Messrs. Grimshaw, Webster, and Co's. Patent Machine-laid Ropes

[p 44] . . .

Bishopwearmouth, 1st May, 1805

This is to certify that I fitted out the Voyager, burthen 23 keels of coals, or 312 tons admeasurement, with Messrs. Grimshaw, Webster, and Co's. Patent Machine-laid Ropes, in September, 1801, with Cables 12 Inches, other water Ropes in proportion, lower shrouds, 6 Inches, back stays 5½ Inches, topmast shrouds 3¾ Inches, and topsail sheets 3½ Inches, since which time the ship has been in the Baltic and Coal-Trade, under my command, till the Spring, 1804, and since then by Mr. Ralph Thompson, South-Shields.

I have found the standing Rigging to keep its size and stand uncommonly well, much better than I ever knew common Rope, to stand, and I am convinced, had the ship been rigged with common Rope, of those sizes, it would have been strained to pieces. The Cables have exceeded what I expected - if the ship had been fitted with common Rope, I should have had 13½ Inch Cables, and Shrouds 7½ Inches at least. [p 45]

The first short service commenced wearing in September, 1801, when the ship made two coal voyages, in 1802 she went from London to Hamburg and Petersburgh, and back to London, then from London to Hamburgh, and back to Shields, and took coals to London, which ended that year, during which she was moored in the Pool, at one time three months and at another time two months with the said Cable, which is supposed very injurious to Cables.

In 1803 she went back from London to Hamburgh, Dantzig and back to London, and two coal voyages, which finished that year, in which time she was about four months riding at anchor by it, exclusive of stopping tides and common occurrences on voyages.

In 1804 the ship was in the coal trade till the middle of July, when she went from London to Petersburgh, and back to London; when on her passage home, in the Swin on the 3d November a gale of wind easterly came on, and obliged them to cut from their anchor, or I am certain it would have worn another year, unless prevented by accident, and even then the short service from its appearance would not have been taken away, but from the length of time it would have been in use.

In the Spring, 1804, I had a short piece cut off to examine for fear the inside might be damaged, when I found the outside yarns might be damaged, when I found the outside yarns that were chafed, [p 46] appeared to continue on the outside, and the Cable did not seem to be weakened more than 6 or 7 yarns in each strand, or a ninth part of the Cable, the remaining yarns were apparently not the least injured.

Joseph Anderson.

The / Ship-Owners's Guide / in / The Fitting out of Ships / with / Cordage; / or, / A Set of Tables, / of the / Most-approved Sizes of the / Principal Ropes used in Merchant-Ships, / Of from 80 Tons to 500 Tons Register Admeasurement, / With the Proportion of / Their Weight and Price / When made in the Common Way - and when made by / Grimshaw, Webster and Co's. Patent Machinery, / to which as are added, / Certificates and Observations, / Proving in the most satisfactory Manner / The great Advantage to be derived by the Owners of / Ships, Colliers and Mines in general, / From the Superiority in / Strength, Pliancy and Duration / of Grimshaw, Webster and Co's. / Patent Machine-Laid Cordage.
Sunderland, / Printed by Summers and Young, Market-Place. / 1806.

Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius

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