Some years since, an American captain said to an Englishman, Captain Hall, when in China, "You will soon have to come to our country for your ships: your little island cannot grow wood enough for a large marine." "Oh!" said the Englishman, "we can build ships of iron!" "Iron ?" replied the American in surprise, "why, iron sinks; only wood can float!" "Well! you will find I am right." The prophecy was correct.

The Englishman in question has now a fleet of splendid iron steamers at sea.
The use of iron in shipbuilding had small beginnings, like everything else.

The established prejudice--that iron must necessarily sink in water--long continued to prevail against its employment.

The first iron vessel was built and launched about a hundred years since by John Wilkinson, of Bradley Forge, in Staffordshire.

In a letter of his, dated the 14th July, 1787, the original of which we have seen, he writes: "Yesterday week my iron boat was launched.