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when stowed aft. From this Officer I learnt that the smallest alteration in placing the ballast will occasion the greatest difference in the Ship's sailing - To illustrate this He told His Majesty, that He was once convoy to a Fleet of Merchantmen, & that his Frigate by her good sailing could keep any station He pleased with Them -- In the Morning when He waked He was much surprised to find that every Ship in the Fleet had passed Him, & that He was now astern with the same Sail-- He called his People to know what was the reason but they could not account for it-- He then enquired if any Water had been used from the Casks, & was informed that some had been used-- He continued his Enquiry into the probable cause of this remarkable alteration in the Ships rate of Sailing & at last it was accounted for, by the information that one of the Casks of Water had been moved from one side of the Ship to the other. On this He order'd it to be replaced as before