The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-02 00:00:00

COLT'S BATTERY and WARNER'S

SHELL.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—ln writing my forthcoming volume, con-
taining the " Life and History of President Har-
rison, I have had occasion to allude to the treaty of
Washington, wherein the free navigation of the St.
John's river is given to the United States. I endea-
vour to prove that the English possess the advantage
in the treaty, for they would ' blockade the mouth of
the River in time of war, and capture all the vessels
of the enemy. I then wrote this sentence :—" Nor
could the Americans prevent it by a defence of the
mouth of the river, by a submarine battery of tor-
pedoes—for the entrance of the river is from British
waters, and consequently under the absolute control
cf the English."
Upon writing the above, I appended this note, viz. :
—" Having made allusion to a submarine battery of
torpedoes, for river defence, I take this occasion to
state, that the first idea of employing the same species
of defence for harbours, port-channels, and anchor-
ages, as far as I know, originated with myself, while
on a visit in Connecticut, United States."
The idea arose as follows, viz. :—I visited in 1832
the Indian graves and mounds in furtherance of my
" History of Ancient America ;" and near the ruins
of Fort Griswald, at the month of the River Thames
(Connecticut), the position was pointed out to me of
the British fleet, while blockading the harbour of New
London, and consequently keeping Commodore De-
catur with his few vessels from leaving the river.
Decatur was resolved to break through his naval im-
prisonment, and as he could not do it by an equal
force to oppose the British fleet, he had recourse to
the stratagem of torpedoes, which were so arranged as
to float down the river by the return tide ; and having
large arms attached, would embrace, as it were, any
object within its reach, and by its contact and contu-
sion, would ignite the powder, and blow to atoms the
vessel so approached. This stratagem had its effect,
and Decatur made his escape, the British men-of-
war having left the harbour's mouth, to avoid the ter-
rible agency employed by the American Commodore.
When this circumstance was related to me in 1832,
_ _

I instantly conceived the defence of harbours, port-
channels, and rivers, and simply by reversing the
order of the arrangement, viz., the torpedoes to be
stationary, and the men of war to float onwards, as
the latter must do to enter rivers or harbours. And
in addition to gunpowder the more powerful chemicals
of modern invention should form the torpedoes ; and
having these batteries sunk in the channel of entrance,
and by the galvanic wires from any distance, and at
any time, ignite the submarine combustibles. Thus,
from the hundreds of torpedoes that could be sunk,
and in every direction, and invisible to an enemy, no
naval commander would be so insane as to hazard his
ship, and the hundred of human lives on board, by
even the attempt to cross such a rubicon ; for the ex-
ploding party at the galvanic wires, however distant,
yet within sight of the men of war, would watch the
locality of the vessels, and ignite those torpedoes only
that would be effective upon the different vessels as
they would be opposite certain lines or points of ob-
servation.

An anchorage could be defended in the same man-
ner; for instance:—the Prince de Joinville com-
menced the bombardment of Tangiers with only five
and half feet of water beneath the keel of his ship.
Now, had submarine torpedoes been sunk in that an-
chorage, and ignited by the galvanic power, an in-
stant destruction of the gallant Admiral's ship would
have been the consequence ; but, even without tor-
pedoes being placed there, yet the belief that they
were there, the commander would not come within
bombarding distance. A safe result to a city would
I obtain from even that belief by the invading naval
commander.

After I had written the above, and read it to a
friend, he called my attention to the Athenceum of
August 17, wherein allusion is made, and description
given, of Colt's Submarine Battery, as exhibited
in New York Harbour; I beg to answer that account
by the following statement, viz.:—
In 1837, I visited Hartford, Connecticut, and was
introduced to Mr. Samuel Colt and friends. Mr.
Colt showed and explained to me his newly-invented
ten-chamber rifle, which has been so successfully used
in Indian warfare, by causing almost instant treaties
of peace with the Leminole Aborigines. It was at
this time (1837), and as a return courtesy, that I un-
folded to Mr. Colt my own invention for the defence
of harbours, rivers, &c. He seemed much struck with
the idea, and especially in regard to the means of
ignition, and from any distance. This was in 1837.
I made my arrangement in 1832, five years pre-
viously. Upon my present visit to my native land in'
1841, I mentioned it in London, in confidence, to
two scientic gentleman. In 1842, Mr. Colt made the
experiment in New York harbour, exactly as I un-
folded the manner to him. He was most successful,
and in the presence of naval commissioners and
Adjutant-General Jones blew a large ship to
atoms, and while floating into the harbour. So per-
fect was the destruction, that the harbour was not
clogged, but the fragments of the ship floated into the
port with the tide, as, also, the remains of the wooden
frame of the torpedo.
I do not charge Mr. Colt with any breach of confi-
dence; my secret was given in courtesy, and I re
joice in his prosperity. He might eventually from
his own brain have made that discovery which I thus
claim, in the most unqualified manner, to be my own.
In 1840, I received from a naval officer an account
of the destructive qualities of the Paixhan shell-shot
—that one was sufficient to sink a frigate. Within a
F hort period, I made a defence against the terrible
effects of that projectile, and also a defence against
injury to the masts of a ship in ac-
tion, either from round or chain-shot. This
I unfolded to a naval officer, in confidence, for
his opinion of the practicability of my defence. His
answer was in the affirmative—" That the vessel
would be saved." I have, therefore, taken the legal
proceedings to secure by letters patent my right to
the above defences.
Having, therefore, found means to defend a ship
against the Paixhan shell-shot, I have no hesitation in
declaring my belief that I can defend " the line-of-
battle ship" against the destructive effects of Captain
Warner's ' projectile," be it; " five," or only one
mile off. This counter-challenge is given in the
belief that his destructive missile is an horizontal
projectile. If the projectile, and the power of its
propulsion, are worth 300,0001., the prevention of the
effects of the former surely is worth twice as much.
As an Englishman, however, I should be happy to
know that I could prevent the loss of human life, and
should feel honoured (should the occasion call it
forth) in being permitted to present gratuitously to
my country the secret of my defence.—l have the
honour to be, Sir, yours truly,
GEORGE JONES.
British and Foreign Institute, Aug. 27, 1844.

THE TRINITY 1-10 USE,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—I am glad to find, from a recent article in
The Sun, that the local imposts upon British shipping
have begun to attract your attention. The returns
just ordered by her Majesty's Government of the
amount of harbour dues, and other local charges
levied in the ports of the United Kingdom, is certainly
one step in the right direction. But this step must
be accompanied by a stringent inquiry into the
" doings" of that irresponsible body of monopolists
which somewhat irreverently continues to style itself
the " Guild Fraternity or Brotherhood of the most
glorious and undivided 'Trinity."
I transmit to you a copy of the reprint of an
tide on the " Trinity
_house, which appeared n the
last Number of the Westminster Review.- The abuses
which that article exposes are these
1. The unreasonableness of the rates at the present
time;
2. The illegality and injustice of the appropriation
of so large a portion of the surplus tolls to the soi-
disant " charitable purposes" of the Corporation ;
3. The rotten borough system under which the
corporators of the aforesaid guild or fraternity are
elected;
4. The scientific incompetency of the acting Tri-
nity Board ;
5. The extravagant expenditure for the services of
the Central Board of Management;
6. The illegality of the system of electing Cabinet
as
Ministers honorary Elder Brethren : a mere
shabby subserviency to the powers that be," and
directly opposed to a clause in the 7th and Bth Wil.
111., c. 21, which clause expressly forbids the election
of civilians to tho office of Elder Brothers of the Tri-
nity lime.

The report of the Committee on Lighthouses in
1834, is an enduring monument of the diligence and
perseverance of Mr. Hume. But there ought to be
another Parliamentary investigation, and I am glad to
see that Mr. Hume has given notice of a motion to
that effect next session. If Mr. Ilume perseveres in
his motion, the Government can scarcely refuse a
Committee, and then, it is to be hoped, that the
Augean stable on Tower-hill will at last undergo a
thorough purification.
The shipowners ought to feel grateful for the able
manner in which you have advocated the reduction
of those local charges which now press with peculiar
severity; and on this account I have preferred trust-
ing to your impartiality to give an insertion to my
letter, rather than address myself to the evening jour
nal, which, although professedly established as the
advocate of the British shipowner, is so curiously
unhappy in its endeavours, as almost to deserve the
reproach cast upon an Athenian orator, of whom it
was said, " Those whom he charges with being
wolves he takes care not to bite, and the sheep, which
he professes to guard, he is the very first to devour."
I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient
servant,
CHRIS. RICHARDSON.
Field House, Whitby, Aug. 27, 1844.

AGRICULTURE.
PRICES AT HOME AND ABROAD.

(From the League)
We observe that Mr. Baker, of Essex, and the
other leaders of the protectionist party, are claiming
the support of the farmers on a novel ground, "It
is true, say they, " that we cannot guarantee you
(the tenant-farmers) 565. a quarter for your corn ;
true that the price for Huntingdonshire averaged
only 435. 6d. a quarter last week, in spite of the forty
editions of Mr. Game Day's pamphlet, whilst Essex,
Kent, and Oxfordshire, fared but little better ; all
this is true, but what would the prices have sunk to
had there been no corn-law ? Are not the foreigners
actually paying the 18s. duty, and still competing
with the English grower ?" This is the argument
which is now industriously put forth by the farmers'
friends, and which we call upon the free traders
everywhere to prepare themselves to answer.
It is true that a certain portion of the foreign corn
in bond has been entered for consumption at a duty
of 18s., and even 19s. per quarter. It is equally true
that many thousands of quarters were in one year
taken out of bond and thrown into the river. In
both cases the object was the same ; to escape the
risk of greater loss from keeping the wheat in the
bonded warehouse without the prospect of a sale.
And it would be just as fair to assert that it is
profitable for the foreigner to send his corn here to
be cast into the Thames, because such a transaction
has occurred, as to allege that wheat can be sent
from abroad to pay 18s. a quarter duty, because cer-
tain individuals liberated their grain from bond at
that rate last week. It is a well-known fact that the
foreign corn so imported has brought heavy losses
upon its owners. It is notorious that it is not pro-
fitable to bring wheat from abroad to pay 18s. duty.
If any man be bold enough to assert the contrary, let
him try the experiment.
The point to which we would direct the attention
of the farmers at the present moment is this : there
are two descriptions of prices for foreign corn, the
real and the nominal price. The real price is that
at which the foreigners supply us when we are al-
lowed by our law to buy from them for our consump
tion. When corn is lying in bond, with our sliding
scale up at a prohibitive point, and no prospect of a
market, then the prices are merely nominal. The
question frequently asked, under such circumstances,
by the unfortunate holder is, " how much had I
better consent to lose, to escape the risk of stilt
heavier sacrifices ?"

It is undoubtedly of importance to the farmer to
ascertain what the real price of foreign wheat would
be under a free trade. It is of no consequence to
him what the nominal price now is, because corn
never enters regularly, and in large quantities, into
consumption at the nominal price. We are able,
by referring to the Parliamentary returns of the
prices of wheat at Dantzic and in England, during a
period of continuous importation for consumption in
this country, to form a fair estimate of the price at
which foreign corn can be regularly purchased.
In the return ordered by the House of Commons,
3d. May, 1841, we are furnished with the weekly
prices of wheat at Dantzic, and in England, for a
series of years, embracing periods of high and low
prices. We will first' give the prices during four
cheap years, when the duty, under the old law, was
prohibitory :
Price per Imp. qr. English Gazette
at Dantzic. price, same time.
1835, Ist week in Jan. 19s. Od. to 295. Od. ... 395. 2d.
1836, —17 s. 10d. to 255. lid. ... 355. 4d.
$37, 275. 4d. to 40s. Od. ... 575. 2d.

838, —20 s. 11d. to 275. 3d. ... 503. 9ci.
During the above period the duty ranged from 28s.
to 50s. a quarter, and precluded any regular or pro-
fitable importation for consumption. Whatever pur—
chases were made were speculative, for the purpose
of storing up with the view to a deficient harvest, and
with the risk of loss for warehousing and other ex-
penses. _

It will be seen that, in the first week of January,
1838, the price of wheat at Dantzic ranged from 20s.
I Id. to 275. 3d.; but as the English Gazette price for
the same time was 50s. 9d., and the duty on foreign
corn 355. a quarter, the price at Dantzic was merely
nominal, so far as England was concerned. But we
now come to a period of real prices. In the summer
of this same year, 1838, alarm began to be felt for
the English harvest. The consequence was that
prices rose here, and the following extract from the
same Parliamentary return will show how instanta-
neously the Dantzic market felt the effects of an ef-
fective demand from England :
Price per Impl. qr. English Gazette
at Dantzic. price, same time.
1838, Ist week July, 345. 10d. to 435. ld. 655. I Id.
Aug. 375. 2d. to 455. 11d. ... 675. 9d.
Sept. 495. Gd. to 51s. 4d. ... 688. od.
Oct. 40s. Bd. to 495. 7d. ... 625. 9d.

Nov. 475. 10d. to 58s. Od.
Dec. 495. 2d. to £3s. 3d.

675. 3d.
... 735. 2d.

In the interval between January and December of
1838, the prices of wheat in Dantzic was more than
doubled, in consequence of the demand for actual
consumption in England. In the three years, during
which this demand continued, the following quanti-
ties of wheat were imported from Prussia, of which
Dantzic is the principal port :
Wheat imported from Prussia.
_

IS3B
550,826 quarters.
1839
1840 800,508 „
The same Parliamentary return from which we
have already quoted, gives the prices per quarter for
every week during the whole of this period. Mr.
Baker and the other "farmers' friends" are fond of
asserting that they could, once upon a time, import
foreign wheat at 255. a quarter, forgetting to add
that it would have been a speculation for the
bonded warehouse, with a chance of having to throw
the purchase, or so much of it as escaped the rats,
into the river, to avoid the payment of duty. But
we recommend Mr. Baker and his monopolist
patron, Lord Ashburton, who, to his shame, has con-
descended to like fallacies, to study the prices of
foreign wheat during the above three years of conti-
nuous demand for consumption in England, and they
will find that, during all that period, the price of
wheat at Dantzic averaged more than 405., and the
price at which it sold in England alongside the Eng-
lish grain was upwards of 60s.
With the present abundant harvest in England, and
the duty fixed at 20s. for perhaps a year to come,
the prices of Wheat at Dantzic will become nominal
again, and may sink probably to 20s. or 255. a quar-
ter. But we hope the farmers, who will be selling
their wheat at 405., and paying rents at 565., will not
suffer Mr. Baker to divert them from the true scent,
by his solemn predictions of what the price might be
without a corn-law.