The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-05-30
60 SCIUpEc.

part. II Ae U.ifei S.l:.4.
coYCLUpRr.
feel confidence that without extenive fortica,i-
ons, and proportonable military forces TO garrhon
them, that bSrges gaies or gun boats, on the pre-
ccding or improved plan, with the operation of
heavy movable batteries, which may be exPeditiou
Iy transferred Som part Of town city to ano-
ther, by of hories, will form moif econo-
mical, durable and efettnal means of defence, and
afford the beh feeurity to the objects to be protect
ed and in fupport Of this opinion, beg leave Of
fer the following considerations
IT. Such veiies either attack or defend,
may Prove offenEve in the retreat. in purfus,
and can approach or avoid an enemy at diieretion.
20. In ealms their will enable them to take a.
ny cation with lafety, which may be found mott ad
outrageous.
Sd Their mobility will enable them in fmooth wa
ter to hang the bow tern of veael, and avoid
its batteries.
18th. Their lounefs in the water, will enable them
10 deliver their ihot HORIZONTAL range, at a
final elevation which will give them certainty
and eHea.
5th. in cain, weather they may, without hazard,
approach vefel anchor in itream to the point,
blank fcrtice of 81 FOUNDER, $50 yards, of a
81 FOUNDER $50 yards, aud preferving Ready fa,
on, may give effect every G,ot without fail
9th. In light breezcs, with tails and caIs they may
pre!erve the fame difance the bow of veile, &
il purfasd, may deliver deGruttve fire as if they
were la,ionary.
7th Should they be hard prsEed, they may eff
cape in ihcal water and the aaion at dlcre-
ton.
S,h. In rough weather they may take cation be-
yond the fortic of the guns of fhip from whence
The hyperion elevation of their pieces may enable
them 10 deliver their f7e with effed.
9th. Taking advantage Of circumstances, they may
drive iatruders from bay, road: rivers, and by
forcing them fea, may relieve blockade, rem
der il lefs coie, conitant pernicious.
10Th. They may be employed during the calm fea-
ION, to .-eriport Cores from port 10 ano-
thsr with fafety, even fhoud enemy be wating
and laAy, in time of peace eight out of ten may be
laid Up under cover, and with due attentisn Read of
injury may be improved by aid for number of years.
But to nlure theie ends, it is abfo.utey udifpen-
hble that officer of judgement, experience, aGliv-
ty zeal and courage fhould be appointed to the gene
RAJ on,mand of the Gotilla of each pot. The i'm
mediate commanders of the ve1els fhoulG be ntre-
pid and perfectly acquainted with the conduct of then,
in all circumstances. The gunners and bombadiers
ould be practically, and perfectly iuhruied in all
,heir functions The ar,illeriGs fhould be expert AZ
their duty and the oarfren ilould be active ard a
letic.
have profeGed my predile aion for howi,z and
hope they may be experimental TO atcertain their
worth ; am perluaded they may be employed to
throw their ihell with great efs9 point-blank, or
with elevation for fndat Gibraltar, in 1856
targets of feet fquare, and of equal reugth and
fiftance with the rongeh part of the largeh of
war, fired out Of a ten inch Tea mortar, with
charge of ten pounds of powder, the aim being point
blank, and the dlauce so yards; the trh ihe
touched tire top of the target and entered the bank
behind, the feeond grazed ihot Yards, aud went
through lower corner of the objea the third took
elTea in the ceter of the target paiIed through il,
and entered the fold earth behind feet and was
with much fatisfaStion ohfrrved, that IN every in
Rance the fuzes were Affected, and the ibells ex
,Q,,l 49, FL
4 MATS of wood, and lodged 70 deep in the
earth--and in 1882, at the fame place, the FRI oh
fervable effect the Spanifh Armada after it had
been 0 times before the BrtIh batteries, pro-
duced by lhells thrown FROM hOw,z point blank,
fsmc Of which huck in the k,ss Of the vefIes, and
exploded, while others entered their ports and agree
ablyto the report of Spaniih officer and boats
crew, who were captured during the action, killed
80 10 men every exp!oilOn.
The dhance taken for the experiment of the 10
inch fea mortar at Gibraltar, feems very fhort, and
was intended 20 exemplify their application 70 naval
eonAiSs. II is difficult, if impofibe, to reduce
to fixed rule the range of fhot lhell, either with
Given elevation point blank, beaufe it does not
depend merely on the caibre of the piece, or the
weight Of the ball bat is Influenced by the l:ngh and
weight of gIln, the c"nructon Of ass chamber, the
exal rolandy and imoothneis OF the ball the weight
and conRr Zion OF the carriage, the Gate of the at
n,olphere, aud he quality Of the powder. But like
I'll Autrian officer D rcpute, has, IN lat. work O.
ven to al eight inch now:z, with 4 charge of lie
pound. Of powder, Only cS2 yards for its poi; blank
range 4l4 for the vior ihot equal TO degree eie
v.,ion, and $50 yards for n" IS o: e. vltion,.-
which viii give bus light curv4tion to the
Eight Of the !heu, and Of courie will not ienGhly al
Icq lis pro.eGse force the certainty Of it direc
ton and It's ihocl ma b. eAnated from It's weight,
being, when charged, 6fypounis
Ifuba,.; theft ;hou.hf with grcas Difference being
cooc;ou5 If ny ineaPacry to do Juice to the fab.
ietf, and in the hope their defect may be viewed
with 81 irduigent eyes yer, al. 70 well 1Gurcd Of
the f.uuduel5 OF nv do4r. g, that. with fli,ablc
Aoti!ia aud III; operations premIied, would have
no hef,A.ion to A4za.i NJ reputation he re
full
(5isaed) J. "ILE!NsON