Double-bottomed ship
Date
29 October 1662
Creator
Unknown, Artist
After
William Petty (1623 - 1687, British) , Natural philosopher
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p3
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 326mm
width (page): 210mm
width (page): 210mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Figure of a ship in the margin of a page, in a letter from William Petty to William Brouncker dated 29 October 1662.
Petty's double-bottomed ship (catamaran) was called 'Simon and Jude' because it was launched on the feast day of Simon and Jude (28 October). It was later called 'Invention'. It had two 'cylinders', each two foot in diameter, with a mast 20 feet long. Several models had been made, including one to carry three men, before this version.
There is a copy of this figure at EL/P1/15/002.
Petty's double-bottomed ship (catamaran) was called 'Simon and Jude' because it was launched on the feast day of Simon and Jude (28 October). It was later called 'Invention'. It had two 'cylinders', each two foot in diameter, with a mast 20 feet long. Several models had been made, including one to carry three men, before this version.
There is a copy of this figure at EL/P1/15/002.
Transcription
When I left England, uppon my kissing his ma[jes]ties hand, I had the honour to bee told by his Ma[jes]tie that I should go into Ireland in my owne ship, that is, in a certaine fantasticall bottomelesse double bottom'd Machine uppon which I had formerly troubled his Ma[jes]tie thoughts or rather his Eares.
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 19 November 1662, ‘Mr. Graunt to communicate an extract of Sir William Petty's letter concerning the new fashioned ship, together with a model of it, at the next meeting’ (Birch 1:126).
On 26 November 1662, ‘Sir William Petty’s second letter to the lord viscount Brouncker was read, giving a farther account of his new ship; as also an extract of another letter of his to Mr. Graunt, who was desired to let Sir William know, that the society was well pleased with the invention’ (Birch 1:131).
On 26 November 1662, ‘Sir William Petty’s second letter to the lord viscount Brouncker was read, giving a farther account of his new ship; as also an extract of another letter of his to Mr. Graunt, who was desired to let Sir William know, that the society was well pleased with the invention’ (Birch 1:131).
Related fellows
William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker of Lyons (1620 - 1684, British) , Mathematician
William Petty (1623 - 1687, British) , Natural philosopher
John Graunt (1620 - 1674, British) , Statistician
William Petty (1623 - 1687, British) , Natural philosopher
John Graunt (1620 - 1674, British) , Statistician
Associated place