of war at Cadiz. _Peat moss_ has been recommended (because the sulphates of iron, soda, and magnesia are found in it), but it failed when tried. With reference to Mr. Lewis’s proposal to preserve wood by means of lime, it must be remembered that _quicklime_, with damp, has been found to accelerate putrefaction, in consequence of its extracting carbon; but when dry, and in such large quantities as to absorb all moisture from the wood, _the wood is preserved_, _and the sap hardened_. Vessels _long_ in the lime trade have afforded proof of this fact; and we have also examples in plastering-laths, which are generally found sound and good in places where they have been dry. Whitewash or _limewater_ has been strongly recommended for use between the decks of ships, as being unfavourable to vegetation: it should be renewed at intervals of time, according to circumstances. It has been applied with good effect to the joists and sleepers of kitchen floors; but to be effectual it should be occasionally renewed. Effete, or re-carbonated lime, is injurious to timber, like other absorbent earths; so also are calcareous incrustations formed by the solution of lime in water, as appears from Von Buch’s ‘Travels in Norway,’ in which he says, “that in the fishing country (near Lofodden, beyond the Arctic circle) the calcareous incrustations brought by water, filtering through a bed of shells, soon cause the vessels and wood to be covered with and destroyed by green fungi.” The ends of joists of timber inserted in walls are frequently found rotten; and where not so, it may probably be owing to the mortar having been made with hot lime, and used immediately, or to the absence of moisture. It does not appear practicable to use limewater to any extent for preserving timber, because water holds in solution only about ⅟500th part of lime, which quantity would be too inconsiderable; it, however, renders timber more durable, but at the same time very hard and difficult to be worked (p. 73). Vessels constantly in the _coal_ trade have generally required little repair, and have lasted until in the common course of things they were lost by shipwreck. This must be owing to the martial pyrites which abound in all coals; and also from the sulphuric acid arising from the quantity of coal dust which finds its way through the seams of the ceiling, and adheres to the timber and planks. In 1779, M. Pallas, in Russia, proposed to steep wood in _sulphate of iron_ (green vitriol) until it had penetrated deeply, _and_ then in _lime_ to precipitate the vitriol. Neumann, in his first volume of ‘Chemistry,’ on the article green vitriol, says, “That in the Swedish transactions this salt is recommended for preserving wood, particularly the wheels of carriages, from decay.