Star.
London, England, 1805-09-04 00:00:00

VA SIDNET SMI7II'S GUN BOATS.

Dolma, Sir?. 2.—This morning, at an early hour,
the two gun boats, newly conflruded by the direftion
of Sir SIDNIT, were brought from their moorings to
the mouth of the harbour for his infpedion, and for
the purpofe of making Come further experiments with
them. They are, I fuppofe, upon much the fame
plan as thole lately tried in the River Thames ; but,
as they may differ in fome refpeds, and are on a
more extenfive kale, a thort defcription of them may
not be unacceptable. The one is called the Cancer,
the other the Gemini. Tho Cancer is formed of a
galley, about 48 feet in length, cut exaElly in two,
from Rem to Rem ; thole two parts are joined to
the ends of five pieces of timber, which crofs them,
and are made fecure by braces of iron : upon thofe
five beams is railed a platform, in the centre of which
Rands a three.pounder, ready mounted, with ammu-
nition boxes, fcc. the wheels of this cannon Hand in
a groove, upon a fort of frame work which runs out
Tome feet beyond the bows, Co that the moment the
Teel is run Aare, the cannon can be landed, and in-
Randy put its ufe. In the centre of each of the two ex-
treme beams, which join the two half galleys, malls
are fixed, each of which carry a large fquare fail
with proper rigging, a forefail projeas from a boom
which is fixed to the frame. There are four rudders,
one to each extremity of the half galleys, two only
of which are worked at a time by a cord conneaed
with a larger one in the centre, and managed by a per-
fon on the platform. Thefe rudders can be Blipped
or unfbipped in a moment, and the half galleys,
being equally (harp at both ends, the can be run
back or forward at pleafure. The half-galleys are
decked, with eight holes cut along each, large
enough to admit a man's body : to the mouth of each
of which is fixed a canvas bag, painted Co as to pre-
vent the water penetrating, with a running-Bring in
the top ; in thefe bags the t 6 men, who pull at the
oar, feat themfelves, and tie them above their hips ;
this fufficiently lathes them to the boat, and prevents
their being wafted overboard. B:fides thefe 16 oars,
and the other perfons who manage the fails, &c. this
veffel is capable of bolding 5o foldiers. Her fides
are entirely lined with cork, fa that it is impoffible to
upfet her; and, in a heavy fea, it pales over her
without doing any injury, except giving the men wet
jackets.
The other boat, the Gemini, is of the fame con-
firtidion, but much larger, with this difference, We
is formed of two entire galleys, fatlened together as
the Cancer, with *6 holes in each galley, for the
towers are infide the other ; the t 6 outfide men row
with oars, while thofe at the infide are furnifhed with
a fort of fpade, in the Rape of the paddle of an In-
' dlin canoe ; the blade made of iron ; and a fpace is
left between the platform and the galleys, for the
town to work thefe paddles. This inflrument is de-
lel alto in clearing away land or gravel, to facilitate
the landing of the cannon. The Gemini alfo carries
a 62-pounder, and a proportionate number of men
snore than the Cancer. Thefe veffels, when heavieß
!laden, draw only 18 inches water, fo that they are
moll ufeful in running into (hallow places, and land-
ing cannon with the greateß expedition.
Sir BY'S veffels were attended by a ten-oared
galley, and the Diligence cutter ; having Rood for
fome leagues out to lea, they tacked and Rood before
the wind ; here one of the greateft perfelions of thefe
boats was fully diplayed. They ran before the wind
with the greaten rapidity, outgripping even the cut-
ter and galley, which are the fwiftell failing velfels
we have. While Sir &DM was praditing thefe
movements, l'Utile frigate, of 38 guns, belonging
to the Boulogne lquadron, pared in full fail, 'vim
the Downs for that Ration ; and when the came
a-breaß of the harbour, fired a gun for a pilot ;
foon after, the Defperate gun-brig hove in fight,
from the Downs; this fhip was ordered to attend
Sit SIDN IT, and had on board twenty privates of
the Royal Artillery, fent from Ramigate, to work
the guns on board Sir Sion sy's boats. After try-
ing thefe boats in every way which they could pal-
bly be managed, through the whole of which they
appeared to work with great cafe and convenience,
the artillery from the Defperate was put on board
them, and feveral Blots were fired in different direc-
tions, without having any vifible appearance upon the
seals; they were then brought into the roads and
run on thore, on that part of the Itrand where the bri-
gade dually parade, near to the cottage inhabited by
Sir Sum sir's aunt. The cannon were landed in a fro•
ment of time, with the greateß cafe ; and fever4l (hots
being fired by way of experiment, they were again, in
an intlant, (hipped, with the molt appal cot cite and
expedition ; apd while Sir SIMI KY and his party re
tired to regale themfelves on thore, the beats were
brought again into the harbour to their original moot