The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-23

f.tH
then % be discharged. ----He proposes TO
emplc.- several of these boats to attack one
ship.
We regret, L at in this work Mr. F. has
said nothing OF he uses of his ingenious
dining boat, towards fixing the Torpedo
under the bottom of the ship-it struck us
once, that these two inventions might thus
be. combined together-indeed, we have
since understood, that MIR. F. has actually
blown up a vessel in the Seine by going I'M
der it i'm his boat, and then screwing his
Torpedo to it. We are left. however, to
conjecture the reasons why this combination
| is not successful.
Mr.. +. is silent too about the means of
augmenting the explosive force of the Tor.
pedo- 1.-The reader may recolect an arti
Gle, published some months since in this pa
per, stating certain experiments made by
DR.. Woodhouse, with sort of powder, one
Thousand times stronger than gun fo7v-
der.
A few more reflections. and we have done
Mr.. +. has drawn comparison between
| the eTGences of his mode of defence and a
navy.
An sogun ship costs $4,000 and is man
ned with 600 men--the men at ID to boat.
would man 5O--,he so boats at 6 1OO-the
| so clock work Torpedoes, powder included,
S $50, &c. Sc.-Mr F. puts the whole Elk,
pence of the so boats with their Torpedoes,
at s 24,300-whiCh is an economy Of S SIS,
700--An anchored Torpedo costs S So
Upon these and other data, we might. to
defend our harbors, have $50 boats, 400
anchOring Torpedoes, and 1900 clock work
Torpedoes, for S 5sI .0oo.-rne United
States ship" Constitution" cost first s 3o2.
7l8-and her annual expence, when in
commission, is s 100000.
Should this mode of defence then, prove
successful, how much cheaper (to be cilici-
ent) must it prove than military navy ?
How much improvement would the money
saved, actually spread over the face of our
country How many schools, roads, canals &
bridges would it contribute to establish
IF it should succeed, it will guard our from
tier from naval incursion-it will contri.
butte to protect the Liberty of the Seas from
its tyrants--and of no country. more than
the u. ). is it true, that T" the Liberty OF
the Seas is the Happiness of the Land"
When such urgent considerations therefore,
are before us-when we consider also, the
plaus'bility of the scheme--is it not worth a
little eXpence to make experiments on a
subject, which may benefit us so much -
Is not this calculation alone sufficient to lead
the Congress of the y. S. to extend its fos
. terng encouragement to this project--and
at all events to comply with the proposition
OF Mr.. Fulton, ia the following terms:
!. =" Purchase strong ship; make six Tor
. pedoes; build two good row boats, and pre-
, pare them as for action. with , men each.
Let tie ship be anchored, and TIE men prac
tised in happening, throwing the Torpedoes
and observing the action of the tide in dri
, wing them under her bottom. After prac
Using on her while at anchor, the snip to be
got under way in moderate and stiff breezes,
and while under way. the men to row at and
harpoon her, letting the Torpedoes fail into
the water and observing the action of the
current in driving them under her bottom
When the men have been so exercised as to
be Certain of happening the ship, the Tor.
pedoes to be charged, a committee appoin
, ted. or the whole of Congress witness the
eHyct, the ship to be put under way, the helm
flashed, her men take to the boat, the Tor.
pedo boats advance, harpoon her, and blow
her up. The success of such an experiment,
will show the value of the system to which
courage must be added in case of an actual
engagement
"Pro6able e1henee Of such an erheriment :
strong though old ship s, 1000
Six Torpedoes. S $50 each 900
Two boats, . 100 each 200
Il Two harpoon guns so