Although you have visited our Port (_Amsterdam_) I know not whether you have noted the ill condition, our ships are in, that return from the _Indies_. There is in those Seas a kind of small worms, that fasten themselves to the Timber of the ships, and so pierce them, that they take water every where; or if they do not altogether pierce them thorow, they so weaken the wood, that it is almost impossible to repair them. We have at present a Man here, that pretends to have found an admirable secret to remedy this evil. That, which would render this secret the more important, is, that hitherto very many ways have been used to effect it, but without success. Some have imployed Deal, Hair and Lime, &c. and therewith lined their ships; but, besides that this does not altogether affright the worms, it retards much the ship's Course. The _Portugals_ scorch their ships, insomuch that in the quick works there is made a coaly crust of about an _Inch_ thick. But as this is dangerous, it happening not seldom, that the whole vessel is burnt; so the reason why worms eat not thorow _Portugal_ ships, is conceived to be the exceeding hardness of the Timber, employed by them. We expect with impatience the nature and effect of this Proposition. Many have already ventur'd to give their thoughts concerning it. Some say, there needs no more, but to build Ships of a harder kind of Wood, than the usual. Others having observed, that these Worms fasten not to a kind of wild _Indian_ Pear-tree, which is highly bitter, do thereupon {191} suggest, that the best Expedient would be, to find out a Wood having that quality. But certainly there being now no Timber, fit for Ships, that is not known, 'tis not likely that any will be found either more hard, or more bitter, than that, which has been hitherto employed. Some do imagine, that the Proposer will, by certain _Lixiviums_, give to the ordinary Wood such a quality and bitterness, as is found in the already mention'd _Indian_ Pear-tree. But this also will hardly succeed, since it will be requisite not only to make _Lixiviums_, in great quantities at an easie rate, and strong enough to penetrate the thick sides of a Ship, but also to make them durable enough, not to be wash't out by the Sea. Yet notwithstanding, in these matters one ought to suspend on's judgement, untill experience do shew, what is to be believed of them. _So far the Extract._ To which it may perhaps not be unseasonable to add, that a very worthy person in _London_, suggests the Pitch, drawn out of Sea coles, for a good Remedy to scare away these noysome insects. * * * * * _An Account of a Book, very lately publish't, entituled, _The Origine of Forms and Qualities_, illustrated by Considerations and Experiments, by the Honourable _Robert Boyle_._