ficient for their
conviction to observe, that the most valuable drawings inserted in
the following work, though done with such skill that even professed
artists can with difficulty imitate them, were taken by Mr Piercy
Bret, one of Mr Anson's lieutenants, and since captain of the Lion
man-of-war, who, in his memorable engagement with the Elizabeth, [for
the importance of the service, or the resolution with which it was
conducted, inferior to none this age has seen,] has given ample proof
that a proficiency in the arts I have been recommending, is extremely
consistent with the most exemplary bravery, and the most distinguished
skill in every function belonging to a sea officer.

Indeed, when the many branches of science are considered, of which
even the common practice of navigation is composed, and the many
improvements which men of skill have added to this practice within
these few years, it would induce one to believe that the advantages
of reflection and speculative knowledge were in no profession more
eminent than in that of a naval officer; for, not to mention some
expertness in geography, geometry, and astronomy, which it would be
dishonourable for him to be without, as his journal and his estimate
of the daily position of the ship are founded on particular branches
of these sciences, it may well be supposed, that the management and
working of a ship, the discovery of her most eligible position in the
water, usually called her trim, and the disposition of her sails in
the most advantageous manner, are articles in which the knowledge
of mechanics cannot but be greatly assistant. And, perhaps, the
application of this kind of knowledge to naval subjects may produce
as great improvements in sailing and working a ship, as it has already
done in many other matters conducive to the ease and convenience of
human life; since, when the fabric of a ship and the variety of her
sails are considered, together with the artificial contrivances for
adapting them to her different motions, as it cannot be doubted but
these things have been brought about by more than ordinary sagacity
and invention; so neither can it be doubted but that, in some
conjunctures, a speculative and scientific turn of mind may find out
the means of directing and disposing this complicated mechanism much
more advantageously than can be done by mere habit, or by a servile
copying of what others may have, perhaps erroneously, practised in
similar emergencies