Manuscript Memoir by Lescallier and French Agents of César Henri Guillaume de La Luzerne minister of the Navy reporting secretly on the state of British shipbuilding during their stay in England. Includes chapters on wood, logging, conservation of wood, destination of wood, use of oaks for the Navy, Manipulation of wood, bending of planks, general principles of exploiting wood, construction, warships, vessels of the Indian Company, ships carpenters, boat lashings and masts, capstan, rudder, rudder hinges, nailing and pegging, ship launch and tar. It also covers new inventions such as pulley system, extraction of whale oil and precautions in conserving vessels.
In French dated 25 January 1790