Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/283

 models,' he writes to Lady Petty, 'and have succeeded wonderfully upon that design. Many think I have little to do when they see me earnest upon it. But I assure you it is such refreshment and recreation as, without it, I could hardly perform my other business. I expect no profit from it, but intend it as a noble legacy to my Sons.'

Sir William's former ill-luck made him cautious in inviting others to join him. 'As for the ship experiments,' he writes to Southwell, 'I have used them as opium, to stupify a sense of my sufferings, nor should I have my friend do himself harm by praising or pressing them.'

A paper is preserved showing fourteen proposed trials of the vessel, as to the result of each of which Mr. Pepys and Admiral Sir A. Deane joined issue with him, backing their opinion with heavy sums, while at the same time expressing 'their most faithful wishes' for the success of the vessel, and that they might themselves prove wrong. The result unluckily more than justified their doubts, as the last edition of the 'Experiment' was not nearly so successful as the first. 'Sir William Petty's ship,' Mr. Molyneux writes to Mr. Asten, on December 23, 1684, 'was tried this day se'nnight in our harbour; but she performed so abominably, as if built on purpose to disappoint in the highest degree every particular that was expected of her.... The seamen swore that they would not venture over the bar in her for 1,000l. a man. Even right before the wind she doth nothing, so that the whole design is blown up. What means Sir William will take to redeem his credit, I know not; but I am sure a greater trouble could hardly have fallen upon him.' Sir William fully acknowledged his failure to be enough to make him 'stagger in much that he formerly said.' 'I intend,' he goes on to say, 'to spend my life in examining the greatest and noblest of all machines: a ship; and if I find just cause for it, will write a book against myself, so much do I prefer truth before