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

sc moral history of Man, have been innova.
"f;ons' .... GENALp.
A bold and daring project is, at this mo-
menr, s..omitted To the American people and
their repre- sentatives. The Protector is an
American---hisp plan is peculiarly calcuiat-
ed for the me ridian ct -SmericG-and it sue
cess should crown Its .iforts, il will save to
the United States millions OF treasure, and
a precious fund OF national blood.
The work of MIR. Fulton on Torpodes is
before me-a work of more value, in pro-
portion to its bulk, has not been lately issu-
ed from the Press-it is truly muitum IN fiar-
vo-it is ccmpl essed into sixty pages besides
five illustrative engravngs-but what dar-
ing enterprises does it nntoldto the Ameri-
can people What a fund of information
on the cApences and resources of navies -
What bold strok rs on the relations OF nations!
What strong touches OF Common Sense on
the general policy and prospects of the u.
States MY. Fulton's mind is of no ordinary
cast-he possesses that independent, aspiring
and observing spirit, which is necessary to
strike out. something new, to astonish and
benefit the world
Mr. F. is fully aware of the resistance he
is likely to experience. 1t is the fife of al!
that is new to meet with opposition from all
that is old-lnnovation must, in most cases,
pass through the numerous and perilous &C
Cidents which surround the cradle of infan-
GYM proportion as these novelties are
more important, they will excite more Curl
osity and hosrility-those who have been
used to seeing things done in particular
way are reluctant to believe that they can
be done in better-the oldest customs eX-
cite the strongest prejudices-the number
of unfortunate advcnturers,w whose ruins strew
the avenues to science, are only obstruc-
tions to those who are more worthy of sue
ceSS-their visionary and blasted DrOectS
are SO many monuments to deter those who
have to undertake new enterprises, and TO
warn the world who are to Judge Of them.
The benefit of new things must be self e..
vident-they mus appear as soon as these are
introduced-to lull the storm of resistance.
They must strike with the force CT intu-
ition-the discovery ought to- leap forth. as
Minerva did from the brain of Jupiter, full
grown and armed cap pee, prepared to o.
verthrow every obstacle-there must be an
entire evolution of the plan, its application
and uses--these must not be Left for the FIRE
OF imagination to conceive or the force of
understanding to infer--hut they must at
once strike the senses, in order to strike
down opposition
y Bus when the discovery is to start. as it
were, from point, and pass through an i'm
mense range OF space, before it can reach
any fracHc0bie ConClusion-when it is at
first a germ which requires long period of
sun and air to mature It's resources, to deve-
topc its parts ere it yields fruits useful to
man, such germ is apt TO meet with periIs &
foes. 1t must be of use and fit for use tn c
moment it meets the eve of the world,-to
command its friends--but if it should grove
10 be one of those discoveries, which are to
pass through long stage. of progress, * long
chain of preparation, before it can arrive to
maturity, 1t is apt to excite the sneers ifnos
the s,ntipathy of the world.
tits proved by the history, Of every art and
science, that their growth is not all at once
but gradual and slow. Man ri,:st creep
before he can soar--every step that he
makes in his progress. gives him greater
strength to meet the obstacles which lie be-
foie him. Read Priestley's history Of Optics
Or his history of lectricity-Pursue
all those improvements, which are of so mo-
tern growth, that we have preserved some
traces OF them IN our records. The fact be-
Comes as clear as monday sun. that all
Greatimprovements go on by slow degrees
mat when new truth ha. burst .'orth upon
man. so slow is his intellect, SO much does he
require the aid of accumulated expel fence,
mat us consequences cannot be foreseI'n or
3rasped. more beautiful illustration an
NOT be furnished of this principle, than u
the history which Mr.. Fulton himself gives
as (Pages 30, 53.) Of The gradua. improve
ments OF the use of gun powder
" AT the time new discovery is made in
physics or mathematical science; the whole
on US consequences Cannot be foreseen In
Shs year 1880. Bartholomew Schwartz is said
90 nave Invented gun powder; twenty five |
years AFTER very nperfect kind OF cannon
vas constructed Of welded bars of iron. others
81 sheet IRON, rolled III the form of cylinder
ana hoped with iron riDgsj in some cases, |
ihey "ere made CT leather, STRENGTHENED
~,th plates of iron or copper; balls Of stone
"et" rSed and it was not Until the beginning |
0t inc htgeenth Century, that is, one hundred |
ana seventy years after the invention of pow
der, that iron balls were introduced into
practice. Muskets were not used until the !
year 1921, or Ole hundred and ninety. one !
years after the Invention of gun powder
J. he SpanIards were The first who armed
SheIr foot soldiers in this manner-they had
Inatchircks; but Krelocks, that is, locks with |
hints, were not used until the beginning of |
the eighteenth Century, one hundred and
eighty years after the invention of muskets |
and three hundred and eighcy years after
the invention of powder.
w men frelocks were first invented Mar |
sbai 5az had solittie confidence in a ilint. that
he ordered match to be added 10 the lock. |
win hint, lest the flint should miss fire -
such is the force of habit and want of faith in |
new inventions
Although cannon, fire arms, and the |
whole detail 81 ammunition, now appear ex- |
tremely simple, yet we here see the very
81