The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-03-06
I q X ? e . w AR.
To the Members Of 50tk Noxses IF Congress.
lJENTIEMEN

To the Members Of both Hosses Of Congress.
GENTLEMEN,
In my lecture, the 18th instant, not
beinl prepared To exhibit the manner of harpoon.
my, ubat part of the operation has since been per
formed at the Navy Yard from boat into a tar.
set OF three inch oak plank, where the hsrpoons
are now sticking. There the simplicity and Ger
'atnty OF the operation and the solid manner in
winch the haTpoons will f.isten to the side of a
ship, are, believe, fully demonstrated. Til.
subject has now excited some public interest
1t is one IN which sufficient has been done To give
encouraging hope of success, and if successful.
WIZ De OF immense Importance TO the u States
Therefore every plan which may be devised for
piacng Iorpedoes under ships of war. merit.
the most scrupulous examination and eyel-y mode
"hic'i may he conceived for destroying the Ter.
Pedoes or guarding ship against their effects
shouiu also be critically examined. In scrutiniz.
ING the Combinations and results connected with
o'iS htsehtion, 1t is not my wish that gentlemen
sHouitt believe more than / have proved, or can
hereafter prove by experiment on the large scale
what have proved is follows:
FIRST, That the explosion of powder under
snip will destroy her. If any gentleman uaac
quainted with tue physics OF submarine explo-
SONS, Should suppose that the brig blown I'D in
the Britlsh Channel, and the one at New York
were Old & weak, and If stronger vessel can be
obtained fsr experiment, she may be loaded with
purpose Will please to direct, and with 800 pounds
OF powder she shall disappear in 60 seconds after
the explosion.
Second, Ihat avessel while at anchor or IN
Der way, can be harpooncd, courage aided, and
VIII not pay my countrynen SO bad compliment
as To suppose them deficient in so necessary and
honorable a quality, particularly Us more is not
required than III ordinary combat
ii''rd, That it harpooned on the lsrboard and
siaroo~rd b"s, any where between the fore chains
ana s.etn, either while at anchor or under sail
rs usual, the torPedoes will go under her, where
.ns eineH WORK striking fire at the expiration of
80 or 40 seconds viii blow her up.
have stlewn that Torpedoes anchored nader
water exhibit fair prospect of DESTROYING YES
se'S which Ei'sht run against them, aud that such
c"Si"eS at 'fnau eXpence would he a useful aid
m defending our harbors My leading princi-
pies OF attack and defence being within these
operations, 1t becomes necessary to eysnin, g.
very mode By which the enemy could have a hone
TO defeat the Torpedoes. For this purBose. bs,r
iesfe TO submit to your consideration the propri-
|eVoi Standing committee of your own BODY
VINO, with the Secretary of the Navy, can inye.-
ugIte all obIections, aud call IN some OF our most
experienced naval commanders to devise means
lor defending or guarding tne ship n any pIau
sloie nean' be discovered, it will then require
new cXertlcn OF mind, and combination OF now
ers 20 destroy The guards which NAV be pu,
round or 10 the vessel. Such committee vyoiih
procure the necessary models snd means to- carry
Oh thr proofs by experiment. Two good row
Ooats ana q ship should be granted fer this pur-
Pose, Win ~ men to man the boats and work the
ship. On such ship all invented guards could
De placed, and the practice could be conducted
WITH mute Torpedoes. at present l do not
know any mode OF arriving At a correct know
ledge OF the power OF torpedoes, unless by ,ucb
succession 81 experiments. I:ence conceive,
III justice To tile friends and enemies of the SIS
tenn, this mode should be pursued Justice Il,
the nation demands it, and IL is hut simple Justice
To tho progressive arts which are now developing
ne" noce OK war, that has III prospect the II.
ber,y of our commerce, AID the best interests of
our country. have been induced to supeest this
measure, winch nope every gentleman will
consider tar and reasonable, in ccusetu,encc of
heannSt ruinored that transverse boom at ,i,e
DOW VI sup 50 low al her keel would drive be-
lOrc II o. destroy anchored TOFpsdues / have
long contemplated such boOms and various kinds
Oi sweeps. j hays constructed an anchorine
torpedo 50 that the instant it is touched by a
| Doom, rope OF chain, a. viii explode and carry
away all such tackle and torpcdoes may be so
anchored to render it extremely difficult TO
get them UP Or desJOy them with sweeps of any
description. All kinds OF spars, nets or ropes
let down perpendicular to the sides of q vessel.
may be carried away by one explosion leaving
| the ship exposed 10 tie succeeding 30 or 80 tor
pedo boats however, Of such things exact know.
'NNSc WIN W aOiuiIGu ia TIC committee, should
! one be appointed.
Convinced that these engines will give mpor.
tant protection to the ports aud commerce of our
| muc! injured country, and It being evident tina,
| no one can nov see the additional improve ments
which, may be made, The limits Of their utility
canGOt resist recommending them 10 your seri.
| Gus consideration aud protection. Shall few
! thousand dollars, or weeks or months OF experi
rnent he balanced with the happy consequences
OF success in.this enterprise With great res.
pect offer you my SERVICES.
ROBERT FULTON
| Kd!ora,pd, FEB. 90, 1910.
NEw YoRE, February 60
! IUsr1eE CoNIse yesterday ,ya1uss Cbect
haan, author Of The Lie Of Paine, wa, brougb,
into the court Of general sessions and plead 10 an
indctnen found against him by ;be grand a.,