Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-01-26
FROM TIE X Y COLUMBIAN.
THE TORTOISE.
Defence of our har62r and cify.

ofsll he plans suggested for this great end
one Which has no. Jet been published. seems
deserving Of par ocular AZ cotton - / is
i'e-inyen'ion Of counsellor SAMesox. and IS /,
t'esh proof OF iio exten and versatile v o. his
incentive powers Its simplicity which bv
some, would be !, reason for undervaluins. IL
- to men of sold Judgment It's .srea ess re-.
COMMUNICATION.
II is nothing more han large scow. viii. IL
may be ioa''e CT the conmoass ma erals, and
rs % carry battery Of 20 or 80 cannon, of
t2bs cslibfe-
II is SO aa' chat thc troops who embark in is
can march on board md proceed with a rsine
tide, in the course OF two hours towards S
destination.
It's SO low that a shot from ship of war
can seldom. ana but by he greatest cha ,ce,
.trike it.
1t may occasionally use sails but at all
inserted N groove IN a cen raj Ii c from EN-
10 ern, which can be wo ked by the hands
employed 20 feh' the enemy.
1t is in Germ OF :: tor, eise.shell as 20 IFS eart-
md circumference -==so TIA ii any bail Should
strike it. must either glance over it or Juder
tit is therefore shot-proof.
Every shoe from it, will f tolerably direct
ed, take eifect upon ship, OWING % the
height of her sides, while it presents scarcely
any surface vulnerable 20 her FIRE.
II can move in silence ard uGperce;yed in
the night and beng TOO lowto DC perceived ae
a distance, may give the nest no ice Of its APP.
proach by a teT,uie broad .side.
IL is so con ,tructed that erher cnd may go
fore most=-anJ its direction be change with.
out delay.
Itmay be m lie tn boI * good wind as q
frga,e By means o. occ sional lee5oAsd,, aud
be made 20 turn wi;h the greates' d ,aicf by
two Chimes rudders, one each end whic.l
put in contrary directions, viii work The
same end.
1t may be provided if Necessary with furna-
ces Ton heating shot. and wih other means. OF
assaiIing.
Il W 4 nos require the skill of many educa-
ted seamen. a iew of he oihce.s Known 5y
their brave deeds on inc Baroary coast, viii
be able To 90 their country a stili more noble
service, by this new. invented mode OF hum
bling the PRIDE of the invaders Of our Sea
SD res.
The same hard hands who TO day hold tie
plough, NAV to morrow cover t eir brOss wi,h
glorious laNreis.
Ths unar,iicial mode Of defence against
those te rble mris ers Of wra,b, ,sIi2s OF
war) will appear more cons5tcnt " ID is de-
sign f 4 be co sldered tnat tDIs battery has
but one single purpose, the slips OF war hay-
ing many.
The man ofwar must be built 60 sail fast, TO
endure long 70 Contan much provigiOIs, ans
munitions and stor S, TO cross the ocean and
resist the tempests nd with all tIc com.
plcxity OF mechanism necessary to attain such
various ends, is not for the purpose oi action
la smooth wAcr haf SO eficient . battery as
dis plain contrivanoe, Which if answers one
single purpose Is good rs il il possess d all
the other Qualities, which the only neIufal
case render it by 50 Guch the aOte isconve.
nient vulnerable and neiiicient,
When we knew tia gun IS equal 20 p gun
Of equal metal from whHiever scsio ding il
may hre. such pr jet as this IS surely pres
cTabie % thai Of snkioE islands IN tie Sc, ipr
he purpose OF mou0ung few canuoa, TO ne.
main these ti!l The o5jec, IT stack be- hroo rhs
within their reach whereas Il, IS ioatinE ma
chine cln ell, or remain at a.ion. Ca f,trs &c
its enemy wherever he may take his pesius
on.
If this tortoise can be made 30 20 onc-tfird
or ne.icurh as fast The ship s.ns, i, wil
be always enabled 70 q So her vhce ncclssary
for any purposes by gong nsht o WIND ward
and icaving ncr O beat aster IL ,p var.
The comparative expense wn BE couch as a
single button IS 90 suIt OF ci3t.cs
The expedition win WHICH sucA machine,
could be CONSTRUCTED is afbhcr reason fot
their adoption in the present crisS.
The gunwaic being sopcd Ia form ola p,a
eis AID more being no port hn,es, Ge eoes Z, (
he en- bc:be''c, and may be meuntea van pAr
iall,sb