Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/293

 and in the meantime wish you all the good you can wish to yourself, and remain 'Your very humble servant ' 'For John Aubrey Esqre, att Broad Chalk neer Salisbury.'

York Buildings: December 6, 1684. Your Sluce-Boat (the St Michael) being by Our latest Advice from Dublin, upon ye point of entring on her first Tryall at Sea; Wee send you Our most faithfull wishes for her Successe, with a Paper that may (if you shall soe think fitt to use it) in some measure Compensate the Charge you shall have goeing in the Experiment; remaining wth inviolable respect, Yor most affectionate and most

faithfull humble Servants

there is now Building at Dublin, a Double-Keel'd or Sluce-Vessell, concerning whose Strength, Burthen, Saileing, Steerage, Rideing at Anchor, accomodations, &c, many Opinions have been offered, to the Prejudice of ye Designe; therefore to distingush the said Opinions from Envy and Calumny, the following wagers conserning the said Shipp are proposed, viz.:

1. That at her Launching shee shall not draw above 3½ feet water at a medium.

2. That with eight paire of Oares, shee shall row equall to a wherry of one paire, putting either of her ends foremost.

3. That being fitted for the Sea with Cables, Anchors, Boats, &c. on board, shee shall (over and above the same) carry 40 Tunns weight, without drawing above 5 feet water, beside the Keel.

4. That shee shall goe to Sea without Ballast, and yett carry as much saile as any other vessell of her Breadth.

5. That (as an Argument of her Strength) after 7 dayes being