no seaman can start an objection, when they have seen your sail reefed in a gale of wind. At the time when I made the experiment, it blew excessively hard, and the Thisbe shipped several very heavy seas.
“To Capt. M. Cowan, R.N.”
“Sir,– I beg you will acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that I had an opportunity of trying a main course, on Captain Cowan’s plan, on the 12th ult. in a very strong gale of wind from the E.S.E.
“I had occasion to reef the courses, and the main one was reefed in two minutes, without a man going aloft, and with very few hands. The sail remained perfectly quiet during the gale, without the least fret or chafing.
“It has many advantages over the former construction; not only for expedition, but when weakly manned, particularly on a lee-shore, when it would not be prudent to start either tack or sheet; and the reef can as expeditiously be let out, should there be occasion to chase.
“I find the sail to haul up far more snug than by the old way, and, in my humble opinion, I cannot find one objection against it; and every seaman must feel himself very much indebted to Captain Cowan for his most excellent plan. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To William Marsden, Esq. Admiralty.”
“I have tried Captain Cowan’s main-sail, and find it a very good thing; write to him, and say that I have written to the Admiralty and Navy Boards on the subject. I can reef it in two minutes: I practise my people at it very often, and it is much approved of by all my officers.
“To the Rev. George Jope, Plymouth Dock.”
“The day after we sailed we bent your new main-sail, and during our cruise we had frequent opportunities of trying the reef, which the oiHcers and myself could not too much admire. Such an excellent invention, ere long, 1 have no doubt, will be generally adopted.
“To the merchant service it is of the greatest consequence, for it is so plain a thing, that the utility of it must strike every person who has ever been at sea.
“To Captain M. Cowan.”.
