by means of the knees, &c. Their ends, being lodged on the clamps, keep the ship to her breadth. (See Plan of the Deck, Plate IV.) A BEAM-ARM, or FORK-BEAM, is a curved piece of timber, nearly of the same depth as the beam, scarphed, tabled, and bolted, for additional security to the sides of the beams, athwart large openings in the decks, as the main hatchway and the mast-rooms. (See Plan of the Deck, Plate III.)

BREAST-BEAMS are the beams at the fore-part of the quarter-deck and round-house, and after part of the forecastle. They are sided larger than the rest; as they have an ornamental rail in the front, formed from the solid, and a rabbet one inch broader than its depth, which must be sufficient to bury the ends of the deals of the deck, with one inch above for a spurn water. To prevent splitting the beam in the rabbet, the nails of the deck should be crossed on each edge, or so driven alternately, as to form a zig-zag line.

THE CAT-BEAM, or BEAK-HEAD BEAM, is the broadest beam in the ship, generally made in two breadths, tabled and bolted to gether. The fore-side is placed far enough forward to receive the heads of the stantions of the beak-head bulk-head. (See Inboard Works, Plate IV., and Half-breadth Plan, Plate I.)

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THE COLLAR BEAM is the beam upon which the stantions of the beak-head bulk-head stand. The upper side of it is kept well with the upper side of the upper deck port-sills, and lets down upon the spirketting at the side. But its casting over the bow-sprit, in the middle, giving it a form which in timber is not to be gotten without difficulty, a framing of two large carlings, and a stantion on each side of the bowsprit, is now generally substituted in its place. (See Inboard Works, Plate IV.)

HALF BEAMS are short beams introduced to support the deck where there is no framing; as in those places where the beams are kept asunder by hatchways, ladderways, &c. They are let down on the clamps at the side; and, near midships, into fore and aft carlings. On some decks, abaft the mizen mast, they are generally of fir, and let into the side tier of carlings. (See Plan of the Deck, Plate III.)

THE MIDSHIP BEAM is the longest beam of the ship, and lodged in the midship frame, or between the widest frame of timbers.

PALLETING BEAMS, are those beams under the flat of the magazine, bread-room, and powder-room, where there is a double palleting. Those of the upper tier are of fir, and rabbets taken out of their edges to form scuttles.

BEAM LINE. A line rated along the inside of the ship, fore and aft, shewing the uppersides of the beams at the side of the ship.

BEARDING. Diminishing the edge or surface of a piece of timber or plank, &c. from a given line, as on the deadwood, clamps, plank-sheers, fife-rails, &c. (See Midship Sections, Plate III.)

BEARDING LINE. A curved line occasioned by bearding or reducing the deadwood to the form of the ship's body. The deadwood being sided sufficiently, this line is carried high enough to prevent the heels of the timbers in the cant-bodies from running to a sharp edge, and forms a rabbet for the timbers to step on: hence it is often called the Stepping Line. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)

BED. A solid framing of timber, to receive and support the mortar in a bomb vessel.

BED or BARREL SCREWS. (See SCREWS.)

BEETLE. A large mallet, used by caulkers, for driving in their reeming irons to open the seams in order for CAULKING.

BELLFRY. An ornamental framing, made of stantions at the after beams of the forecastle, with a covering or top, under which the ship's bell is hung. In large ships the stantions are supported by knees. In small ships it is frequently built over the windlass.

BELL TOP. A term applied to the top of a quarter-gallery when the upper stool is hollowed away, or made like a rim, to give more height, as in the quarter galleries of small vessels, with the stool of the upper finishing coming home to the side, to complete overhead.

BELLY. The inside or hollow part of compass or curved timber, the outside of which is called the BACK.

BENCHES OF BOATS. The seats in the after part whereon the passengers sit.

BEND MOULD, in whole moulding. (See WHOLE MOULDING.) A mould made to form the futtocks in the square body, assisted by the RISING SQUARE, and FLOOR-HOLLOW. (See Long Boat, Plate IV.)

BENDS. The frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to the top of the side, at any particular station. They are first put together on the ground. That at the broadest part of the ship is denominated the MIDSHIP-BEND OF DEAD FLAT. (See Midship Section, Plate III.) In North Britain, the fore parts of the wales are commonly called Bends.

BETWEEN DECKS. The space contained between any two decks of a ship.

BEVEL. A well known instrument, composed of a stock and a moveable tongue, for taking the angles on wood, &c. which are, by shipwrights, called bevellings.

BEVELLING BOARD. A piece of deal on which the bevellings or angles of the timbers are described.

BEVELLINGS. The windings or angles of the timbers, &c.; a term applied to any deviation from a square or right angle. Of Bevellings there are two descriptions, denominated Standing Bevellings and Under Bevellings. By the former is meant an obtuse angle, or that which is without a square or right angle; and, by the latter, is understood, an acute .` angle, or that which is within a square. The BEVELLINGS of the TIMBER, are the angles which the moulding edges make with the joint.

BILGE. That part of a ship's floor, on either side of the keel, which has more of a horizontal than of a perpendicular direction, and on which the ship would rest if laid on the ground; or, more particularly, those projecting parts of the bottom which are opposite to the heads of the floor timbers amidships, on each side of the keel.

BILGE TREES, or BILGE PIECES, or BILGE KEELS. The pieces of timber, fastened under the bilge of boats or other vessels, to keep them upright when on shore, or to prevent their falling to leeward when sailing. BILGE KEELS thus constructed are recommended to strengthen that part of the ship. (See Midship Section, Plate III.)

BILGEWAYS. A square bed of timber, placed under the bilge of

the ship, to support her while launching. The extreme distance of the bilgeways is generally one-third of the breadth of the ship; but this should be governed solely by the form of the midship bend. BILL of the ANCHOR. The extremity of the arm. BILLS. The ends of compass or KNEE TIMBER.

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BINNACLE. (Formerly BITTACLE). A wooden case, or chest, which contains the compasses and the lights to shew them, by night, &c. It is divided into three compartments, with sliding shutters. Those at the side have a compass in each, and that in the middle is fitted to hold a lamp, or candles, which emit light on the compasses through a pane of glass on each side. In small vessels it is sometimes fixed before the companion, and the lights put in from the captain's ladderway, without going upon deck. On the deck of a ship of war there are always two binnacles, one for the use of the man who steers, and the other for him who cons, or superintends the steerage.

BINDING STRAKES. Two strakes of oak plank, worked all fore and aft upon each deck, and sometimes scored down between the beams three quarters of an inch. They are the second and third strakes from the coamings of the main hatchway, in order to strengthen the deck; as the strake next the hatchways, and the strakes between are cut off by the pumps, &c. (See Upper Deck Plan, Plate IV.)

BINDINGS. The iron links which surround the Dead Eyes. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I., and Midship Section, Plate III.)

BINS. A sort of large chests, or erections in store-rooms, in which the stores are deposited. They are generally 3 or 4 feet deep, and nearly of the same breadth, built with rabbeted deal, and have lids on the top.

TO BIRTH-UP. A term generally used for working up a topside or bulkhead with board or thin plank as the counters, &c.

BITTS. A frame of oak timber, whereon the cables or ropes are occasionally fastened. It consists of two upright pieces of oak, called Bittpinns, when the bitts are large, or of knees, when the bitts are small, with a cross-piece fastened horizontally athwartships near the head of them. The largest Bitts are commonly called the Riding Bitts, and are those to which the cables are fastened, when the ship rides at anchor. There are also small Bitts to belay ropes to, as the Bow-line and Brace Bitts, situated near the masts; the Fore Jear and Topsail Sheet Bitts, situated on the forecastle, and round the foremast; the Main Jear and Topsail Sheet Bitts, which tenon into the foremost beam of the quarter deck. The Bitts round the mizen mast are generally formed with knees, and have sheave-holes for the topsail sheets, &c. (See Sheave-holes. See also Plans and Inboard Works, Plate III. and IV.)

BITT-PINNS. The upright pieces of oak timber, let in and bolted to the beams of two decks at least, and to which the Cross-pieces are let on and bolted. (See Inboard Works, Plate IV.).

BLACK STRAKE. A broad strake, which is parallel to, and worked upon, the upper edge of the lower wales, in order to strengthen the ship. It derives its name from being paid with pitch, and is the boundary for the painting of the topsides. Ships having no ports near the wales, have generally two black strakes. (See Planking and Midship Sections, Plate III.) BLOCK. The large piece of elm out of which the figure is carved at the head of the ship. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)

BLOCKS for building the ship upon, are those solid pieces of oak timber fixed under the ship's keel upon the groundways.

BLOCKS FIXED, are solid pieces of oak, let through the sides of the ship, and fitted with sheaves to lead the tacks, sheets, traces, &c. into the ship. The block to lead in the main-tack, is fixed at the after end of the fore channel, or before the chestree, and close up under the sheer-strakes. The block for leading in the fore and spritsail sheets is fixed in the side close up under the sheer-strakes, and just before the fenders or steps of the gangway. The block for leading in the main-sheet is fixed through the side, clear of the wardroom bulkhead, or just before it on the upper deck of large ships. In frigates and smaller ships it is fayed upon the planksheer, abreast of the mizen-mast. The block for the main-brace and studding sail sheet is fixed on the plank sheer close aft. The blocks for the main and fore lifts are kevel-headed, and are fixed either inside or out abreast their respective masts. The blocks for the dorrick and the top and lift blocks, are fixed outside, a little abaft the mizen-mast; the former on the starboard, and the latter on the larboard side.

BLOCKS to lead in the catfall are fixed on the plank-sheer over the catheads. A sheave-hole is cut in each, with a snatch, that the fall may lead in fair upon deck. The hole need not be cut through on the outside. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)

BLOCKS FOR TRANSPORTING the ship, are two solid pieces of elm or oak, one fixed on each side of the stem, above the taffarel, and a snatch with a large score cut each way in the middle. When used, the hawser is hauled in through the snatch.

BOARD. Timbers sawed to a less thickness than plank; all broad stuff of or under one inch and a half in thickness.

BOATS. Small vessels, either open or decked. Rowing boats are open, and others are generally decked over. Boats are managed on the water by rowing and sailing, and are occasionally slight or strong, sharp or flat bottomed, open or decked, plain or ornamented, as they may be designed either for celerity or burthen, for deep or shallow water, for sailing in a harbour or at sea, for convenience or pleasure.

The construction and the names of boats are different, according to the various purposes for which they are calculated, and the services required of them. The largest that ships take to sea is the LONG-BOAT, (Plate IV.), built very strongly, and furnished with masts and sails. The LAUNCH is a sort of LONG-BOAT, and is now generally taken to sea in its stead; but it is not built upon a principle of sailing, it being more flat, is broader, and more useful for weighing small anchors than the LONG-BOAT. The BARGE is next in size, but very different from the former in its construction, having a slighter frame, and being more ornamented. It is constructed for rowing or sailing, having conveniencies for ten or twelve oars, and two or three masts, and is chiefly used for the conveyance of admirals and other officers of rank to and from the ship. The PINNACE is of the same form as the barge, but is something smaller, and never rows more than eight oars. It is for smaller ships, or for the use of officers of subordinate rank. A YAWL is something less than the pinnace, nearly of the same form, and used for similar purposes. They are generally rowed with six oars. The above boats are all carvel-built. CUTTERS for ships are clincher-built, and are used for the conveyance of seamen, or the

lighter stores. They are shorter and broader in proportion to their length than the long boat, and constructed either for rowing or sailing. BOATSWAIN'S STORE ROOM. (See STORE ROOM.)

BOBSTAY. The large rope or stay used to confine the bowsprit upon the stem, and counteract the force of the stays which draw it upwards.

BOBSTAY HOLES. Holes cut through the fore part of the knee of the head, between the cheeks, large enough to admit the bobstay-collars, to which the bobstays are set up for the security of the bowsprit.

BODIES. The figure of a ship, &c. abstractedly considered, is supposed to be divided into different parts, or figures, to each of which is given the appellation of body. Hence we have the terms FORE-BODY, AFTER-BODY, CANT-BODIES, and SQUARE-BODY. Thus the fore-body is the figure, or imaginary figure, of that part of the ship afore the midships or dead-flat, as seen from ahead. The after-body, in like manner, is the figure of that part of the ship abaft the midships, or dead-flat, as seen from astern. The cant-bodies are distinguished into fore and after, and signify the figure of that part of a ship's body, or timber, as seen from either side, which form the shape forward and aft, and whose planes make obtuse angles with the midship line of the ship; those in the fore cant-body being inclined to the stem, as those in the after one are to the stern-post. The square-body comprehends all the timbers whose areas or planes are perpendicular to the keel, and square with the middle line of the ship; which is all that portion of a ship between the cant-bodies. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)

BOLLARD-TIMBERS, or KNIGHT-HEADS. (See KNIGHT HEADS.) BOLSTERS. Pieces of oak timber, fayed to the curvature of the bow, under the hawse-holes, and down upon the upper cheek, or, solidly, between the cheeks, to prevent the cable from rubbing against the cheeks. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)

BOLSTERS for the ANCHOR LINING, solid pieces of oak, bolted to the ship's side, at the fore part of the fore chains, on which the stantions are fixed that receive the anchor lining. The fore end of the bolsters should extend about two feet before the lining, for the convenience of a man's standing to assist in fishing or raising the anchor. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)

BOLSTERS for sheets, tacks, &c. are small pieces of fir or oak, fayed under the gunwale, &c. with the outer surface rounded to prevent the sheets and other rigging from chafing.

BOLTS. Cylindrical or square pins, of iron or copper, of various forms, for fastening and securing the different parts of the ship, the guns, &c. The figure of those for fastening the tinibers, planks, hooks, knees, crutches, and other articles of a similar nature, is cylindrical, and their sizes adapted to the respective objects which they are intended to secure. They have round, saucer, or collar heads, according to the purposes for which they may be intended; and the points are forelocked, or clinched on rings, to prevent their drawing. Those for bolting the frames or beams together are generally square.