheathing beyond the naked place. There is also one place rubbed off at the end of the Keel, where the Worm had eaten, which happened at her first going out of the Dock; and another about a hands breadth, on the Larboard side, at her return in, no Worm having touched there; and several small places torn by the Anchor; all which (if not by Care prevented, where such Accidents happen) would damage a Wood-sheathing as bad, and probably much worse, by rending and shattering the Board's. They will find several places indeed off above, where the Wood-sheathing was nailed over it, upon pretence to defend it from Boats and Lyters, which being much Wormeaten, shattered, and torn off, some of the Lead-sheathing that lay under it came off with it. Moreover, they will find this Lead-sheathing fouls but very little; and when foul, easily cleaned; which with its smooth and thin lying on, must be an advantage to a Ship's sailing.  
As to the Cheapness; Suppose such a Ship as the Antelope to measure 5400 foot, which at 14 d. a foot amounts to 315 l. of which, if a fourth part 78 l. 15 s. be allowed for the Old Sheathing when stripped, the Charge of this Lead-sheathing would be but 236 l. 5 s. Suppose also that this 5400 foot, to be sheathed with Wood, would cost but 7 d. a foot, which amounts to 157 l. 10 s. and that this Sheathing be allowed to last Two Voyages to the straits, or elsewhere, (some last but One, and Two of those Sheathing being of equal price to a Lead-sheathing, certainly the Graving saved in two Voyages, and the Value of the Old Lead, when stripped, will abundantly pay the Interest of 157 l. 10 s. the Price of the second Sheathing, for a Year, or a little more, till it shall be called for;) and the Lead-sheathing should be also stripped at the same time, this would exceed the Wood-sheathing but 78 l. 15 s. which Sum doubled, perhaps, would not defray the Charge of Graving for these two Voyages; so that the Lead-sheathing must be considerably cheaper, with sufficient allowance for the Interest of 78 l. 15 s. remainder of the excess of the first Charge, after the 78 l. 15 s. be deducted for the Old Sheathing; and if Rebate be allowed for that till stripping, it cannot come to so much as the Interest of the Money disbursed from time to time for the Graving till both shall be stripped. But this Nicety of Computation seems very impertinent, where so many and so great Advantages may be charged to the Account of Lead-sheathing, from its long duration, no Trouble nor Charge in graving, its little fouling, and very little trouble or charge in cleaning, no damage to the Plank, as by the great Iron Nails of the other; but, in truth, preserving it better, more cool, smooth, and sound, and the Oakam longer in the Seams than a Wood-sheathing can, besides its certain Security against the Worm: All which, as well as the Particulars abovementioned, is proved by full Certificates of the Commander and Officers of the Antelope, and such experienced Masters and Commanders of Ships as were present when the Commissioners viewed her Sheathing, and many others that have seen it since. This Nicety, I say, to prove its Cheapness, one would think, were needless; but that it hath so long laboured under Prejudice, by the false Suggestions of its Adversaries, against which it could be relieved only by Patience to wait for new Trials, and visible Demonstrations of its Goodness, from new Experiments to be made, the former being long since put out of the reach of Evidence, and its Enemies thereby encouraged to raise Stories to fortify their Clamour against it, till this Trial upon the Antelope, which proves to the World the Excellency of this Sheathing, and clearly answers all Objections against its Goodness; its Dearness now, which was never thought of before, is started to hinder its progress; tho' 'twould be very ridiculous for any one to pretend by any Invention to introduce a New Thing into use, and not to make it considerably cheaper, in one respect or other, as well as better, than that instead of which he proposes it to be used, for dear and cheap are relative Words, there being nothing dear or cheap in itself; and sure nobody expects a Plain to be covered with Lead as cheap as with Board's at the first penny: yet if he consults nothing of the Advantages abovementioned, but its Duration only, he'll quickly find this Sheathing is Cheap enough, if he can be contented to have it for Nothing; for the Graving upon his Wood-sheathing being saved, in less than Seven Years time, will more than pay for the Lead-sheathing itself; and he may use it Seven Years more for Nothing, as it may prove, (this Lead preserving the Plank, Seams, and Ironwork better than the other, as above) besides the total loss of his 157 l. 10 s. which the Wood-sheathing cost him out of his Pocket at first.  
As the Shipwrights and their Friends, by their Artifice, Interest, and False Suggestions (taking advantage of Differences that happened between the Mill'd-Lead-Partners themselves, neglecting due Care in their Common Concern) have been able to procure the discontinuance of the Lead-sheathing with this Navy-board's Predecessors, no Ship remaining Sheathed for themselves to view, that they might judge of the Truth and Validity of the Objections raised against it, so it is not to be doubted, now that they have seen this Evidence upon the Antelope's Sheathing, and considered the great Benefit that may accrue to the King's Service, as well as to the Public in general, but they will in due time restore the use thereof to the Navy.  
The like also has been the Endeavour of the Plumbers and their Friends, to decry the Use of this Milled Lead for Buildings, and have in great measure obstructed it (where they have had an Interest, or been believed) with Private Persons, as well as in the King's and Public Works, but could not prevail with the Impartial and Honourable Commissioners for Greenwich Hospital, when they plainly saw the Advantage that would accrue to the Charity they were entrusted with, by preferring the Use of this Milled Lead in their Works, tho' great Applications were made even by the Corporation of Plumbers, and the Best Friends they could make.  
☞ All such as have occasion for this Mill'd-Lead-Sheathing, which perhaps may be better done upon the Careen, with less Charge to the Owner than in a Dock; or for any Other Sort of Milled Lead, of any thickness, and the usual breadth of three foot and an half, twice as long as any Plumber pretends to cast, if need require, for covering Churches, Houses, and all Works wherein Sheet-Lead is used, and some that cast Lead is not capable of, Better, and above 20 per Cent. Cheaper, than Cast-Lead can be; as is proved in a small Book, wherein also is an Account of the former Proceed about the Mill'd-Lead-Sheathing and other matters, to be had at the Booksellers following, viz. Mr. Nelme 's, at the Leg and Star in Cornhill; Mr. Simpson 's, at the Harp in St. Paul 's Church-yard; Mr. Basset 's, at Temple-bar; and Mr. Henchman 's, in Westminster-hall:  
Mr. Hale, at the Mill'd-Lead Sign in Orange-street, by Red-Lyon-Square, undertakes Any of the said Works, having able Plumbers, and Workmen sufficient to perform the same; and sells his Solder for 6 d. a pound, which the Plumbers by Combination sell for 9 d.   

London, Printed 16 May, 1698.