But, in the returns now before us, there are generally separate and distinct amounts of the _timbers_ used for these two purposes; and consequently, so far as this (the main item of expense) is concerned, we may form pretty accurate comparisons.
According to Edge, (pp.

20, 21,) the average cost of timber, for hulls, masts, and yards, in _building_ an English 74 gun ship, is L61,382.

Let us now compare this cost of timber for _building_, with that of the same item for _repairs_, for the following fifteen ships, between 1800 and 1820.

The list would have been still further enlarged, but the returns for other ships during some portion of the above period are imperfect: ============================================================ Name of Ship.

|No.