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The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Letter from Amsterdam dated Jan 16, 1791, reports Dutch admiralty seeking information on American ship timber, especially live oak, but highlights issues with unseasoned wood usage leading to poor ship quality, failed experimental orders, and damaged US shipping reputation in commerce.
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"The admiralty of this country are endeavoring to collect information with respect to our ship timber, and particularly the live oak. They have applied to Mr. ... respecting it.
Unfortunately the carpenters of the United States are in the habit of employing timber in an unseasoned state. This has already thrown our shipping into discredit which will prevent that art becoming an important addition to our commerce, unless the evil can be remedied by some means or other.
Some houses here had ordered ships to be built in America by way of experiment. They have turned out so badly, notwithstanding the cheapness of the first cost, that they have abandoned the prosecution of their object-and this has induced others to follow their example without the expense of an experiment."
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Amsterdam
Event Date
January 16, 1791
Outcome
dutch houses abandoned ordering ships from america due to poor quality despite low cost, leading others to follow without trials; us shipping reputation damaged.
Event Details
Dutch admiralty seeks information on American ship timber, particularly live oak, via Mr. ... . US carpenters use unseasoned timber, discrediting shipping and hindering commerce growth unless remedied. Local houses experimentally ordered American-built ships, which performed poorly, prompting abandonment of the practice.