Besides these, there is another that I shall mention, and that is, the Experiment it self, or the Double-Bottom'd Ship, invented by Sir William Petty: of this I will venture to add a few Words, and I think I may do it without transgressing that Rule I had fix'd to my self, of not enlarging on the praise of particular Names, or Designs. For since the Experiment it self is lost, I hope I may securely speak of its Advantages: seeing Men are wont out of common humanity to allow the commendations of dead Men, I trust I may commend a wreck'd Ship, without any fear of the envy that may thence arise to the Author. In brief therefore I will say this of it, that it was the most considerable Experiment that has been made in this Age of Experiments: if either we regard the great charge of the work, or the wonderful change it was likely to make in Navigation, or the great success, to which this first Attempt was arriv'd. Tho' it was at first confronted with the doubts, and objections of most Seamen of our Nation, yet it soon confuted them by Experience. It appeared very much to excel all other forms of Ships, in sailing, in carriage, in security, and many other such benefits. Its first Voyage it perform'd with admirable swiftness. And tho' it miscarried after its return, yet it was destroy'd by a common fate, and by such a dreadful tempest, as overwhelm'd a great Fleet the same Night: so that the ancient Fabricks of Ships have no reason to triumph over that new Model, when of threescore and ten Sail that were in the same Storm, there was not one escap'd to bring the News.
In a word, though this Invention succeeded not, while it was only supported by private Purses, it will undoubtedly produce great effects, if ever it shall
