“May 3d, 1813.
“My Lord, – I have the honor to inform your lordship, that having completed a series of experiments on improving the timber of Great Britain, as well as what is produced in the provinces, I am about to solicit Parliament for a Committee to inquire; into the practicability and advantages of my discovery, in augmenting the strength and duration of timber; thereby decreasing the consumption, and preventing the rapid decay of our ships of war.
“With this view, I am desirous to have the subject introduced upon its own bottom, totally distinct from party; and which having solely for its object the support of our naval power, I earnestly hope and trust will have the sanction of the marine minister.
(Signed)“W. Layman.”
“Robert Viscount Melville.”
(Answer.)
“Admiralty, 6th May, 1813.
“Sir,– I have received your letter of the 3d instant, acquainting me of your intention of bringing the subject of your experiments on the improvement of timber for the navy under the consideration of Parliament; and such steps will no doubt be taken in regard to the objects you have in view, as may be thought expedient by the House to which you may address your petition.
(Signed)“Melville.”
Commander Layman next addressed the Admiralty on the inadequacy of our frigates to contend with such ships as those in the service of North America, the tonnage of the latter being equal, and the broadside weight of metal even superior, to many British third-rates. His memorial on the subject of preparing forest trees for immediate service was presented to the House of Lords, by Earl Darnley, in June 1814; and to the Commons, by Mr. Charles Forbes, in April 1816; on which latter occasion, an official personage, now deceased, observed, that he “should not object to the petition being laid before the House, but he wished to repel any insinuation that the Admiralty had been guilty of neglect. The truth was, that so many proposals of this nature were laid before them, that they would not be justified in accepting every one: the present, however, had by no means passed unnoticed.” Commander Layman subsequently published a valuable pamphlet, entitled “The Pioneer, or Strictures on Maritime Strength and Economy;” containing remarks on British Sea-
